Um Amor Magnífico

Shaandaar is a romantic comedy film directed by Vikas Bahl. Vikas has given hits like Chillar Party and Queen in the past. Shaandaar deserved a much shaandaar treatment by Vikas after his super successful film Queen. It is also claimed to be first Destination Wedding film of Bollywood. The film does use the motion picture in a few scenes where prelude to the plot is set and narrated by Naseeruddin Shah. Though the film starts on a high note of humour, but in the later parts of the film, the fun part falls flat, it fizzles down. The best part of the film is its cast - effortless Pankaj Kapur, spontaneous Shahid Kapur, bubbly Alia, cute Sanah. They definitely bring good moments on screen. I must say that, one can't just write off this movie. One can enjoy this film in parts for the charm that its actors bring on screen.

The film begins with the motion picture along with Naseeruddin Shah's narration, which sets the prelude to the plot. Bipin (Pankaj Kapur) adopts Alia (Alia Bhatt) and brings her home. Sushma Seth as Bipin's mother, matriarch of the Arora family, rules the house along with Bipin's wife (Niki Aneja). Both Sushma Seth and Bipin's wife are shown to be materialistic in nature. Though Alia is not accepted by both of them, she manages to deal with their hatred.

Alia's sister Eesha (Sanah Kapur, Shahid's real sister) is getting married to Robin Fundwani (Vikas Verma). It is more of a business deal for Sushma Seth and Harry Fundwani (Sanjay Kapoor), a merger of two major business houses of India. For Robin and Eesha also, it is just a compromise for family's sake. Robin is Harry's brother who is flaunting his 8 ½ packs throughout the movie. Harry glitters in gold, is obsessed with gold. He is getting his brother married to Eesha, since Sushma Seth has promised them the gold which equals the weight of Eesha (she is shown as plump girl). Both the families Aroras and Fundwanis travel for destination wedding. A fairy tale castle (probably in Europe) is chosen for this wedding.

Jagjinder Joginder aka JJ (Shahid Kapoor)'s entry happens in a completely filmy manner, his bike colliding with a vintage car driven by Bipin with his wife and daughters. This encounter, where the real father-son duo comes face-to-face on screen is funny. JJ happens to be the wedding organizer for Eesha-Robin's wedding.

Alia is an insomniac. It is great to see her chemistry with her on- screen father Pankaj Kapur whom she calls Beeps. He designs dreams for her and alia keeps all the dreams safe in a box saying that she would watch every dream when she would start sleeping. Coincidently JJ is also an insomniac. As can be predicted, in the background of wedding preparations, another love story blossoms between JJ and Alia in a very cool fashion. It is great to see father becoming possessive of his daughter when he realizes that there is another man in her life.

There are certain low points in the movie. Rather entry of Sanjay Kapur as Harry Fundwani unfortunately is a low point, since it breaks the flow of humour tone set up till then. Drag is felt post- interval. Towards the end, the film just nosedives into silly comedy, a beautiful plot is made into a series of silly sub-plots. A scene just prior to climax where a girl speaks up for her right to live, could have been a show-stopper scene, but the way it is handled on screen has trivialized the message.

Certain characters are just added in the film viz. twin sisters, mirroring everything; a small kid with bow and arrow ready to hit the target etc. Anjana Sukhani is just a filler, does not get a single dialogue in the film. Lot of characters viz. Bipin's brothers except the designer brother gets lost in the crowd.

Harry's way of identifying with every successful individual as Sindhis (even with Michael Jackson) does not generate much humour. Karan Johar does make a special appearance with 'Mehandi with Karan'. I am wondering whether these scenes were required at all? Music is average.

The best part of the film is definitely the moments between Alia- Shahid, Alia-Pankaj, Alia-Eesha. And the way, they have handled and ustified their respective characters, is surely going to bring smiles to your face.

How does the story move further? What happens to the destination wedding of Eesha-Robin? How does Alia-JJ's relationship shape up? What happens when Alia comes to know regarding her biological parents? How does she respond? How does Bipin deal with his daughter Alia's getting comfortable with JJ? What happens to Sushma Seth's business deal approach? Who actually benefit in the end?

Shaandaar definitely deserved a much shaandaar treatment by 'Queen' director Vikas Bahl. Shaandaar has its own moments of humour to entertain you, though the fun element nosedives into silly comical scenes later. Watch it, if you just want some very light-hearted stuff.

Its a shame that 'Shaandaar' fails to deliver. Director Vikas Bahl scored a century with his brilliant Queen, Lead-Actors Shahid Kapoor & Alia Bhatt have seen inspiring success off late, its produced by the so-called numero uno production houses - Dharma & The Phantoms & yet this BIG-BUDGETED Rom-Com lacks the fizz.

Reason? 'Shaandaar' stands on a faulty script & no film can rise above that. What is eventually served here, is a few moments that provide humour & the cast, who manage to keep you hooked, even when the script fails them.

'Shaandaar' Synopsis: Two loud, money-minded, big families come together for a wedding, that would turn them into in-laws. During this chaos, the wedding planner & the bride-to-be's stepsister, fall in love.

'Shaandaar' has a boring first-hour. The film begins tepidly & the interactions between the "families" is bland. The love-struck protagonists (Shahid & Alia) appear in the watchable bits, but then again, its just watchable, not entertaining. The second-hour picks up some momentum & even the climax is weirdly funny. Another glitch are the songs, which pop-up very frequently, but add nothing to the narrative.

Anvita Dutt Guptan's Screenplay is a letdown. Despite some funny moments & its lighthearted approach, this story, overall, has no soul. Vikas Bahl's Direction is listless. Seriously, Vikas? Cinematography is quite good. Editing is, at times loose & at times, crisp. Amit Trivedi's Soundtrack is good, but it doesn't add to the goings-on & hence it bores. We can hear the songs on our I-Pods instead! Art & Costume Design are overdone. Graphics are average.

'Shaandaar' is saved by its credible cast, who deliver admirably. Pankaj Kapur is simply FANTASTIC as Alia's father, who's constant Nok-Jhok with real-life beta Shahid, are among the better moments of the film. Shahid is decent, but is underused at most parts. Alia is effortlessly natural & immensely likable. Sanah Kapoor makes a fine debut, delivering a commendable performance as the overweight bride-to-be. Sushma Seth is perfectly wicked as the evil grandmother & Sanjay Kapoor enacts the unbearable Sindhi millionaire, with the correct amount of madness. However, Karan Johar's cameo is annoying & Naseeruddin Shah's voice-over is pathetic.

On the whole, 'Shaandaar' is anything but Fabulous! A Disappointment!

Only advice I give everyone who have plans to watch this is.. Do not watch.

If you still want to watch this leave your brain at home and go ahead, but even then you might not enjoy it.This movie is a disaster in every way.

Low budget short films are wayy better than this piece of crap!

This movie has no story and tries to make you laugh with endless nonsensical blabber.

Can't believe I wasted two hours on this crap.

Just don't watch!

There is nothing in the name of story. Idea to make love story of insomniacs, with some quirky characters sounds bright but outcome is very dull. Screenplay is in bits and pieces. Dialogues by Anwita Dutt is only good thing of this film. It make you laugh. Characterization is very bad. One person can't speak 'Insomniac' word properly but speaks fluent English after few scenes in Police Station. Person is afraid of dark and night but decides to go out in night for bike ride because makers have thought an interesting scene ahead. Yes of course, this love scene near water fall is good one. Very convenient plots like marriage for the sake of business. Adopted girl, over the top grand mother, who rules the family but do not mind to flirt with a wedding organizer of her grand son age. Literally, makers have preferred budget over brain. They go for bikini scene, which even they show repeatedly in end credit. How can I believe that director of Queen can think that a bikini scene can sail his movie!? Ridiculous. Unnecessary expensive animations. Caterpillar crawling on collar, butterfly flying on dress and lots of. Even for voice over they don't mind animations but what about creativity!? They have conceived cheesy scenes like 'Menhdi with Karan' because they could have afforded him. I was so irritated when they show the burning wheel chair cum sofa in end. What the F... was that? First half is slow, second half is very slow with a weird uninteresting climax. Performance wise Shahid Kapoor is balanced and acts good. Alia Bhatt is very good. She is too good in portraying care free girl. Pankaj Kapoor is good. Jalal Hunni as groom is OK. Choreography of all songs is grand. Songs look larger than life. Music by Amit Trivedi is fresh and foot tapping.

This film proves that Bollywood has run out of ideas.

Jagjinder Joginder (Shahid Kapoor) is a handsome wedding planner with a pack of wet sawdust for brain, hired by an over-smart, unknown queen for her granddaughter's union with a shirtless jackass. The sweet-toothed bride's sister is Alia (Alia "Aila" Bhatt), an insomniac, out of the world princess whose mysterious absence of lineage is the only source of pride in her as she goes swimming at 4 in the morning and collects her father's animated dreams to stay alive. That Alia has finally found her prince in Jagjinder and would like him to make love to her while she tries to dream a dream munching on a banana is what forms a small part of the rest of the story. The remaining, bigger part is taken by Pankaj Kapur's idiocy, Sanjay Kapoor's ugly tomfoolery, and the writers's butterfly-infested vomit.

The film is basically a fairytale romance with ounces of unnecessary animation all over the place. Glittery butterflies coming out of Alia's dress and making Jagjinder throw away his cigarette, impulsive doses of songs because as it turns out both the central characters of the film cannot sleep at night, and blatant melodrama that is worse than Star Plus soaps - the film is filled with fillers like these.

Then there is a cameo by Karan Johar, and I was done for the day. I don't understand why talented actors like Shahid Kapoor and veterans like his father would sign a project which introduces the characters using ugly cartoons. Ridiculous jokes, mindless slapstick, and a shade of black-and-white fairytale is what all the film is about. Not one character is a real deal, and if we had with us Holden from J D Salinger's classic book "The Catcher in the Rye," he would only have one word collectively to describe the film and its tons of characters: PHONEY.

BOTTOM LINE: Do yourself a favor and skip Vikas Bahl's epic fail, Shaandaar, because in here, the characters stay awake so that we can catch some shuteye. The trailer is misleading; don't fall for it.

GRADE: F

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES (But, do you really want to?)