Luv Ka The End (Hindi)

Aditya Chopra

Producer:

Ashish Patil

Director:

Bumpy

Writers:

Ashish Patil,

Shenaz Treasuryvala,Roye Seagal,Nikhil Vyas

Cast:

Shraddha Kapoor,Taaha Shah,Jannat Zubair Rahmani,Archana Puran Singh,Pushtiie Shakti,Sreejita De,Bumpy,Rahul Pardasany, Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal,Riya Bamniyal Sp.app.: Ali Zafar,Shenaz Treasuryvala

Candidly,the promos do scant justice to the film — they seem dark,sadistic and at points even a trifle gross. The promos probably account for the poor opening of Luv Ka The End (the title turns out to be a ‘pun intended’) because the film comes as a complete and pleasant surprise.

In short,Y Films’ terrific beginning is assured by the full-on blast of entertainment that is this romantic comedy with a difference. Yes,to a large extent,it is the young generation from the cities that will identify completely with this film. Yet the value system is intact to enlarge the canvas of its audience to a broader level,and a subtle message is left for those among the young viewers who would care to absorb and assimilate it while enjoying the zany proceedings.

The whacky credit titles set the mood for the film. It would be a spoiler for the reader to know how exactly hero and rich brat Luv Nanda (Taaha Shah) betrays Rhea Dayaldas (Shraddha Kapoor),but what is relevant is that she decides to get even with him. Her loyal friends Jugs (Pushtiie Shakti) and Sonia (Sreejita De) are solidly with her,even when they almost land into trouble — and a lockup. Their main ally is Jugs’ silent admirer Karthikeyan (Rahul Pardasany) whose dad first exposes Luv. But in the exercise,which includes stripping Luv of his cronies,credit cards and car,Rhea also has to deal with a blackmailing younger sister Minty (Jannat Zubair Rahmani) whose extreme precociousness really needs a lot of suspension of disbelief,and a grandmother (Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal) who has a paranoid hatred for crows and a yen for profanities.

Slickly edited (Saurabh Kulkarni),smartly shot (Adil Afsar) and wonderfully scripted,the film is a triumph for debut director Bumpy who thankfully belies his name and gives the film a smooth,snappy momentum and the audience a evenly-fizzy ride to an apt climax,all in a story that unfolds over just two days. Ram Sampath’s songs are both melodious and zingy,and he scores even better in the background music,though the mixing levels could have been mellower. Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics are meaningful,especially in the Luv ka the end and Tonight (though the singer of this song makes the lyrics really difficult to follow with her atrocious accent).

The acting department scores high too. Shraddha Kapoor fully justifies the promise she exhibited in Teen Patti and intelligently interprets complex moods that could have been messed up by a lesser actor. Here’s another potential big star in the making. Taaha Shah is a perfect foil,and with the right self-grooming and choices he can go places.

The supporting cast (YRF should individually identify them in the end-credit titles) is uniformly excellent,and yet special mention is needed for Pushtiie Shakti,Sreejita De,Rahul Pardasany and Bumpy himself as Karthikeyan’s madcap father.

In short,YRF spins yet another slow starter and winner after Band Baaja Baaraat. Go for this perfect cocktail punch of a GenerationX film blended with tangy,classic Hindi film masala.

Rating:****

One star for Shraddha Kapoor,one for Ashish Patil’s concept and vision,one for the direction,script and entertainment quotient and one for the rest of the cast.