Dancing superstar Prabhu Deva directed ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’has nothing new. The story is the common one and easily predictable. Prabhu has put his signature steps in choreography of the songs, which can offer you some enjoyment or else the film is just another version of Salman Khan acted ‘Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ or ‘Hum Apke Hain Kaun’.
But just like many other Bollywood films, their love is not acceptable to the boy’s rich mom who wants a girl who could fit well to their status and position. Accordingly she finds him another match, who is far more suited to their wealthy status and humiliates Sona and her brother Raghuveer ( Sonu Sood) . So despairing Sona returns to her village and starts living her simple life.
Yet, the lover boy Ram does not want to miss his love and trails her. Like Maine Pyar Kiya now he has to succeed in the tough examination set up by the girl’s brother to decide the depth of love, who raised her single handed after demise of their parents.
Review – There is nothing new in the story. In fact it is the most common plot of a Bollywood movie. We have a long list of films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, Ram Teri Ganga Mailee (up to some extent), Rishi Kapoor acted Janam Janam etc. which have almost the same story. You’ll wait till the climax that there will be some new change or twist but after the film will be over you will come to know that you have been fooled.
Coming to performance, Girish has an innocent eye and he at least does not boar the audience. Well, he displays a robust body and his dances are also good enough to make you sit tight.
Sonu Sood steals the show but the weak script often checks him from offering a marvelous performance. So, though he is the best in the film, his abilities as an actor, has not been explored to the maximum.
Shruti Hasan looks beautiful onscreen. She tries to do her best but again due to lack of a worthy screen play she comes only in the “good” category.
Veterans Randhir Kapoor, Satish Shah, Nasser, Vinod Khanna and Poonam Dhillon do not have much to display and so can be ranked as average.
Prabhu Deva himself appears in one number and renowned choreographer Ganesh Acharya is also seen onscreen.
Music – composer duo Sachin-Jigar has given elements of love and fun in all the six tracks of the film, but we would like to rank it as average. Atif Aslam and Shreya Ghoshal sang “Jeene laga hoon” is beautifully. “Hip hop beat” the dance number by Mika Singh and Monali Thakur is energetic.
Directorial analysis – This is the third romance drama from the director of ‘Wanted’ and ‘Rowdy Rathode’. This one is also a remake of his Telugu directorial debut ‘Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana’. It seems he did not think much about the plot and preferred it because once he has dealt with it in Telugu.
Overall – ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’ is strictly a regular formulaic movie which suits only a type of audience who loves the Bollywood masala at the cost of a repeat story. So the film is not for all. But still there is something in the film that can bring you some entertainment.
Star cast: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Randhir Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Vinod Khanna, Poonam Dhillon, Satish Shah, Govind Namdeo, Zakir Hussain, Nassar, Anchal Singh, and Pankhuri Awasthi
Director: Prabhu Deva
TNI Rating – ** and ½ (Two & Half) Stars out of 5.