Raabta Review: Intriguing, Innovative and Entertaining! Reinvented Bollywood Love Story Formula

Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput,Kriti Sanon,Jim Sarbh,Varun Sharma,Vikas Verma,Deepika Padukone,Rajkummar Rao,Karan Singh Chhabra,Aaital Khosla

Director: Dinesh Vijan

Rating: 3.5/5

One line review: Tale of two lovers reunite even after ages, and yet conquers all boulders comes in their way!

Positive Points: It reinvents the typical Bollywood love storytelling, with beautiful and detailed fantasy plotline. Action sequences are well choreographed. Stellar performances by an ensemble cast.

Negatives: Some scenes and characters could have been omitted or altered!

Plot: Shiv (Sushant Singh Rajput), a flamboyant, charming, Desi at heart Panjabi guy meets an introvert, engrossed in her life, Saira (Kriti Sanon), at the beautiful city of Budapest and chemistry instantly sparks in and, love blossoms between them. Despite being with other partners they soon realize how deeply rooted they feel for each other. Upon the turn of commitment in a relationship, they thought to test themselves, whether they are suitable for each other. And at the time trying their luck with other people, and then Zack (Jim Sarbh), a swanky, hotshot businessman comes in the scene. And the things take a drastic turn at the end of the first half.

As the trailer promised, this film also has a period eccentric tribal rivalry plotline that would kick start in epic well-choreographed battle sequences between Paathar tribe and Jilaan (Sushant Singh Rajput). Most of the second half is portrayed with peculiarly detailed tribal culture and community, added with beautiful CGI elements. Then it also switches back to the current timeline to conclude the story.

Direction: Despite being a debutant director, Dinesh Vijan, beautifully paints the storyline in both halves and with few loopholes, which could be undermined with its narration, it still grips the audience, even with its modern days' loves story. The story does promise fresh flavors to the Bollywood love stories and offers reinvention to not only love triangles but also reincarnation, with later theatrics’ storytelling. As per the direction goes, Dinesh Vijan pretty much nailed it with a new and innovative story.

Technical aspects: While storytelling being a prime aspect, other technical aspects like cinematography by Martin Preiss and even background scores by Sachin Jigar was commendable. Gorilla shoot when characters are active in the frame, beautifully captured wide-shot and the best ones are the almost poetic and surreal slow-motion shots and flashbacks, really justify the overall narration.

Performance: Sushant Singh Rajput in Shiv's character is stunning throughout the film, as the character is happy-go-lucky, always a chatterbox extrovert in nature, Sushant effectively pulled it out while keeping some comic range here and there. But there are also many scenes in second half, where Sushant look some off frame and distance from the plot in character of ‘Jilaan’. But overall, he lived to all the expectations.

Kriti Sanon, on the other hand, was consistent and impeccable throughout the film and delivers a stellar performance in both characters, Saira and Sahiba. Although there were many rumors about the pairing on an off-screen front, it brewed well as chemistry and intimacy between the characters was bang on.

Jim Sarbh was the one that despite being an antagonist character, he almost stole the show. Though initially, his chemistry with Saira was flat and sometimes awkward, and it actually adds weight to his character, which has psychotic, neurotic and eccentric shades in it.

Although Varun Sharma just being used as for some comic relief and outshines in whatever screen time he had. And to the surprise, Rajkummar Rao’s special appearance is still hard to notice, and yet he played that character in most important part of the film.

Music: Despite being a Bollywood love story films and almost a musical, the film only featured few songs from the album, and the songs Ik Vaari Aa and Darasal do really stand out. And as mentioned earlier, the background score didn’t fail to capture sounds from Hungarian backdrops which make scenes even more enticing.

Final Verdict: For those who seek a break from conventional Bollywood love story films can surely book tickets for it and get a quality entertainment.