Movie Review: Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, starring Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan, presents a love story that oscillates between moments of humor and boredom, ultimately delivering more disappointments than successes.
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke Movie Review:
The film introduces us to the Chawla and Dubey families, and initially, we anticipate a riotous comedy filled with fresh humor, unique characters, and a storyline that breaks away from Bollywood clichés. At first, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke seems promising, presenting relatable situations. However, it quickly descends into a cringeworthy experience, with exaggerated performances, a barrage of dramatic dialogues, and the depiction of a joint middle-class Pandit family living in a small house, relying heavily on Punjabi stereotypes. The inclusion of a “chant” bahu who allegedly entices their son and accidentally causes the family to consume a cake containing eggs adds to the exaggerated and over-the-top nature of the film.
The movie trailers themselves leave little to the imagination, revealing significant plot points and diminishing the element of surprise. Directed by Laxman Utekar, this romantic comedy attempts to juggle multiple storylines simultaneously, leaving viewers with unanswered questions at various junctures.
Set in the small town of Indore, the film introduces college sweethearts Kapil Dubey (Vicky Kaushal) and Somya Chawla (Sara Ali Khan), a happily married couple residing in a small house with Kapil’s vegetarian and religious family, including his parents, maternal uncle, aunt, and their young son. Kapil, a yoga instructor with a frugal mindset and middle-class mentality, contrasts with Somya, who hails from a modern Punjabi family, earns more by providing coaching classes, and aspires for a grander life. While they cherish their bond, Somya longs for privacy and dreams of owning her own dream house.
Unable to afford hefty EMIs, they resort to faking a divorce to become eligible for a government scheme that offers a lottery allotment for housing. Pretending to despise each other, they separate and start living independently. The extent of the ensuing drama and its eventual outcome form the crux of the plot.
The film, spanning 132 minutes, manages to avoid feeling dragged or unnecessarily prolonged. However, it has its moments of both highs and lows. While the highs fail to elicit a sense of awe, the lows are riddled with flaws and inconsistencies. The initial portions of the film exhibit a promising comedic tone, with light-hearted humor and well-timed jokes. Unfortunately, the second half loses direction, deviating from the romantic comedy genre and becoming unnecessarily melodramatic. The script offers nothing particularly unique or hilarious, ultimately becoming predictable and filled with errors. The flaws in writing and direction are hard to overlook.
The performances make an effort to salvage the film, albeit momentarily. Sara displays some restraint in her acting, evident in her actions and reactions. While there are instances where she goes overboard, it never reaches the point of annoyance. Vicky successfully portrays a range of emotions and maintains a romantic charm on screen. He convincingly embodies the small-town persona and maintains an authentic demeanor. The onscreen chemistry between Vicky and Sara is noteworthy, although not extraordinary, surpassing the shallow relationships often seen in typical guy-meets-girl rom-coms.
The supporting cast leaves a positive impression. Rakesh Bedi and Sushmita Mukherjee, playing Somya’s parents, bring humor and stay true to their characters. A scene involving Kapil and Somya’s father sharing drinks in a car, where the father attempts to understand the reason behind their divorce.
Music of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke movie:
The true standout aspect of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke is its music. For the first time in a long while, I found myself thoroughly enjoying every song in a film. Sachin-Jigar’s compositions, coupled with Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics, create a captivating vibe that lingers. “Tere Vaaste” resonates in your mind long after the film ends, and “Phir Aur Kya Chahiye” has already soared to the top of the charts. Additionally, the emotionally touching “Sanjha” strikes a chord with the audience. Although not featured in the film, “Baby Tujhe Paap Lagega” is already a lively and energetic party number.
Zara Hatke Zara Bachke presents itself as a relaxed and enjoyable family entertainer that won’t leave you bored. However, it lacks the ability to leave a lasting impact. The film offers a few moments of laughter and features some loud and memorable characters, making it a watchable experience. Nevertheless, the storyline could have benefited from greater depth, and a stronger screenplay would have enhanced the overall quality.