I was in a mood for a light, heartwarming movie and came across Be Happy, the latest Amazon Prime release starring Abhishek Bachchan. Directed by Remo D’Souza, known for his dance-centric films, Be Happy promises a heartfelt story about the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter, set against the backdrop of music and dance. I loved the premise and could not wait to dive in. The story revolves around Shiv Rastogi(Abhishek Bachchan), a devoted single father working as a bank employee, and his spirited daughter Dhara(Inayat Verma). Dhara is passionate about dance and dreams of participating in India’s biggest dance reality show.
The father-daughter duo moves to Mumbai where Dhara learns from ace dancer Maggie(Nora Fatehi). When Dhara suffers an unexpected setback in the ongoing competition, it leads to her exit, putting Shiv and Dhara’s determination to the test. The bond between Abhishek Bachchan and Inayat Verma is undoubtedly the film’s strongest aspect. Their emotional interactions are heartfelt and convincing. The film’s emotional core is strong. Abhishek’s performance as a supportive father is heart-touching and Iyanat’s dance skills are amazing! For fans of dance, the film offers some impressive sequences.
Nassar played the role of the grandfather quite endearingly and adds a sense of fun to the family dynamics. Though Nora Fatehi’s Maggie is at times one-note, she plays the character with grace. I liked the songs and the dance numbers. Harsh Upadhyay’s music aligns well with the film’s tone, which is expertly captured in the cinematography of Vijay Kumar Arora, both during the Ooty sequences and the Mumbai ones. Watching Be Happy gave me such a warm feeling. Abhishek Bachchan was wonderfully experienced in his role throughout the film and carried it acting-wise.
However, a lot of things could have been better. To begin with, the film’s story is pretty predictable, which might make it seem a little boring if you prefer surprises. The plot is quite familiar with hardly any surprises in between. Some scenes are unnecessary and slow the film’s pace. Johnny Lever’s character is additional and offers nothing. I found Nora Fatehi’s character overly sweet and while she was visually beautiful, it could have been better. The concept was not original which is my biggest issue with it. This does not bring anything new in terms of story or concept.
Be Happy has its flaws, but is definitely a fun watch. It’s a feel-good movie that doesn’t bother overcomplicating things. The film aims to make you feel good, and it succeeds in achieving its goal. It may not be the most original film, but the depth of emotion in Be Happy makes it a good watch. With better character arcs, original script, and story pacing this could have been a better movie. However, if you’re looking for a movie that will leave you feeling hopeful and perhaps a bit teary-eyed, Be Happy is a good choice.