'Dhadak' movie review: Lacks the intensity of Sairat but worth your time

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Dhadak movie review: Lacks the intensity of Sairat but worth your time

Dubai - Watch it for the fresh pairing of Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter.

By Anita Iyer

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Published: Sat 21 Jul 2018, 2:46 PM

'Dhadak' is the official remake of the Marathi blockbuster 'Sairat', that went on to become the highest grossing Marathi film of all times.
Comparisons are bound to happen when Karan Johar takes the rustic 'Sairat' and remakes it into a glossy 'Dhadak', giving it the grandeur befitting a Dharma film.
In 'Dhadak', Janhvi Kapoor makes her debut as a feisty Parthavi, the daughter of a politician, played by Ashutosh Rana, in Udaipur.

Ratan Singh can go to any lengths to win the election and his daughter's love story becomes a sore thumb when it's judgment time.
Ishaan Khatter (Madhukar Bagla) in his second film, as a love-struck Romeo, is effortless.
He ably shares the responsibility of the film on his shoulders along with his debutant partner.
The pairing is fresh and Janhvi is pleasing to the eyes. As it is her debut, she appears raw in some scenes but there is definitely a potential for her to blossom - the same way we saw Alia Bhatt transform herself after 'Student of the Year'.
The couple breathes life in the film and presents to us a story that is relatable.
The innocence of first love, the frivolousness of involving your friends in your story, and the unquestionable commitment towards each other - there are moments that you might connect with.
Rana as the ruthless politician and the disapproving father is frightening. One scene of him asking the forlorn Parthavi to smile after winning the elections gave us the chills.
The first half of the film is breezy and we know much of it from the trailer. It is the second half that you wait to unravel on the screen.
As it sets in, the film seems to get scattered, but wait until the duo grip you again with their charm.
Director Shashank Khaitan has excelled the romantic genre with films like 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania', 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' and has a knack for telling small-town stories and excels with 'Dhadak'.
Cinematographer Vishnu Rao beautifully captures the spirit of Udaipur and his camera displays the city in its full glory.
There are also some fleeting shots of Kolkata and Mumbai that will grab your attention. Apart from the original storyline, the makers also retained the original music composers, Ajay-Atul and the popular foot-tapping song, Zingaat.
The composer duo, known for their melodic compositions, weave some romantic numbers that don't seem excessive in the film.
Special mention should be made of John Steward Eduri for his pulsating background scores, which help elevate the tension as the couple elopes from the hands of their perpetrators.
'Sairat' become a sleeper hit of 2016 as its tragic ending struck a chord with the movie-goers.
Revealing whether the climax has been retained or changed will be a spoiler. So, you need to head to the movie theatres to figure it out.
But be prepared to be shocked as the film ends on a tragic note (and that's not a spoiler).
Going for 'Dhadak' keeping 'Sairat' in mind could leave you disappointed as the film lacks the intensity of the original.
Watch it as a fresh film and give the young actors a chance to win your heart.
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, Ashutosh Rana, Kharaj Mukherjee
Directed by: Shashank Khaitan
Ratings: 3/5 Playing in cinemas near you.
anita@khaleejtimes.com


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