Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

Coming from the house of Karan Johar, the promos are bound leave no stone unturned to ensure the visibility of "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is high and garners fabulous opening at the box-office. "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is a feel good rom-com with all the ingredients in adequate proportions. The songs are catchy ensuring they hold top position on the charts especially the title track and "Auntyji". Comedy is good ensuring the audience is entertained at regular intervals.

Imran Khan has evolved into a consistent performer who is getting better with each passing movie. Kareena Kapoor attempts to reprise her "Jab We Met" character Geet. Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak, Ram Kapoor and Anju Mahendru lend adequate support star cast. Shakun Batra as a first-timer holding directorial reigns knows his job well.

Finally the pertinent question - does "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" match up to "Jab We Met" since similarities are many? Lets just say "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is a poor-man's "Jab We Met". Watch it and you will know why.

A boy loses job- the boy is frustrated- the boy meets a girl full of life – the boy falls in love – then …. Before drawing into any conclusion about "so cliché" I would have revealed the marvelous ending of "Ek Main aur Ek tu" but that would have been a crime. Ek Main Aur Ek Tu is typical yet a fresh take on urban relationship. Rarely a bollywood romantic movie arrives which is devoid of melodrama and loud inane dialogs. The trend had been started with Imtiaz Ali which is lapped by these new directors. Shakun Batra's "EK main aur ek tu" is one such breath of fresh air coming surprisingly from Dharma Productions which believes in "over-the-top" sequences. Like any love story EMAET is a story of a boy and a girl who are totally opposite in their upbringing and characters. Rahul is a shy introvert architect who is in search of his true self thanks to his over-dominating parents – his mother, a socialite who wants everything to be prim proper and his father, a businessman who wants him to reach the top. On the other hand Riana Braganza is a bubbly girl full of life who takes life as it is without any planning. Such contrasting characters had only one element in common – Loss (one at emotional level and another at professional level). With their breezy encounter in a psychiatrist's chamber they began their journey which land into a false marriage under drunken state and there-in. There is nothing much in the story but it's real execution which will appeal to those who are fed up with larger than life films. Shakun Batra and Ayesha DeVitre's story might not be fresh but full credit goes to the writers to come up with real scenario and such an unconventional ending. The ending is probably the most practical and matured one which I am witnessing first time in any Hindi romantic film in last two decades. Shakun Batra's shows eye for detailing and we hope to see more decent stories coming from him. The humor of the film gels with the mood. Subtle, matured and trendy it never hams. He has the potential to be the next Imtiaz Ali. David Macdonald does a good job in camera while Asif Shaikh does a better job in editing department. The film has been trimmed down to 2 hours thus the proceedings never lost it's momentum. One of the best part of the film is Amit Trivedi – Amitabh Bhattacharya (music – lyrics) combo which has always worked. From Dev D to Udaan to No one killed Jessica this combo has successfully delivered some "hatke" soundtrack which grows on you. The situation and lyrics of "Gubbare" is probably one of the best picturised romantic songs in last few years. And a special mention to "Aunty" for it's outlandish lyrics. Bosco- Casear's choreography is appropriate and creative. Coming to the acting part Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor complimented each other. Imran Khan was restrained as Rahul, an architect who loses his job but feels afraid to tell his parents. His gradual transformation was done in a non-filmy passion which should appeal to those who loves mature drama. Kareena rocks as Riana who is someway similar to Jab We Met's Geet but more matured than her. The contrast between the two families is will depicted and seriously Ratna Pathak Shah and Boman Irani excel in the role of Rahul's parents. One wishes to see Ratna Pathak Shah more on screen with her flawless comic timing. The actors who played the various roles of Riana's family member are competent enough to leave their mark specially one who played Riana's father and the old lady who played the cute granny. Ram Kapoor makes his presence felt in an important cameo. Overall "Ek main aur ek Tu" is a perfectly average film which makes it unique in the current scenario where all films are trying to go over the top (literally). With it's simple yet practical ending the film strikes a chord and I hope there will be many more who will love the different ending , something rarely seen in Bollywood rom-coms.

I always love watching Imran khan. But I guess that was the only good thing about the movie. But the movie was corny. I don't think Kareena's character was leading Imran on. Why do guys mistaken friendship for love? And his outburst had me like ??????

If I was kareena I'd move on from the friendship.

This is the issue with nice guys. Everything they do is expected to be returned as romantic favours.

The music was fine, characters were unbearable, locations were good.

But nothing was "new", a typical Bollywood movie.

Wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

I hope Bollywood makes better movies than these and Imran khan comes back in movies. I would love another JTYJN.

Saw this movie yesterday. Not boring. The movie is only around two hours. And it has its funny moments.

But at the end, this movie is soooo light that, it gives you a feeling that you wasted your time watching it.

There is absolutely nothing happening in the movie. The story has been told hundred times already in bollywood.

Every one acted very well, especially Imran khan and Bomman Irani. Kareena kapoor has exactly same character as in Jab we met.

Songs did not make any impact.

All together I can give 6 out of 10 for its jovialness. But I would neither suggest this movie to my friends nor to my enemies.

Post Jab We Met, we've had a bunch of chirpy love stories release. Most of them had the same old concept of rich kids (either one) falling in love, then breaking up, and finally ending up together (Anjaana Anjaani, Break Ke Baad, etc). From the trailer, this pretty much looked like one of those films. There were even rumors of it being a Hollywood rip-off. But, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is nothing like those idiotic flicks, nor is it a rip-off. It's a very cute little movie with some excellent, if not brilliant performances.

Directed by débutant Shakun Batra, EMAET has its heart in the right place. It is not one of those typical love stories (I would in fact not categorize it as a love story). It's more of a lighthearted comedy with friendship as its backdrop. Imran Khan is getting better as an actor, Kareena, well, is just gorgeous, and their chemistry is great. Perfect casting, decent music, excellent cinematography, slick screenplay, what more do you need to make a good feature film??

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu might be predictable, but is a very well executed movie with a refreshing feel to it. Some might not like it, but I did, and suggest you go watch it.

For a detailed review, please visit sasikanth.me :)