When you read the title Dum laga ke Haisha and get to know the context of the movie, the words ‘light’ and ‘little’ will probably not be the first words that come to mind. However, once you emerge from the hall, after a breezy 1 hour 51 minutes (yes, you read that right) with a smile on your face and the satisfied look of having seen a good one, you would agree that it’s the best way to describe what you just saw.
I have always maintained that grandeur and movie stars aren’t what makes a good movie. It’s the story and the way its told – that makes for good cinema. Dum Lagake Haisha adds further credence to this belief. It’s a simple premise, that unfolds with rustic yester-year visuals that completely suit the plot. The title opening has a stereotypical Yash Raj feel to it and you might groan inwardly. However, this is probably the most ‘un-Yash Raj’ movie you would have seen till date.
With generous dollops of laughs credited to some smart writing, particularly for the side actors, comprising the family from both sides and a realistic, even relatable unfolding of events – you hardly notice the time till the movie intermissions – in fact, you get a sense that it almost happened too soon. Thankfully, the movie doesn’t slow things down post interval. If anything, it becomes even more entertaining, another rarity in bollywood cinema
What is particularly satisfying is how the movie handles drama. One extra frame and the movie could’ve bordered on the cheesy, preachy or plain frustrating. However, instead Dum Lagake..is smartly edited and directed, cutting off drama just at the right spot – probably the time when you’d mutter ‘cut’ under your breath, hoping it stops there. It does.
Without giving anything away, Dum Lagake Haisha implies a social commentary on a host of issues but doesn’t specifically articulate any of them, leaving it for the viewer to decide whether to go down that road at all. The film’s visuals are superbly original and authentic, bound to give you a trip down memory lane. The songs are one too many though none slow down the tempo of the story
Nothing close to a sparkling starcast, Dum Lagake…has Ayushmann Khurrana and an absolute newcomer Bhumi Pednekar as its central characters. Ayushmann’s is a mixed bag kind of performance. He doesn’t look the part, its clear that he is acting, he doesn’t get the accent right but in a moment of outburst, where most actors tend to falter, he truly shines. While in her debut role, Bhumi Pednekar does a credible job and more than holds her own against Ayushmann, with a wonderful restrained performance.
While it certainly wasn't first on my list to watch this week, Dum Lagake..is every bit worth your time and you must watch it. It is bound to become a TV staple once it moves away from the halls but I would urge you - 'make the effort' and watch this one as soon as you can.
