I remember reading the very basic synopsis of this film a month or so back and thinking this could be interesting. Whereas I couldn’t have guessed this is how the story would’ve been like, or say that it is the story everyone would aspire to have, it is a reasonably well made film.
The Main Cast:
Parvathy. Jaya
Irrfan Khan. Yogi
The Plot:
It’s essentially the story of Jaya, a widow and Yogi, a person who’s not had any of his past love affairs materialise into something fruitful come together through an online dating app by chance. They both subscribe to a different mindset but seem to like each other’s company. They make an impromptu plan to go on a trip.
Things seem to be going somewhat well despite their differences. But Yogi, who gets down at a train station to buy some pakodas, by mistake catches another train. When both realise the same while their respective trains are gradually exiting the station, the usually experimental Yogi, decides not to jump off the moving train he had gotten on, in direct contradiction to Jaya’s wishes.
Things take a turn here onwards. Subsequently, Jaya reaches her destination earlier and decides to indulge in the remaining itenary alone with other strangers, to teach Yogi a lesson. As if both being at loggerheads at that point wasn’t bad enough, Yogi incidentally is paid a visit by the second ex-love of his life who apparently still has some feelings for him. A power struggle of sorts ensues between Jaya and Yogi, triggered by respective egos, where each pretends not really to be interested in the other, also making strange claims about the true intent of their trip, eventually culminating into an open but somewhat predictable ending.
Highlights Of The Film:
1) This is a film which dwells upon the confusion that can befall partners in a romantic relationship and views it from various angles with different examples. Imtiaz Ali would be proud, since he generally deals with such subject matter.
2) Although the film is focusing on relationships, it is not short of funny moments. There is plenty to laugh about, whether it be dialogue or circumstances.
3) I was incidentally reminded of "Yogi Bear" and "Boo-boo Bear" from Yellow Stone National Park, cartoon characters that I used to watch on cartoon network as a kid in the 1990s. "Yogi", the experimental bear accompanied by "Boo-boo" (Jaya), the conscientious bear. Both characters are somewhat like that.
4) Both the leads perform well. But Irrfan Khan stands out. Maybe better than in "Hindi Medium", earlier this year.
5) There is no music here and I think it helps the continuity of the film because it is primarily a relationship drama.
6) The screenplay can probably be called good with the story this film had and the direction is also adequate.
7) Most of the best scenes involve Irrfan Khan, whether it is him trying to suppress his emotions, trying to be playful, trying to be righteous or just being helpful for the greater good. It may be best not to single out any, in this case.
8) The editing is also pretty good.
All in all, a pretty well made film in the sense, it is believable despite it not being "experience bliss" oriented. It’s a third person (viewers) perusal of some plausible paradigms of love that occur in people’s lives, as per the director Tanuja Chandra’s vision.