For some strange reason, Hindi cinema has often projected an NRI youngster as a cool and hep dude, pretending to speak Hindi with an English accent. But that, in my opinion, is merely a façade. It's far from real. Sure, there could be exceptions, but every NRI who arrives in India isn't wearing an Armani or Versace. Neither is he a die-hard romantic like Raj or Rahul. In fact, a lot of NRIs I know are amused to note that while they held on to the traditions, the ones in India are more inclined towards the West.
Yet, the East-West love story remains a pet theme that continues to invade the Hindi screen. Films like PURAB AUR PASCHIM, DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE and NAMASTEY LONDON have explored this topic most convincingly. In fact, a lot many people feel that YRF and Dharma have highlighted this aspect in various films, which the diaspora has lapped up with glee. But, of late, films that carry with them the scent of the soil are being attempted by our storytellers. TANU WEDS MANU too highlights this facet.
The NRI in TANU WEDS MANU is docile, unassuming and soft-spoken, has no accent or attitude, believes in arranged marriages, relishes the evergreen songs of Mohammed Rafi, is old-fashioned literally. The girl is contradictory. She's belligerent and dominating, also smokes, drinks and uses expletives, has had many 'affairs', has her new boyfriend's name tattooed on her chest, is a straight-forward and fearless babe. This is their story!
Like his directorial debut STRANGERS, director Aanand L Rai opts for unconventional and unpredictable situations in TANU WEDS MANU. Of course, the fact that Tanu and Manu would tie the knot sooner or later is at the back of your mind, even before the reels have begun to unfold, but you want to experience their journey - their voyage from strangers to lovers. TANU WEDS MANU has some great moments, some standard ones, some tedious ones as well, when you feel that the story is being stretched for no particular reason. The drama tends to get heavy after a point and that takes a toll on the film. In fact, the writing gets shaky in the middle of the second hour, although the finale is well thought of and implemented. You may call it clichéd or formulaic, but it works big time.
Meet Manu [R. Madhavan], a seedha saadha Doctor from London. Intelligent, temperate and from a respectable family, the perfect groom which every parent wants for their daughter. When he arrives in India, he realizes that India has changed and so have the people. The Indian women in particular are more attracted towards the Western lifestyle. Family pressure leads him to Kanpur to meet Tanu [Kangna Ranaut], the quintessential small-town girl who has studied in Delhi.
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Welcome and Singh is Kinng were two big blockbusters for Akshay Kumar & Anees Bazmee, but their recent outings Patiala House and No Problem respectively did not set the box office ablaze. Now, these two are back together with Thank You, which also stars Bobby Deol, Sonam Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Irrfan Khan, Rimi Sen and Celina Jaitley. Will Thank You bring back the lost glory for Akshay, will the YPD star Bobby have a rub of goodluck on Akki, will Anees Bazmee's Problems end and he will be back in form with Thank you. Well, lets find out.
Thank You is a story of 3 friends Raj [Bobby Deol], Yogi [Suniel Shetty] & Vikram [Irrfan] who basicly are womanizers. Yogi has already been caught by his wife Maya [Celina Jaitley] thanks to her detective friend Kishan [Akshay Kumar]. Raj's wife Sanjana [Sonam Kapoor] also finds something fishy about her husband so Maya asks Kishan to help Sanjana out. Well, Kishan is spellbound when he first see's Sanjana, and then he plans doomsday for Raj and his friends. So, what is Kishan upto ? Will he help Sanjana get back Raj to fall in love with her or will he make her fall in love with him ? If he is helping Sanjana & her friends to get back their husbands, why is he doing so ? Is there any history behind Kishan ? These questions will be answered when you watch Thank You.
Thank You is all about how 3 womanizers are tamed by one man to get them on the right track that also in a light hearted and entertaining way.
There are some great things this movie has brought for good. For a change Anees Bazmee has told a story without making things much complicated. He made it sure that the movie does not go over the top at all. Another thing is that Akshay too hasn't done his goofy joker kinda antics which had started irritating the audience. The things which are not too great are the humour quotient, which is a bit low when compared to Bazmee's movies like No Entry, Singh Is Kinng and Welcome. Nothing much happening in the second half. The climax too, does not take the movie on the high that one expects. Although it is not a laugh-riot still, it's a decent entertainer.
The director Anees Bazmee who just directed a nonsense movie last year, looks to be coming back in form with Thank You. He has taken into consideration, his previous mistakes and has worked on it. The climax also does not contain panicky situations or a Priyadarshan kinda full starcast mayhem, instead it contains emotional quotient but with a few laughs. Though he does not manage to pull out a bringing the house down experience, but still he has made Thank You an enjoyable fare.
The music by Pritam is excellent. Razia and Pyaar Do Pyaar Lo are already popular and look great on the big screen too. The story is again on a waferthin plot, which has to be expected, but the screenplay is quite likable. The dialogues don't leave an impression, none of the dialogues are worth remembering, but thankfully they haven't compulsorily inserted one liners and pj's. The cinematography could have been better, but the songs are shot well.
Akshay Kumar is back with a bang, he for a change has given a controlled performance. He is funny, he is wicked and he has some great scenes in the movie. Thank You may not be his best performance but it sure is the best in recent times, nothing extra-ordinary, but just what the role demanded. Bobby Deol is back after a big hit in Yamla Pagla Deewana and he looks more confident towards comedy now. Deols always known for action (Only Dharmendra was known for both Action as well as Humour) have now learnt how to tickle the funny bone. He handles both light and emotional scenes well. He may not have the funniest of lines but he does well within the boundaries. Suniel Shetty may not have a meaty role as compared to Akki and Bobby but surely he has the best lines, scenes and reactions that bring laughter. He after Hera Pheri way back has come up with a great performance. Irrfan Khan has his typical style and that is what worked for him. Although he plays a great support to Akki and Bobby but he clearly steals the thunder with a sincere performance. Irrfan and Suniel provide majority of the comic relief.Now for the ladies, Sonam Kapoor is decent but she still looks awkward in emotional scenes. Rimi Sen is the best among the ladies and shows everyone that she is a talented actress. Celina Jaitley doesn't get much scope but her scenes with Suniel are just too good. Here, Rimi and Celina are the one's who provide the comic relief.
For the supporting cast there was not much to do but Rakhi Tandon and Mukesh Tiwari were good. Cameo's played by Vidya Balan was good and Ranjeet was decent.
Thank You has the perfect recipe to fulfill the hunger for entertainment. This movie has a great cast, terrific music and plenty of funny moments to offer, which is mainly what many people may be eye-ing for to break their movie hunger after a dry march. The box-office prospects look bright for this movie although IPL is on the verge still, movie goers may prefer Thank You over cricket because there is no big release for next two weeks and there is an overdose of cricket from the past few months.Thank You is more of a clean family entertainer which one can enjoy with the entire family. The humour is limited, but it ain't forced, you won't fall down laughing but still you may giggle a bit.
Watch Thank You for some great performances by the cast, some hilarious moments and great music
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Manu is everything that Mihika isn’t. Loud. Crass. Obnoxious. Rude. He is that guy who talks on his cell phone loudly and then sputters gutkaa juice much to the horror of those present in the vicinity.
As fate would have it, Mihika lands up in a situation where she and Manu are stuck together for the rest of the journey to Delhi. It’s a bizarre journey with the oddest travelling couple ever. A bizarre journey through air, road and rail from Mumbai, via Jaipur to Delhi.
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