Movie Review: Befikre

- Celebrating a freewheeling fun life with a romantic, funny twist

Movie Review

Release Date: December 9, 2016 Starring: Vaani Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Elisa Bachir Bey, Julie Ordon Directed by: Aditya Chopra Produced by: Aditya Chopra Story and Screenplay: Aditya Chopra Dialogue: Aditya Chopra, Sharat Katariya Cinematography: Kaname Onoyama Lyrics: Jaideep Sahni Music by: Vishal - Shekhar Duration: 2:10 hours Genre: Romantic Comedy Censor Rating: U/A

About Movie Befikre

Aditya Chopra sits on the director’s chair after eight long years and has convincingly shown through this film that he remains a director to contend with. Written by him, the story is a true blue romantic comedy till the end. This is a genre that has been touched by a lot of filmmakers, but that is only until the interval. What follows later is the blues of drama and high emotion – pretty much the usual formula. With Befikre, Aditya Chopra has tried to ensure that the film remains true within the genre right until the end. That’s a pretty good reason for movie buffs to go and see Befikre for what it is – Befikre! Shot over 50 days in Paris and Mumbai and with a budget of Rs 70 crore, Befikre has been released across 2,900 screens. The story celebrates living life to the fullest and centres around a carefree young man Dharam, played by Ranveer Singh, who goes to Paris in search of building a life but more than that finding life itself. His meeting with freewheeling-live-life-as-it-comes tourist guide Shyra, played by Vaani Kappoor, simply adds to the terrific chemistry the two work up on screen. Though not her debut movie, Befikre would be as good as a launch movie for Vaani. She made her debut in Shudh Desi Romance – another rom-com and won the Film Fare Best Debut Actor’s award in 2014. But in the film, she couldn’t shake off the stronger presence of Parineeti Chopra and Sushant Singh Rajput, so Befikre is her best chance yet to make that big leap. And she seems to have pulled it off – given the audience’s response. After several intense performances, Ranveer lightens up with this one but continues to stamp his claim on Bollywood as the next big superstar in the making – a slot held by the Khans for a long time.

Performances

It's Ranveer all the way! He dazzles with his sheer presence. The younger lot of film buffs is simply going to love him in the film, and he is matched in energy move-for-move by Vaani, as she simply blends into Shyra – this wonderful, lively, carefree girl he meets in Paris. The youth will connect well with dollops of smooch scenes and sensual, but fun times between Ranveer and Vaani. Both international actors Elisa and Julie, have blended in well in their support roles and audiences are going to like their presence.

Befikre Music

The duo of Vishal-Shekhar has delivered some great music for the film. The compositions fit in quite well with the high energy, lively and fun-filled days of the lead actors in Paris. The songs keep you in the film and match the two stars by the mood. Details of songs in the movie Labon ka Karobar

Singer(s): Papon
Song duration: 3:55 mins

Never before in Indian cinema has kissing so dominantly been central to a song and picturized most beautifully in the love capital of Paris. Papon does full justice to the song and settings. Nashe Si Chadh Gayi

Singer(s): Arijit Singh
Song duration: 3.57 mins

Arijit is a great singer and if one simply listens to the song without the visualization, then it’s a nice feel good song but when seen in the backdrop, the song ought to have had another singer with more zing and foot thumping. The song and setting somehow miss out each other. Ude Dil Befikre

Singer(s): Benny Dayal
Song duration: 3:51 mins

Nice beat and cool pace, Benny is going to earn some fans with this one. You & Me

Singer(s): Nikhil D’Souza, Rachel Varghese
Song duration: 3:18 mins

This nice foot-tapping music remains light and lovely – will be a must hear on campuses. Khulke Dhulke

Singer(s): Gippy Grewal, Harshdeep Kaur
Song duration: 3:15 mins

Gippy and Harshdeep together bring in a flavour of Punjab right onto the streets of Paris. The song and the setting don’t quite match up, though the singing remains true to the land. Je t’aime

Singer(s): Vishal Dadlani, Sunidhi Chauhan
Song duration: 4:01 mins

The Vishal-Sunidhi duo brings an Indo-French flavour to ‘I love You’, or J t’aime in a sweet way with this one.

What’s good?

The montage of locations in Paris goes very well with the genre and Kaname Onoyama does justice with some brilliant cinematography. Director Aditya Chopra seems to have the formula right; the overall appeal of living a carefree and fun life is set to go down well with the younger crowd though one is not sure of how the older lot is going to connect. But it is certainly worth a go.

What’s bad?

The plot itself could have been a little more dramatic. One comes away feeling that it could it have gone a bit further on the storyline.

Verdict

Go see it if you believe life is worth living in the moment. For too long too many of us have lived with the notion of a planned life where nothing works to a plan. Befikre shows that there can be more to life if only you can catch the moment.

Befikre Movie rating:

****

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