Review of ::: DIL DHADAKNE DO

Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Shefali Shah, Anushka Sharma, Rahul Bose, Farhan Akhtar, Zarina Wahab

Direction: Zoya Akhtar

Rating: ****

Zoya Akhtar has done it again. Armed with a mastery over storytelling, she uses a scalpel and dissects the superficiality of relationships. Her craftsmanship at exposing the nuances of complicated familial dynamics is intuitive.

What is also commendable is the fact that the plot, the dialogues and the actors devise the perfect symphony. Each and every member of the cast belts out an ace act.

Anil Kapoor as the patriarch and Shefali Shah as the trophy wife display their finesse with a flourish. Ranveer Singh is a revelation – he seems to be getting better with each film, unabashed in exploring the wacky-side of his characters, almost reveling in his puerility. It is a pleasure to watch Rahul Bose portraying the inadvertently authoritarian husband – he is perfectly inoffensive and annoying at the same time.

The first half seems perfunctory and cosmetic, much like the characters of this dysfunctional Punjabi family. It seems like we spend too much time on establishing the context and prepping the background. But the second half peels the layers, one at a time, scraping the facade of perfection.
Is it just I or did you also feel that once Farhan Akhtar came on screen, he seemed to inject the narrative with a vigor and conviction that seemed amiss?

In ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’, Zoya has peaked the drama element a little more. In her previous films, it was subtle and a little muted but I am willing to overlook the indulgence simply because it doesn’t leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
A special mention here for the dialogues by Farhan Akhtar, there’s something so natural about them that you would want to remember them but yet, it’s not filmi enough to stand out. It’s memorable simply because they flow so naturally.

I have oft wondered why some people care so much about their image? Why are we insecure and hesitant inside but come across as arrogant and abrasive outside? Why is there a complete disconnect between what we want and what we do? Why is it so important for some us to maintain cosmetic normalcy?

And that’s the other reason, I like Zoya’s films – you feel inspired to live the life you want to live and not the one you are supposed to. Average is not good enough, you want to break the boundaries and aspire for more. Some of us are okay to make do with mediocrity, some of us put a limit on happiness, some of us are scared to let go. Life is short – we have to live every moment. We have to invest in the relationships that matter and learn to let go of the ones that don’t. Essentially we have to stay real and make it count – let this Dil Dhadakne Do.