"What's the most important thing for a marriage? Love... But not in Indian families, there are a few more steps. The girl and boy have to love each other. The boys family has to love the girls family, the girls family has to love the boys family and in the end, if there is any love left, the boy and girl get married" (sounds better in Hindi) was one of my favorite dialogues from the movie. There are two perspectives I have of the movie; the first as an Iyer girl watching the movie and the second as a fan of the book watching the movie.
I read 2 States by Chetan Bhagat two years ago and I fell in love with the characters, with Krish who transforms from a childish to someone more mature as he faces the challenge of loving the pretty Iyer girl Ananya who is headstrong, stubborn and places her family above all else. I connected with Ananya, not just because of her heritage, but also because of her character. There was always a part of me that appreciated her for standing up for her parents when all else seemed destined to work against their way, but there was a romantic in me that disliked her for not trusting her love enough. Krish on the other hand, who is torn between his melodramatic mother and his headstrong girlfriend is rather cute and enjoyable as a character but to see Arjun Kapoor become Krish and bring the character I imagined in my mind to life was amazing and it thrilled me. Initially I was completely unconvinced that Alia Bhatt could play Ananya, but I was so wrong. Alia brought out the best and worst of Ananya with such ease and it was so wonderful to see her speak in Tamil!
Ananya's parents were amazing, the passive types but Mrs. Swaminathan was always my favorite because she showed the love and compassion I could see in my own other and Sri Revathi brought her out so wonderfully and I was so moved by the acting. What I was rather disappointed with was Mr. Swaminathan, he was so much more active in the book, in the movie, he was just a play piece who wasn't used to the full potential of the actor. Amrita Singh was amazing as Krish's mother! She was a perfect blend of the maternal love and melodramatic, stereotypical Punjabi mother. Her dislike of Ananya and her parents showed so exquisitely in the movie, but the fear and disappointment from her own marriage hits you strongly. Speaking of which, Ronit Roy, as Krish's father was just pure brilliance. His mood swings, his alcoholism, his frustrations with his son, wife and life in general were done to the tee and I loved him and hated him at the same time. The actors were so well casted in their roles that I didn't feel any type of hiccup in the movie because of the roles they played. Even minor actors like Duke and the random IIM-A guys were so hilarious that the story was further enhanced by it.
As an Iyer girl though, it pissed me off that they messed up the traditions. To me the Iyer wedding has always been the dream, not just because I am Iyer, but because the whole tradition bit makes it so very interesting. I was glad that they kept the whole garlanding and tying the thread ceremony in the typical style, but I'd have loved to see parts of the Big Fat Iyer wedding :P. Other than that, I loved seeing rebellious Ananya step out of the boundaries of what characterizes Iyer girls (no non veg, no drinking, etc) and it was refreshing to see Alia play that role with a seeming ease.
Another thing I loved about the movie is the ending where there is an understanding between the generations. The question posed is: why do parents oppose to us choosing our own partners? It's not as if our love for them changes if we loved someone other than who you choose.. The answer came in a rather beautiful fashion: they want to see you happy, but if you can show them that your happiness comes from this other person; they would be able to eventually see past that difference.
Overall, it was a wonderful movie, but if given the chance, I'd rather watch the second half of the movie rather than the first. The first half of the movie focuses on the blossoming of love which is a tried and tested movie. What makes it different is the second half where they fight for the love and eventually take it to the next step, in a way that fits the current generation and as Ananya puts it " I want my parents to be at my wedding and I want to watch them be the happiest people in the place"
I read 2 States by Chetan Bhagat two years ago and I fell in love with the characters, with Krish who transforms from a childish to someone more mature as he faces the challenge of loving the pretty Iyer girl Ananya who is headstrong, stubborn and places her family above all else. I connected with Ananya, not just because of her heritage, but also because of her character. There was always a part of me that appreciated her for standing up for her parents when all else seemed destined to work against their way, but there was a romantic in me that disliked her for not trusting her love enough. Krish on the other hand, who is torn between his melodramatic mother and his headstrong girlfriend is rather cute and enjoyable as a character but to see Arjun Kapoor become Krish and bring the character I imagined in my mind to life was amazing and it thrilled me. Initially I was completely unconvinced that Alia Bhatt could play Ananya, but I was so wrong. Alia brought out the best and worst of Ananya with such ease and it was so wonderful to see her speak in Tamil!
As an Iyer girl though, it pissed me off that they messed up the traditions. To me the Iyer wedding has always been the dream, not just because I am Iyer, but because the whole tradition bit makes it so very interesting. I was glad that they kept the whole garlanding and tying the thread ceremony in the typical style, but I'd have loved to see parts of the Big Fat Iyer wedding :P. Other than that, I loved seeing rebellious Ananya step out of the boundaries of what characterizes Iyer girls (no non veg, no drinking, etc) and it was refreshing to see Alia play that role with a seeming ease.
Another thing I loved about the movie is the ending where there is an understanding between the generations. The question posed is: why do parents oppose to us choosing our own partners? It's not as if our love for them changes if we loved someone other than who you choose.. The answer came in a rather beautiful fashion: they want to see you happy, but if you can show them that your happiness comes from this other person; they would be able to eventually see past that difference.
Overall, it was a wonderful movie, but if given the chance, I'd rather watch the second half of the movie rather than the first. The first half of the movie focuses on the blossoming of love which is a tried and tested movie. What makes it different is the second half where they fight for the love and eventually take it to the next step, in a way that fits the current generation and as Ananya puts it " I want my parents to be at my wedding and I want to watch them be the happiest people in the place"
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