Befikre

“BEFIKRE” is breezy, but soulless!

Gorgeously picturized, this latest Aditya Chopra directorial is all gloss and no substance. While it has its share of funny moments, it totally lacks the expected emotional depth, eventually emerging as the weakest of all the 4 films directed by Chopra in his 21-year-long career. Ranveer Singh’s energy is contagious, but that alone isn’t enough to sail this sinking boat. It’s passable, but not recommended!

Set in Paris, BEFIKRE is a free-spirited, contemporary love story of Dharam (Ranveer Singh) and Shyra (Vaani Kapoor), who find love in an impulsive, engaging series of experiences. Doused in the spirit of Paris, it celebrates love - sensual, carefree and focused on living life to the fullest.

The production values touch their peak when it’s Adi Chopra himself directing a YRF product. You have elegance oozing out of every set piece. Alas, this never translates into anything classy in terms of the content. The screenplay is utterly basic and totally predictable. The pointlessness of the film is all-the-more evident when the high point for the intermission is that the leading pair realize they can be “friends” despite being “ex-lovers”. Can a big-budget romance saga from the man who defined new age romance through DDLJ, get more otiose? I hardly think so.

Director Chopra explained that he’s producing a film that’s more relevant to the times we live in, whereas the product he serves to the educated youth of today couldn’t have been more irrelevant. There is flaw in every scene, and despite all the fresh locations the plot reeks of banality. Not saying that the film tires you out. There are a few genuinely funny instances that keep the proceedings light and breezy, but it’s the flimsiness of the whole package that fails to impress you. You may very well spend these two hours in the theatre for this if you’ve got really nothing else to do. Fulfilling entertainment is not what you can expect here. The music is catchy and the pacing is appropriate. It looks like a world class product, just doesn’t feel like it.

Ranveer Singh does his job exceedingly well, although this might be his weakest character yet in his 6-year-old career. He really carries it off owing to his inherent charm and panache. Where a lesser actor could’ve failed, he excels. Sadly, the film doesn’t even come close to doing justice to him. Vaani Kapoor is strictly average. Her dialogue delivery lacks fluency and there’s a dearth of range in her expressions. All others competently play their part.

In all, BEFIKRE is more careless than carefree, thereby diluting the whole message the film is meant to spread. You won’t get bored watching it, but you won’t be impressed either.