- Date of Release: 08 March 2023
- Genre: Comedy, Romance
- Language: Hindi
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar
Introduction
It is Holi and The Big Mid-Week release is finally here! And with that I finished watching the new Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor starrer Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar which is directed by Luv Ranjan. If you have been following the filmography of the director then you would exactly know the zone that he pitches the film in. The Luv Ranjan Universe is essentially misogynistic filled with casual sexism with women being the vamps and men being the victims. Now while I may not completely agree with the politics of the world, I have to admit that his films are supremely entertaining. There is a thread of relatability as far as his films are concerned and that is that one factor that has worked really well for him and the viewers.
Rom-Com has been a receding genre as far as the Hindi Film Industry is concerned. There was a time when films like Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani or Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na would open to packed houses. But more importantly, these films did form a lasting impression for me in my adolescent years. And post the pandemic, there was chatter on how films in this genre does not have an audience given the OTT space where thrillers are ruling the roost. So keeping that in mind, when the trailer of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar was launched, this probably did seem like a final throw of the dice and almost a make or break film for this genre. And I say that because on either side of the film, I have not and do not see films lined up in the Rom-Com genre. While the trailer did seem to be promising, I had my fingers crossed about the film which was in itself quite good looking. So then does Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar manage to impress, lets find out.
Story & Screenplay
Before I start this section, I must applaud the marketing team for cutting such a vibrant trailer which did tease the audience without giving out any spoilers. And precisely for that reason, I would be keeping the plot of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar under wraps as anything that I say beyond the fact that this is a Rom-Com would act as a spoiler. But the story here felt refreshing given the dearth of films in this genre for a while. I was really drawn into the vibe of the film that ticked most boxes for a fun outing at the theatres! The screenplay standing at about a 159 minutes may seem a little daunting but it turned out to be an absolute blast!
One of the features of the drama that demands you attention straight up is the pitch of the film which is slightly on the higher side. You may take a while to get used to the tone of the drama to begin with but once you settle in, there are rewards to be had. The drama opens in spectacular fashion with that hilarious opening sequence that does set the ball rolling for things to follow. While watching the drama unfold, I realised that I really did miss this genre a lot – pretty looking people, beautiful locations, Interesting doses of humour and plenty of romance with some foot tapping music and an even catchier choreography, I had missed it all. And all of that dif formulate into a fabulous entertainer.
The first hour though does have its share of shortcomings which are really subjective. It is frivolous(much like all Luv Ranjan films barring Akashvaani) with several scenes of verbal diarrhea that seem to go on and on. But this is all that you have signed up for and while I do understand that you may take a while to get adjusted to, the pitch of the drama does stay consistent which was a great thing. The proceedings are interesting and engrossing as I couldn’t help but witness the magic of the Luv Ranjan Universe kicking in. Yes, there is casual sexism here too but this film isn’t all about women bashing!
The drama does account for a fabulous second hour wherein there is surprisingly a nuance and complexity in the showcased relationship along with the character dynamics which does formulate for a rather interesting watch. There is fun and frolic but also an underlying layer of seriousness in the drama which does make for a fascinating watch. There were beats which I did find to be relatable although I do have to say that a good part of the logic did go out of the window. You would really need to look beyond that to truly enjoy the film.
The second half is a roller coaster of emotions ranging from comedy to a period of seriousness before switching back to comedy. It was at this point that I did feel that the film was heading towards a cliched final act. But thankfully so, the events leading up to the final act is downright hilarious and I absolutely enjoyed how layered and light headed the drama was made to be. It is a typical trope that you would associate for a Bollywood film but it was nailed and wonderfully so! Overall, the screenplay is nicely written thus marking a thunderous return of the Rom-Com genre.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are witty and supremely funmy although there were multiple instances of long monologues sprinkled throughout the narrative. That said, some meta references of the Luv Ranjan Universe did account for hysterical laughs. One of the strongest aspects of the drama is its phenomenal music and the placement of songs in the narrative. I can’t remember the last time(other than Pathaan) that I have genuinely enjoyed the songs in the narrative of the film. Some foot tapping numbers with outstanding choreography just made me want to break a jig instantly. The BGM is brilliant and goes perfectly with the drama. The cinematography and colour grading give the film a refreshingly fresh vibe which was in a way a celebration of the Rom-Com genre in many ways. Director Luv Ranjan has done a tremendous job in his ‘first’ genuine Rom-Com. There were moments in the narrative that required the right amount of skills to switch from comedy to hardcore drama and then switch again to comedy. And he did a wonderful job here in a job well done!
Performances
The performances are absolutely smashing here. The cameos by Kartik Aaryan and Nushhratt Bharuccha are hilarious and did make for some of the best moments in the drama. Dhruv Tyagi has his moments to shine; Teena Singh as Jyoti is fabulous to watch in that opening sequence that does set the ball rolling for events to follow. Both of them are impressive here in a job well done. Inayat Verma as the little girl Sweetu is outstanding and she has a bright future in front of her. Boney Kapoor as Ramesh Arora is hilarious and I was amazed at his laid back comic timing, mouthing his lines nonchalantly. Ayesha Raza is good too.
Monica Chaudhary as Kinchi is first rate and does a commendable job here. Hasleen Kaur as Minny has a charming presence onscreen and she is excellent here. I really wish to watch more of her going forward. Dimple Kapadia as Renu may have started on a shrieking pitch but her comic timing is on point as well. Also, she does excel in some of the emotional scenes by showing restraint. Anubhav Singh Bassi as Manu is brilliant and his stoic look and expressions just add to the humour of his character perfectly. I did crack up hysterically in a few scenes featuring him.
Shraddha Kapoor as Tinnu looks so pretty and is absolutely convincing her. She did understand the nuances of her character pretty well from a guarded personality to casual flirting to the eventual vulnerabilities. The only scene where she was the ‘lesser’ actor was in her confrontation scene with Ranbir Kapoor and that had more to do with the skills of the latter! Ranbir Kapoor as Mickey is absolutely effing brilliant in every sense of the word. In a genre which was once his bread and butter, he is terrific to watch. And there is something about his eyes that make you stand up and applaud his performance every time. This year is touted as the year of SRK but RK is also a subset there! Get it? Nevermind! He was brilliant and how here and wish he does stick to this genre for that much longer as opposed to this being his ‘final’ outing in the genre(as confirmed by him).
Conclusion
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar marks the thunderous return of the Rom-Com genre to the big screen which makes for a fun outing at the cinemas. On a side note, A Luv Ranjan film releasing on International Women’s Day! I have seen it all now😂! Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar available in a theatre near you.