Amit and Manjiri are a newly married couple longing for privacy in their family's overcrowded flat. As Manjiri becomes pregnant, they strive to move into their own apartment despite facing financial constraints. The film revolves around the struggles they encounter while trying to establish their own home.
The film's simple storyline, relatable to today's society, coupled with decent performances by the actors, visually appealing cinematography, and its emotional theme, are its most significant strengths.
While perhaps not an acting masterclass, both lead actors delivered their best in portraying their characters. Initially, their performances didn't resonate with me, but as the story progressed, their acting became natural and authentic. Mukta Barve and Ankush Choudhary also shared excellent chemistry. Vandana Gupte was equally compelling as the leading actors, fully embodying her character and undoubtedly becoming my favorite. She evokes tears in emotional scenes and laughter in comedic ones, proving to be the perfect choice for the mother's role. Asawari Joshi's cameo was also delightful. Additionally, Vidyadhar Joshi gave a commendable performance in his role.
The film's pace is rather slow but remains engaging. Sameer Vidwans effectively brought out the emotional depth of the storyline, making the emotional scenes particularly impactful. The plot felt logical and well-suited for Desi Indian couples. However, I felt the storyline's tension could have been enhanced. The dialogues were natural, leading to a predictable yet satisfactory ending.
The cinematography effectively captures both the urban landscape of Mumbai and intimate character moments, often utilizing naturalistic nighttime lighting. VFX subtly enhance the atmosphere, creating snowy scenes or dreamy backdrops without being the central focus. The production design grounds the film in real Mumbai locations while also creating stylized settings for emotional impact. The editing was smooth.
The music by Jasraj, Saurabh, and Hrishikesh was good, especially the background score, which deeply enriched the film's emotional aspects. However, I didn't connect strongly with the soundtrack, except for the song "Mohini" by Shreya Ghoshal and Jasraj Joshi.
Overall, the film conveys a message to both parents and children. For parents, it encourages supporting their children's dreams and respecting their need for privacy. For children, it advises not to fear taking risks and to at least try to achieve their aspirations.
In conclusion, 'Double Seat' is an effective romantic drama suitable for family viewing and highly recommended to young, recently married couples.
