Movie Review - 'Tanu Weds Manu Returns' - Datto Steals Your Heart

Rating: ****

'Absolutely original, what a script' - This is what I exclaimed at the interval point.

'Excellent, this is really brilliant stuff' - This is what I exclaimed when the end credits started rolling.

And three hours after the movie got over, I was still reminiscing the moments spent with Kangana, Madhavan and Jimmy Sheirgill. Well, not just them but even Deepak Dobriyal, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Swara Bhaskar. Well, that's the magic of Aanand L Rai's direction and Himanshu Sharma's writing as you end up recalling every character, every scene and every dialogue spoken in the film long after you are through watching it. Just when one had thought that Bollywood was going through its worst times, here comes a film like TWMR that makes you believe that there is no death of original ideas waiting to be explored, if only the filmmakers allow these to be nurtured.

This is what Aanand does with his characters in the film - he nurtures them, allows them breathing space of their own, and then let's them decide along with the audience that which route do they wish to take after some initial hand holding. In the process, he explores so many layers for each one of them that you do start prioritizing their actions based on your likeness for them.

So you do feel for Madhavan when you realize that his marriage with Kangana is going tough times. You do feel for Kangana that she has all the right to go and explore her earlier love Jimmy Sheirgill. You do feel for Jimmy that he should get second time lucky now. You do feel for the other Kangana (Datto) that she should manage her first love after all. In fact you do feel for the supporting characters as well. So you want to hear what Deepak has to suggest Madhavan because he may sound funny but he makes sense. You want to know how Zeeshan is coping up with being 'friend zoned' by  Kangana. You want to know why it is so tough for Swara to reveal the big secret to her hubby.

Though in the process the parents and siblings in each of the families somehow do get sidelined. However you do not mind that as there is so much fun on screen with at least a couple of major twist points (especially the one the interval point) that you are happy to go with what the other principle characters have to offer. Moreover, what ties this all together are the dialogues. Inarguably, the film comes trumps with the best dialogues of the year so far as practically every scene comes up with a notable line or two. If more than 70? of that is laced with wit and humor, the remainder has its own high points too.

In fact there are several high points in the film that clearly make TWMR one of the most entertaining films of the year so far. If initial scenes featuring Tanu and Manu are a delight, the introduction of Datto takes the film to a different level. Meanwhile, Deepak grows in form big time to make every scene his own whenever he appears on frame, while Zeeshan demonstrates once again that the guy deserves to be seen more. That could well be true for Jimmy Sheirgill who actually boasts of being that one who moves really smoothly from Part 1 to 2. He is simply fantastic and clearly boasts of some of the best lines in the film. In fact by the end of the show, your heart goes out to him.

It is this connect with characters that makes TWMR such a fantastic affair which deserves a revisit. If Kangana bowls you over once again by showing how brilliant an actor she is, especially by going through a complete transition as an actor for the part of Datto. Madhavan establishes his confidence and contentment as an actor by letting his understated energy score the highest.

As for the film as a whole, it reaffirms your faith in Bollywood all over again. Looks like achche din aa gaye hain because after Gabbar Is Back and Piku, this one should be yet another film in four weeks time that should go on to cross the 75 crore.