‘Raabta’ – all style, no substance
RAABTA (Connection). Directed by Dinesh Vijan. With Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon, Jim Sarbh, Rajkumar Rao. At Nu Metro, Canal Walk and Ster Kinekor, Cavendish Square. REVIEW: Mehboob Bawa
DÉBUTANTE director Dinesh Vijan’s reincarnation-inspired saga is a horrible mess with characters that shouldn’t have bothered coming back to the present day. Aside from some fun romantic scenes between the lead pair, the stunning Budapest locations and good music, the film is a tedious, plodding 147 minute bore. Talented actors are wasted with a screenplay that is mind-numbingly bad.
Saira, Shiv and Zakir share a connection from a previous life lived 800 years ago, in a land filled with characters that look like they stepped off the set of Game of
Thrones. The production design, visual effects and make up, especially the transformation of Rajkumar Rao into an old wrinkly man, is good, but it’s all style and no substance. In modern day Budapest, Shiv arrives from India to start a career in banking, not that we get to see him do much work. He’s always chasing girls and partying, until he meets Saira. There seems to be an instant connection for both. More for her though, as she’s been having strange dreams most of her life and he appears in them. They decide to have a relationship after two days. Shiv convinces her current boyfriend she is obviously not into him. To test the strength of their relationship, they decide to meet other people on a dare. Into their lives comes Zakir, a wealthy businessman who is intent on making Saira his own. He explains to her they were lovers in a previous life, which she comes to believe. Shiv is not into any of this reincarnation mumbo jumbo and when Saira disappears, he thinks she has taken up with Zakir. Eventually he discovers the truth and sets off to save her. Oh, and there’s a sub plot about a comet called “Love Joy” that’s making an appearance after 800 years and is connected to their past.
Writers Siddharth and Garima have concocted a frivolous screenplay from a gem of a good idea. Their execution and Vijan’s direction is disappointing. Sushant Singh Rajput has proven himself to be a capable actor and shares good chemistry with Kriti Sanon in the early scenes. But their characterisation is very sketchy and they really have nothing with which to work. Rao, another good actor, looks suitably eerie in his make-up transformation, but can deliver no punch in his scenes. Jim Sarbh, so effective as a terrorist in the hostage drama Neerja, is also wasted as Zakir. He tries to come across as suave, but is just creepy and eventually resorts to rants and raves. There are many laughable scenes in this film. One gem, which contains a spoiler; Zakir kidnaps Saira and immediately orders his bodyguards, there are many of them, to kill Shiv. Aside from three boozed-up junkies who attack Shiv many scenes later, only to get knocked out by our hero, there is no real attempt on his life by the bodyguards.
Audiences will marvel at the stunning location cinematography in Budapest by Czechoslovakian cinematographer Martin Preiss and enjoy some of the beautiful musical compositions, especially Deepika Padukone’s guest appearance item.
Raabta sounds like an idea that was suggested after the creators enjoyed a good round of drinks, but should never have seen the light of day. A film with a title that means connection sadly has a serious disconnection with its audience.