Just Married: Marriage Was Only the Beginning!

As a Westerner watching another culture's view and tradition of marriag, I found Just Married mesmerizing and delightful. The idea of marrying a stranger through the mutual arrangement of parents is difficult, especially in this modern age. Yet this is the case in this Hindi film. Told with humor, and fresh perspective, we learn of Abhay and Ritika who have only met once and are now on their traditional five day honeymoon. As said, it is difficult to believe in this cell phone affluent age that such an archaic custom as an arranged marriage still take place. We see the awkwardness that this young couple feels as they come together on their first night, and how they try to forge a bond, even though they do not know one another. We see different views of marriage and commitment as presented by the other couples also on holiday, from a couple of forty years married to others still unsure of making marital commitment. There's song, witty dialog, poignant moments, blending and comparison of new ways and tradition. Watching the movie with subtitles definitely loses some of the trueness of the story, yet it is still a delight to watch. Granted some of the plot is a little trite and the bus incident a bit drawn out and contrived; however the overall movie was worth watching.

Fardeen and Esha have sadly worked on some not so great movies. But this is one of Fardeen's very good work- I loved him in Jungle, Pyaar tune kya kia, No entry, Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Om Jai Jagdeesh, Love ke lie kuch bhi, and this is another awesome movie of his.

Such a soft and realistic movie. Nothing less to be expected as it is a Meghna movie. I have recommended this movie to quite a few people. Fardeen and Esha have done a wonderful job. No overacting from Esha, and Fardeen suited the role well.

Do watch it, it is about real issues post arranged marriage (where bride and groom don't know each other well before getting married) and the tone of the movie is very sweet. No overdramatic scenes and unnecessary drama.

This was a sweet, quiet little love story about a couple that are perfectly suited for each other but don't realize it because they've been married before they could truly meet each other. The movie chronicles their love story that begins with their marriage.

There are small details throughout the film that are exciting to discover & show just how much attention the writer & director put into this film.

The music is lovely, there are no random dance scenes in Switzerland, the rain, etc. It's just a simple love story that has the protagonists find the solution to their problem by themselves.

A common man would just write off Just Married as another Honeymoon Travels Ltd. While the latter got attention owing to the tag "makers of Don", the former largely went unnoticed. Similarities are many and no two ways to that. Both have a single elderly couple in the group and both have surprises hidden under the Pandora's box. However believe me - this movie is a realistic take on subject and, the emotions, predicaments and frustrations are handled deftly.

Fardeen – Esha track:: One word "excellent" and you can almost identify with both immediately. Hog the limelight big time owing to which the other couples go out of focus.

Bikram Saluja - Perizaad:: Track is good and spills beans at the beginning.

Mukul Dev - Sadiya Siddiquie track:: Needed more screen time. Plus there was no addition to the main track.

Raj Zutshi - ????:: Hardly remember anything about it. Should have just edited out.

Satish Shah - Kiron Kher:: Very much believable – provide screen relief. Folks get ready, we are all going to look like them in a few years.

The songs are good carrying the usual Gulzar touch but strangely not popular as they ought to be.

And the climax.... was it warranted? Does it have to be OTT - Bollywoodish every time? Can't it just be a silent realisation?

Finally about the director Bosky Gulzar – just like others I have seen her work with microscopic eye. Being Gulzar's daughter is a daunting task indeed. I was expecting her to go one-notch up post-Filhaal, but now I am confused. Regardless, she handled the delicate subject very sensitively and should be applauded for that. Lets see what Dus Kahaniyaan has in store.

Bottomline:: She sure has talent.

PS: Both Meghana and Vishal Bharadwaj draw creative input from Gulzar – strange!

The movie is simple and thus different. No singing or dancing around the trees, no clichés, no hero saving the heroine. This is a mature look at life after marriage. At the beginning, the commentary is a little boring, but once the honeymoon starts, the movie becomes indulging and interesting. Fardeen Khan does a great job, and Isha Deol simply shines in this down to earth portrait of a middle class Indian girl. Her being gorgeous doesn't exactly hurt the movie either. Satish Shah and Kiran Kher play the grumpy, tired yet in love couple with perfection. The movie is funny and provides some food for thought. I would recommend this to someone with patience and not looking for an item number.