Film Review: Befikre

Those who entered the auditorium a few seconds late would be forgiven for presuming that they were watching a documentary on ‘The Art of Kissing’ — thank you, Mr. Pahlaj Nihalani!

A half century after ‘An Evening in Paris’ (1967), and against the backdrop of the sights and sounds of Paris, comes a musical rom-com from the YRF stable. Aditya Chopra’s fourth directorial venture in 21 years, and his first in eight, ‘Befikre’ has Delhiite Dharam Gulati (Ranveer Singh) coming to Paris to work as a stand-up comedian. Meeting the French-born Indian Shyra Gill (Vaani Kapoor) it’s love-and-kisses at first sight; well the kisses begin only after our hero wins an I-dare-you bet that of slapping a police officer.

The film begins with a break-up scene between Dharam and Shyra. In more than one flashback , good friends then, a liaison now, companions then i we are shown their live-in relationship, celebrating their break-up and Shyra’s openhearted relationship with her parents. All this, till Shyra meets Anya (Armaan Ralhan), a highly successful investment banker who proposes to her. On the rebound Dharam decides to get married to Christine, a French girl. The entire premise of the film boils down to a stray statement by Dharam in the film which compares love to bungee jumping with no guarantee of safe landing.

There are references to Garam Dharam and DDLJ. ‘Befikre’ is a light-hearted, frothy and a bold — and at most times beautiful — take on love and relationships.

One almost loses count of the series of smooches (passionate and ardent) and songs in the film. Vishal and Shekhar have done a fairly decent job in the music department (not all of it original though). Ranveer and Vani, as the now on, now off couples deliver a power-packed performance. Their chemistry too, sizzles especially in the rumba-tango dance towards the end.

Now, only if Aditya Chopra hadn’t fallen prey to the clichéd Bollywood scenes in the church…