Dhanush rises to Bollywood occasion
★ BACKGROUND
WHENEVER the subject of Raanjhanaa crops up, my description of the lead star, Dhanush, is always, “He’s the Kolaveri guy”. Everyone remembers him for his super successful hit song in the movie 3, but he is also a great actor. Included in his list of successes in Tamil cinema is a National Award for Aadukalam in 2011. Now he ventures into Bollywood for the first time opposite Sonam Kapoor for a flick by Anand Rai, who made a successful directorial debut with the hit flick Tanu Weds Manu.
★ STORY THE plot is about a teenage romance between Kundan (Dhanush), a Hindu guy, and Zoya (Kapoor), a Muslim girl. Zoya’s parents object to their romance and she is sent to live with family away from Kundan. When they meet eight years later, Kundan is still deeply in love with Zoya, but her feelings have changed with the arrival of Jasjeet (Abhay Deol), a budding politician. ★ PERFORMANCES
THE unusual but extremely talented cast work well for this project. Both Dhanush and Kapoor are brilliant. The Kodambakkam star makes an effortless transition to Bollywood and is powerful in every scene. His emotions are perfect as he easily transforms himself from the mischievous student to the more focussed lover. Kapoor finally returns to form and, yet again, displays her grace and potential as an actress. Deol proves reliable in the supporting role. ★ DIRECTION RAI is definitely a filmmaker to watch. Although this is only his second outing, he delivers an enjoyable romance that offers a range of different and complex emotions. He does well in showcasing the first romance between Kundan and Zoya. Although the first half is thoroughly enjoyable, the political deviation should have remained in the background. This movie sparked interest from the moment the trailers were released.
★ MUSIC
AR RAHMAN has another winner with this score. ★ OVERALL
RAANJHANAA is really enjoyable and, despite a slight drag at times, works — especially as the climax unfolds in an unusual and riveting manner. The highlight, however, is Dhanush, who is a welcome addition to the Bollywood ranks as he rises to the occasion with a heart-warming performance.