Film review: Tanu weds Manu

Cast R Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal, Eijaz Khan, Swara Bhaskar, Ravi Kissen
Director Anand L Rai
Rating G

It's not often I come away from a film feeling more affectionate towards a rather inconspicuous side-kick than the central characters. Although rom-coms are meant to make us root for the effortlessly cheesy romantic lead pair, Rai's convoluted tale leaves me doing the opposite.

It's Dobriyal who caught my attention with his inane quirks and undying loyalty as the hero's feisty pal Pappi. His sheepish admission to a timid beauty about his rather unusual name (meaning kiss in Hindi) is extremely endearing.

While the central romance plods along, I can't help but notice the similarities to another prolific Bollywood romance - Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met. The men in both movies are strikingly subdued and mum about their feelings till the very end, while their boisterous, small-town love interests unabashedly pursue other men only to realise they're going down the wrong path. But that's how far the points match. In addition to the professional disparity between the men, one a businessman and the other a NRI doctor, the heroines too differ, with one more bad-mouthed than the other.

It's in fact Rai's unimaginative characterisation that makes Tanu and Manu rather wishy-washy. While the first half unhurriedly establishes their strong personalities, as well as the hoopla surrounding arranged marriages, the second half shows them going in for a sudden role reversal. The behavioural swap - with the spirited girl going weak-kneed and the reserved man becoming more forthcoming - appears unsubstantiated.

There's only so much Ranaut and Madhavan can do to elevate Tanu and Manu, which they do. But Rai's lack of insight ruins the fun. Even Shergill's robust Raja finds his fiery side inexplicably softening for the sake of a new friendship.

But Rai's travelogue through Kanpur, Delhi and Lucknow deserves mention, interestingly weaving through the demographics of the Indian wedding business.

Save a trip to the theatre and rent the DVD instead.