2 States movie review Hindi Movie Review
Womens page rate 2 states moview 4/5
Krish's relationship with his family, particularly his
mother, is better explored than his relationship with Ananya, which
results in 2 States being more of a deep and meaningful family drama than a romance, notes Paloma Sharma.
The one sure thing that is
common between North Indians and South Indians is that they crack jokes
at the expense of the community that resides far on the other side of
the country. Abhishek Verma's
2 States does the same, except that it has no qualms admitting to the same.
2 States takes the North-South divide extremely seriously
and since, according to the film, South Indians are from Venus and North
Indians are from Planet Red Bull, I should probably disclose here that
my loyalties lie on the Northern side since perspectives are bound to
differ based on culture and geography.
The film opens with Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor) settled on the sofa
of a psychiatrist's office as he narrates the story of his life. What
follows is the usual boy-meets-girl story.
They fall in love.
Their parents don't.
It's a well known fact that in India, you don't just marry the boy/girl, you marry their entire family.
2 States
chronicles Ananya Swaminathan and Krish Malhotra's trials as they try
to make their parents see that their love for each other is above the
petty lines of region and language, but their effort of bringing their
families together threatens to tear them apart.
2 States has more than its fair share of Madrasi-Punjabi
jokes. If it were a Bond film it would probably be called Stereotypes
Galore. It is a little annoying how, throughout the beginning of the
film, Krish uses his Punjabi-ness as an excuse for everything.
Sample this, "
Punjabi hoon. Khoon garam hota hai humara."
Uh huh.
Totally legit, bruh.
Krish's idea of courtship is, as Superwoman aka Lilly Singh pointed
out, "I, man. You, woman. So…" Krish freaks out when he sees Ananya
wearing shorts and behaves quite immaturely until he finally confesses
his feelings.
In the beginning the relationship is all biology (which really makes
it annoying to watch), but something about spending time with Ananya
sees Krish growing up. Ananya, for her part, seems to be completely
sorted with hardly any internal conflicts and very little back story.
However, it is a relief that the film does not see her losing herself
and being someone she's not just because love and marriage have come
into the equation.
You see Krish's character evolve from childish and afraid to grown up
and confident, and though the journey is sweet, it is a tad long at
two-and-a-half hours.
Since I am privy to the information that
2 States is based
on Chetan Bhagat's semi-autobiographical, eponymous novel, I cannot stop
imagining his head on Arjun Kapoor's body for the initial moments in
their courtship. But Kapoor grabs the reins the moment Ronit Roy, who
plays his father, enters the scene and the full force of the turbulent
relationship between father and son hits you.
Scenes between Roy and Kapoor are intense and almost alive. The
circle of alcohol, abuse and anger, and its devastating effects on a
family are portrayed delicately. Nothing is too graphic but the
understanding of what you are compelled to read between the lines is
more powerful than any amount of dramatic shows being put up. Verma
handles abuse with the proper sensitivity, which is a rarity for
Bollywood.
Krish's relationship with his family, particularly his mother, is
better explored than his relationship with Ananya, which results in
2 States being more of a deep and meaningful family drama than a romance.
On the other hand, Ananya's relationship with her family, her
conflicts with her mother and her closeness to her father, her parents'
marriage, her mother's musical troubles and her father's dislike for
Chennai remain unexplained. The Swaminathan's sudden warming up to Krish
seems unlikely if they are as conservative as the film claims they are.
This makes the family drama seem a little one-sided.
Amrita Singh plays the typical Punjabi mother to the T and the clash
of cultures makes for a highly amusing watch. As someone who has not
read the novel, the narration, though humorous, feels a little
inconsistent. Though I cannot put a finger on it, I feel like I'm
missing out on something that's supposed to provide the link between one
scene and the next.
The romance is a slightly unbelievable. It flows a little too
smoothly and often gets wrapped up by showcasing a montage of
lovey-dovey clips played to a song. Krish seems to have superhuman
strength as he starts his day at 6 am by providing IIT coaching to
Ananya's younger brother, Manju, moves on to work and ends it by
romancing his lady without as much as developing dark circles or
exhibiting signs of tiredness.
The song-and-dance sequence at Krish's cousin's wedding undermines
the seriousness of the culture clash but provides a good enough
opportunity for
2 States to take a strong, unapologetic and
rather hilarious stand on dowry -- something that we North Indians have
normalised a little too much.
Although Aliaa Bhatt seems more Kareena Kapoor Jr in the initial
stages in the film, she really grows into the character and makes you
believe that she's a career-oriented IIM-A grad. Arjun Kapoor for his
part is Krish. You don't see the guy from
Gunday. You only see Krish Malhotra. Although, given his character's inclinations, one would think that he's button up his shirt.
2 States might be a romance but it takes romanticism too
far. In the age of computers, Krish sets out to write his novel on a
typewriter out of a broken heart. Moulin Rouge, much?
The film is really cheesy but I won't hold that against it.
Stereotypes are never lacking and even though, as a North Indian, I
understand what the film is trying to say about different points of view
of looking at the same thing, I also find the extent that they take it
to a little offensive.
I find it a little hard to believe that in today's world Tamilians
and Punjabis hold such views about each other. This is not to say that
it is untrue but that it is difficult to digest for someone from a metro
who has had friends from all communities throughout their life.
2 States' romantic angle is a little difficult to connect
given the way it is moved along in such a hurry in order to incorporate
everything, but the family side of the bargain is truly touching. I
ended up crying at least thrice in the film. The father-son relationship
is bound to bring tears to one's eyes. Redemption is closer than it
seemed before. But the end is a little too convenient. Forgiveness does
not just come automatically, just because you want it to, after enduring
screams, broken glasses and empty chairs.
Nevertheless, there's nothing that should keep you from watching
2 States. If you're as
desi as I am and get senti about maa, there's no way you won't run home after watching this film and give your mother a big hug.
Performances
While Alia Bhatt
is consolidating her position in the industry with very film she is
doing (from downright flashy and deliberately over-the-top in Student Of
The Year to refreshingly stunning in Highway and now brilliant in 2
States), Arjun is proves how he can grow on you as a performer slowly,
but surely. The 21-year-old spunky Alia has absolute disregards for the
camera, but she seamlessly switches her body language and facial
expression as per the way in which a shot is mounted and a sequence is
designed. Her range is promising and ease unbelievable. Arjun too has
matured into a remarkably promising actor since his
Ishaqzaade days.
And then you have the supporting cast who are as much a part of the
storyline as the lead couple. Amrita Singh as the loud, flashy yet
hopelessly loving Punjabi mom is both hilarious and captivating. Revathi
is deliciously cute and funnily conservative . The veteran has a
dignified screen presence. The deliberation in her performance and
hesitation she has employed while portraying an adorable Tamilan mother
is unmistakable. ( Watch her croon karnatic song and swiftly switching
to a Hindi number pictured on her from a Salman Khan starrer decades ago
will make you whistle) Shiv Kumar Subramaniam has played Ananya’s stern
but malleable father with conviction and Ronit Roy has proved with his
acting prowess that he needs more substantial roles that can serve
justice to his craft.
Final verdict:
Hate Chetan Bhagat or love him, loath his books or swear by them but
you certainly can’t ignore him and most certainly you can’t ignore this
delicious movie made with sincere efforts and heart. If you are madly in
love, lonely without love or in search of love, you must catch this
one, for falling head over the heels for someone is not enough.
Sometimes taking a step further to take affection to its logical
conclusion- no matter how the odds are stacked – initiates the beginning
of a happy ending. For now it is advisable to enjoy the journey, the
process and the mush will follow!
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