Entertainment Bandwidth

Band Baaja Baaraat from the Yash Raj stables was music to the ears of cinephiles awaiting a rescue from weekend monotony. Anushka Sharma and Ranvir impressed with colloquial dilli charm. The simple story about two youngsters and their wedding planning agency Shaadi Mubarak sans Tashan hits bulls-eye.

BBB is about Janakpuri lass Shruti,who aspires to graduate from planning weddings in Janakpuri to those in Sainik Farms. Those familiar with Delhis social topography would get the underlying implications. It is a quantum leap of ambition from the mom-and-pop entrepreneur class to well,the moneybags.inc.,but nothing that some old-fashioned perseverance cant handle. So it is with Shruti,who along with newly-acquired friend Bittoo gets her act together and makes the league,but not before a heartbreak-and-other-lessons-in-life. Fortunately,for the auds,there is enough in the film to keep one engaged and the free-spirited performance by the lead pair makes the film immensely watchable. That Yash Raj Films has been experimenting with different stories,makers and actors is cause for cheer. They have had a few remarkable successes like Chak De! India,some failures and a few good movies that didnt work at the box-office but the good news is that creative churning continues. This year has been a mixed bag for the production house with Badmaash Company and Lafangey Parindey but Band Baaja Baraat should help them get back on track as far as wholesome entertainment for the family auds is concerned. Not too long ago,a senior actress had commented that YRF had moved from

family-centric entertainment to cinema better known for parading size-zero actresses in bikinis. A wasted exercise,it would appear. As Shruti would say,Bas aivai!!

Bom-Del

The Delhi-Mumbai debate refuses to settle down and one cant help the nagging feeling that somewhere,even with Bollywood films,Delhi has stolen a march over aamchi Mumbai.

A cursory look over memorable entries over the last couple of years will point northwards in the Dilli direction. Rang De Basanti,Khosla Ka Ghosla,Dev D,Delhi-6,Paa,Love Aaj Kal,Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!,Aisha and now Band Baaja Baaraat bring back endearing memories of Delhi to the audience.

The Capital citys intriguing juxtapositions its spanking new metro against Lutyens Delhi or seedy Daryaganj,Chandni Chowk,Connaught Place or Delhi University are offering Mumbais Queens Necklace,CST and Dharavi slums some stiff competition. The gangster cuss and tapori Mumbaispeak have begun to pale before the rough and tumble of Delhis Haryanvi-Punjabi accent. A reflection perhaps of the halo of Maximum City fast slipping off Mumbai8230; even within the film industry hitherto considered synonymous with the city. A tragedy indeed.