Every time Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor came tantalisingly close on screen and we could almost sniff a kiss, Salman whispered “abhi iska samay nahi aaya”. Welcome to the Rajshri universe where people don’t kiss. They also don’t mess around with “parampara” and if they do, Barjatya uncle is always one moral lecture away. People live in elaborate clans called “parivaars” and have a lifelong preoccupation with “shadi vyah”. Also the only thing permitted to ply on the mushy familial territory is sanskaar. This world is so pure and pious that there is RO water everywhere and slight zephyr from the air purifier!
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is everything you would expect from a typical Sooraj Barjatya film and more – larger than life characters, elaborate costumes, family drama where members ask each other ‘hum aapke hain kaun?’ and then end up ‘hum saath saath hain’!
I stopped counting after the tenth song. For greater public good I must also tell you that Salman fans are in for a treat. The movie features not 1 but 2 Salman Khans – the good one called Vijay and the very good one called Prem. There is an impending royal coronation. Rajkumari Maithili aka Sonam Kapoor‘s much anticipated visit. Also brewing is a family feud. Step-sister Sawara Bhaskar, brother Neil Nitin Mukesh and anti-intolerance marcher Anupam Kher as a loyal confidante.
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This ‘kalyug ka zamana’ of Honey Singh and Sunny Leone is in dire need of some Bharatiya sankriti injections or so the makers of this film thought. It’s dated and oh-too-long. Also very melodramatic and saccharine sweet. But Salman’s charm works brilliantly in this idyllic setting. Swara Bhaskar, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepak Dobriyal do a good job of following the brief. Former Bigg Boss housemate Armaan Kohli gets his moment under the sun and Anupam Kher pitches in. If you plan to go for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, you know what you are getting into. So make an informed choice. It’s really all about your “prem” for Salman and the hilarious Rajshri memes that deserve full family viewing.
I’ll go with 3 QUINTS out of 5. Ab ki baar, sanskaar hi sanskaar!
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