The advent of OTTs has made mid-budget and small films meaningless on the big screen.
Either they don’t release in the theaters or, when they do, the audience is least interested in giving them a chance.
However, this seems to be changing recently and Laapataa Ladies is a part of that change.
The comedy-drama film is the latest Hindi movie to hit the silver screen.
Here is my review.
Laapataa Ladies Synopsis
Deepak mistakenly comes home with the wrong bride and triggers a series of funny but realistic twists. The question is, can things fall into place once again?
Directed by Kiran Rao, the movie stars Pratibha Ranta (Jaya), Sparsh Shrivastava (Deepak), Nitanshi Goe (Phool), Ravi Kishan, and Chhaya Kadam, among others.
What Works for Laapataa Ladies?
A village setting from the 2000s and an idea that is attractive from the word go, Laapataa Ladies has a slaying hook.
It begins with a marriage scene in a village, where Deepak, the groom, is getting hitched to Phool, the bride. The couple travels on a train to reach Deepak’s hometown. While at it, he confuses another co-passenger, who is also dressed as a bride, for Phool, and deboards with the wrong lady.
The concept is not superficial per se. We keep hearing about such cases happening across rural India. Laapataa Ladies adds humor, drama, and subtle progressive thoughts to increase its value.
More or less, it succeeds in doing so. I liked the direct conversations that reflect the regressive thinking many of us still promote.
The light-hearted vibes of the movie and the authentic village setup take you back in time when life used to be gadget-free and less complicated.
For a while, there are instances where you might actually believe to have been transported back to 2001.
Genuine characters, quintessential buffaloes, and enthusiastic kids running around, team up to give wings to its intentions.
Cities have made villages inconsequential; won’t you agree?
Nevertheless, Laapataa Ladies has comedy in its very nature but the incorporation of wit doesn’t work entirely well (more on this later).
Moreover, the emotional conscience of the movie comes together in the second half.
Laapataa Ladies embraces women’s empowerment in its entirety.
A hard-hitting drama, the storyline strikes the right chord, especially towards the end when the climax of the tale invites goosebumps.
The movie’s pure endeavors work like a charm, its calm idea brings wholesomeness, and the reformative stand makes you rise in awe and clap in admiration.
Dialogues like, “ab auraton ki pasand ka khaana banega?”, and “ek baar Ghoonghat le liya toh aage nahi neeche dekhkar chalna seekho,” rightly reflect the patriarchal mindset prevalent in India even today.
Laapataa Ladies has a soothing background score running across the runtime to multiply the impact of certain scenes.
In essence, it might not make you cry but the eventual culmination of the story will stimulate you enough to stand up and cheer so that more such stories, that we, as audiences, have forgotten, come to the fore or the theater, for that matter.
How are the Performances?
Pratibha Ranta makes a sensational debut in a rooted role. She makes herself available for the character and that’s the best part of her resilient depiction.
Ranta’s performance can become a beacon of hope for so many Indian women who dream big but are restricted by society.
She emotes well, hones the accent, and uses expressive means to evolve the plot.
Sparsh Shrivastava surprises you with his emotional acuity. The actor has a brilliant hold on his vocal intonations that strengthens his demeanor as a whole.
A broken man longing for a loved one, Sparsh delivers the required sentimental presence. Moreover, his amazing diction does the trick for Deepak.
Ravi Kishan is the flavor of Laapataa Ladies. His articulate presentation of a rural cop brings laughs and cheers to the theater.
Kishan, known for his dialogue delivery, doesn’t disappoint in this enunciation as well. He leads the way for the other actors and steers the narrative in the right direction.
Nitanshi Goel emerges as a rockstar. Her sweet, quiet, and held-back act enriches the storyline with innocence.
Her performance not only creates a tender space in the audience’s hearts but also skillfully nurtures and develops it consistently throughout the narrative.
I cannot end this section without mentioning Chhaya Kadam’s dexterous act. She does something highly unexpected on the screen.
What Doesn’t Work for Laapataa Ladies?
Unfortunately, the movie could have been crisper for the masses.
Some comedy scenes don’t leave the desired impact and fail to evoke laughter although they do try a lot to be chuckle-worthy.
Sometimes, the messaging becomes too preachy, which could have been avoided.
The problem isn’t the message or the messenger, but their execution at certain points. A more nuanced approach was the need of the hour.
And Laapataa Ladies is in itself the answer to its own problems. The movie is subtle at various stages but it is also kind of tenuous on other occasions.
At the halfway mark, you wouldn’t find it sumptuous. But if you wait till the end, this Kiran Rao directorial will change your heart.
Watch or Not?
Laapataa Ladies is a very good film but it tests your patience intermittently. Still, it is a must-watch in the theater.
Does Aamir Khan Have a Cameo in Laapataa Ladies?
No, there is no cameo by Aamir Khan in the movie.
Leave a Reply