Facebook rules the world. This is especially in case of youngsters who are busy with their own chores and hence socialize mostly or at times only through facebook. In short, this social networking website has become an indispensable tool of many lives. Sadly, our films haven’t succeeded in throwing light on this new wave of socializing. Barring Break Ke Baad, Pyaar Ka Punchnama and few such films, facebook never makes an appearance (even in the aforementioned films, the website was flashed just for a scene or two). However, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge is different as facebook plays an extremely pivotal role in complicating or rather simplifying relationships of characters!
The story of the movie: Rahul (Nishant Dahiya) is a born rockstar but no one knows that one of the reasons behind his popularity is Vishal (Saqib Saleem). At Rahul’s concert, Vishal comes across Malvika (Tara D’souza) and gets swayed by her hotness. In college, Vishal is compelled to work with Malvika’s annoying roommate, Preity (Saba Azad) for college anniversary celebrations. Determined to woo Malvika, Vishal sends her a facebook friend request, but through Rahul’s profile! While Malvika is undecided whether to add him (Rahul), Preity logs on to Malvika’s fb account and adds him! Thus, Vishal and Preity start chatting with each other under the identities of Rahul and Malvika respectively while in real life, Vishal and Preity go on fighting with each other. However, what will happen when Rahul and Malvika will find out about the mischief done by Vishal and Preity? And worse…how would Vishal and Preity react when the truth will be revealed?
Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge might seem ordinary on paper. After all, countless number of times, we have seen 2 drastically opposite people bumping into each other, fighting their guts out and finally falling for them. Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge also follows similar path but the facebook angle gives it a novel touch. Also, what’s interesting is that both the parties are trying to fool each other using the same modus operandi!
The film commences with a very hilarious sequence. With duration of just 100 minutes, the film moves at a lovely pace – fast but not rushing with things. The intermission point kind of fools you as you expect it to lead to fireworks immediately. The second half drags at some point but no complaints as the performances or the dialogues compensate well. However, the pre-climax and climax did seemed like a rushed job. But thankfully, it wasn’t dumb as such and you exit the theatre with a smile! But one wishes if the director had gone little slow towards the finale to clearly explain the relationships between the 4. Also, the purpose of facebook in the film was simply to chat. It would have been great if the protagonists were shown commenting on each other status updates, sharing pictures/videos etc. And this also reminds me, there’s a segment of population who’s not on facebook and hence doesn’t know anything about it. Whether the film will work for them is debatable!
It’s the performances that lift the movie. Saqib Saleem appears confident and was the apt choice for this role. In fact, he’s an actor viewers will love to see more and more, especially in comic ones as his timing is tremendous! Nishant Dahiya has the looks and the killer hotness quotient and hence he too fit the role to the T. Saba Azad is gorgeous and watch out for her cute hatke smile! Tara D’souza (Ali Zafar’s girlfriend in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan) was sizzling and gives an honest performance. Mita Vasisht (teacher) was terrific. The rest of the actors – Prabal Punjabi (Hacky), Mansi Rach (Hacky’s sis), Chitrak Bandopadhyay (Machoman), Kavi Shastri (Preity’s ex) and Suparna Marwah (Preity’s mom) were too good in their supporting roles.
Raghu Dixit’s music is energetic, fresh and certainly deserved success. Choo Le was okay but the rest of the songs – Uh Oh Uh Oh Pyaar Hua, Baatein Shuru, Dheaon Dheaon and Har Saans Mein – were too good and what’s more, the picturisation rocked too! Dixit’s background score too excels!
Being a YRF film, production values were superior and topnotch. Moreover the locations (Symbiosis Pune, the same place where Bodyguard was shot) added to the freshness of the film! Neha Parti Matayani’s cinematography was flawless.
Pooja Desai and Ashish Patil’s story was interesting and something that would surely appeal to the urban youths. However, Anvita Dutt and Rajesh Narasimhan’s screenplay does the trick as also Anvita’s dialogues, which seemed straight out of life. Nupur Ashtana does a great film directorial debut and deserves credit for not overdoing things and keeping viewers hooked on the seats. Overall a great work and surely has a great future ahead!
Some of the best scenes:
The first scene (hilarious)
Vishal ‘sleep-walking’!
Vishal and Preity told to work together
Vishal-Preity visiting the college couples
The intermission point
MMS goes viral
The songs ‘Uh Oh Uh Oh Pyaar Hua’ ‘Baatein Shuru’ ‘Dheaon Dheaon’
The climax
On the whole, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge is a neat and decent fare that will surely appeal to the urban youths. It’s neither classic, nor extraordinary in any respect but just a small feel-good film laced with fine performances, rocking music and lots of freshness! If you go for it, there are high chances that you’ll ‘LIKE’ it!