The first thing that strikes you about Tanu Weds Manu is a striking sense of familiarity. It wasn’t long before you saw Shahid Kapoor playing a similar sacrificial lover to Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met. And like poor Kareena, who tries too sort out her confused emotions against the backdrop of the big fat Punjabi wedding, Tanu too must decide who is better husband material, first amidst the hustle bustle of her best friend’s boisterous going-balle-balle baraat and then at her Kanpuria community haveli.
With a marriage in the background providing a perfect place for Tanu’s second chance meeting with Manu, the movie traces the relationship between the girl and the NRI. Surely, perfect material for sentimental romances with ‘comedy ka tadka’.
But there is something missing to make it a perfect romantic comedy. First, the script is punctured, then there is no chemistry between Madhavan and Kangna and if that was not enough, the narrative doesn’t flow at the desired pace – it’s slower than it should be.
Though the director picked up an interesting subject, he has not succeeded in executing his story effectively on screen – there are not enough laughs in the film. Whatever funny scenes are there, credit goes to the chemistry between Madhavan and Deepak Dobriyal who plays his friend Pappi.
Kangana’s dialogue delivery puts you little bit off and she lacks the spark to play the free bird that she is in the movie. In fact, Swara Bhaskar, who plays her friend Payal, holds the fort as the Bihari girl who is marrying a sardarji (Eijaz Khan) who also happens to be Manu’s best friend.
Critics won’t appreciate the plot but Madhavan fans would find enough material to enjoy the film.
Music plays an important role in a wedding-based romantic comedy and the director could have got it right if he had opted for fast-paced peppy numbers.
In the performance department, full marks go to Madhavan, Deepak and Swara. The supporting cast of K.K. Raina, Rajendra Gupta and Navni Parihar don’t have much to do, but whatever role they have, they carry it well. Jimmy Shergill as Kangana’s ruffian boyfriend is wasted, so is Ravi Kishen as his sidekick.
If you are looking for a great romantic comedy, this is not the one, but watch it for Madhavan and his chemistry with Deepak.
I will give 3.5 Stars
