What’s your Rashee? – Don’t mind the length , Enjoy the performances;Priyanka at her best!
Hmm………this one is a film I’ve found really hard to rate simply cause of many factors…primarly its length. Nevertheless , I guess after ‘Lagaan ‘ and ‘Jodha Akbar’ one would have a clear idea of the length of an Ashu (Ashutosh Gowarikar) film. So, here we are once again for yet another 3hr 20 min odd film.
Well, that shouldn’t discourage you!
The ace filmmaker, this time around tries his hand at something on a much lighter front after all the ‘Deshbhakti’ , ‘Cricket’ , ‘Galloping Horses’ etc …. Ashu tries his hand at adapting the novel ‘Kimball Ravenswood’ by Madhu Rye that has an interesting concept.
So what’s the movie about?
WHAT’S YOUR RAASHEE? is the story of Yogesh Patel [Harman Baweja], a young man who, in his heart, has always wanted a love marriage. Till suddenly he is told that he must find his dream girl within ten days to save his family from utter ruin. Finding the dream girl is tough enough. Finding her in a hurry is even tougher.
His solution is simple; he will meet one girl from each raashee – sun sign, as he feels that is the best way to make sure he finds a suitable wife, while also giving himself twelve chances to fall in love. Two meetings per day gives him six days to meet them, three days to make the final decision and he can get married on the tenth day, or so he thinks.
Well, all in all let me honestly admit that this definitely isn’t a kind of film you would expect from the likes of Ashutosh Gowarikar but who ever said that one can’t experiment or one has to stick to a particular genre of cinema ( take for. Eg. Priyadarshan as much as he was criticized for films such as ‘ Kaalapani ‘, he moved on to the comic capers like ‘Hera Pheri’ and yet again is returning to the genre by winning the national award with a film like ‘Kanchivaram’)
Ashu brings about a sense of freshness in his style firstly by casting one of bollywood’s most under-rated actor ‘Harman Baweja’ in the centre of all the drama. While many have written him off , Ashu brings forth Harman like never before- A TRUE SECOND CHANCE. Harman too lives up to it every bit, unlike ‘LOVE STORY 2050’ where much focus was on Harman’s dancing; this time around traits of a good actor are really showing.
What really interests me is that after casting Hrithik in his last, Ashutosh brings in Harman whom the media has blindly stated as ‘Hrithik’s Duplicate’. Nevertheless, only a good director can bring about the best in an actor by firstly having the ‘FAITH’ and the young lad brings out his individuality to the core .
Watch out for Harman in the sequences involving him and a very possessive father of the bride.
On the other hand , truly the movie belongs to Priyanka and the director works real well on the characterization of 12 different characters . Splendid work!
Right from the introduction of the very first character , you are in splits as the first Priyanka you encounter is snorting right at you! More and More Priyanka’s follow and trust me you are sure to laugh out loud for a few of them or surely fall in love with close to 4 of them ( well, I did!).
Before I get into Priyanka’s talent , I must state firstly that such brilliant characterization is the work of a talented director indeed. Each woman encountered besides looking different , brings about different traits of a women –some ambitious, some frank , some wounded , some rooted to their nation , some in a profession to help the needy etc…..
Priyanka was splendid in the character of the woman who was over-zealous about her business and wanted a contract marriage. The sequences here can give you that big smirk She also impresses as the doctor, the wannabe model , the school girl(my oh my! It’s real hard to recognize her here) , as the eccentric rich gujrati girl and more.
Darshan Jariwala and Anjan Srivastav are apt at expressing the typical Gujrati nature. Dayashankar Pandey has no scope.
Now the major drawback of the film is honestly the length and the 12 odd tracks for almost each ‘Rashee’. Thus, the screenplay starts loosening up a little here and there.
Also the ‘Bhai’ angle to the film could have been done with.
For me the most disappointing part was the ending of the film, but nevertheless watch it as just another time pass David Dhawan sort of film and you won’t be running around to grab Ashutosh by the collar. Also what comes as a saving grace is the Disclaimer at the beginning of the film reiterating that the film in no way endorses the idea of astrology or neither do the makers share the same view.
The music of the film is terrific , in such a long time comes an album with a spice of the real Gujrati touch , the true love songs and the songs blend in with the film track very well. The only problem being they are too many in number..hehe. ‘Pyaari Pyaari ‘ , ‘Jao Na’ , ‘Bhikri Zulfaen’ are truly soulful. Sohail Sen does a very good job and Jaaved saab’s lyrics strike the right chord.
Cinematography isn’t like the Jodhaa Akbar kinds , nevertheless Piyush Shah does well.
Finally , I know many people n fellow journalists are going to debate it with me out and out saying “Saala itni lambhi filam aaj kal kaun dekhta hain? Aaj kal multiplex ka zamaana hai “. To this, the answer may lie even in observing the success of last weeks ‘WANTED’ a slow starter at multiplexes, yet again 3hrs appx with loads of songs . Result- Major Hit ! Specially at Single screens with first week crossing the gross of ‘Khambaqt Ishq’s’ complete run at the box office.
Well , we may not expect the same here but the makers can kind find solace in Boney Kapoor’s recent quote- “Let Aditya Chopra make films for multiplexes. I’m happy reaching out to the masses.”
Rating – 3/5
Popularity: 3% [?]