Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) Review!!

Synopsis – Tanu and Manu’s marriage collapses. What happens when Manu meets Tanu’s lookalike Kusum – and when Tanu returns?

My Take – Back in 2011, between the mid-set of terribly made ‘masala’ films came a simple love story based on arranged marriages – ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ starring R.Madhavan & Kangana Ranaut, who unfortunately were both at their career lows at that point. As expected the film worked big time!! It proved director Anand L. Rai possesses a very good flair for romantic comedy. His work is simply fantastic! While, he went on to prove that again in the very well made Raanjhanaa (2013), Kangana Ranaut has reached new heights of stardom in the very likeable Queen (2014). Hence, their is tremendous amount of expectations from this film. When I had watched Tanu weds Manu, I had always wondered how Tanu and Manu’s marriage life would shape up – two diametrically opposite individuals. If Manu had a very subtle and polite attitude, Tanu had rebellious attitude. The earlier version had its own quirks and twists, which has not changed here, indeed the return is even more quirky. The tone of the movie is unapologetic, non-judgmental, and unconventional. As was the case with the predecessor, the plot grows beyond dualism, right/wrong. The characters have not changed at all, the eccentricities continue in full form in the sequel as well. It captures the various aspects of marriage- what happens when monotony slips into marriage, when the spark misses from the relationship, how one is not able to understand the emotional challenges faced by the other, how the couple is bored in relationship and finds reasons to blame each other, set of expectations followed by disappointments with each other etc.

The best part is, humor is there throughout the movie, no emotional baggage is there, no villain in the movie. Set in four locations – London, Delhi, Kanpur and a Haryana village Jhajjar, the screenplay free flows magically in absolutely entertaining manner. The story take place four years after where the 1st film ended. Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) and Manu (Madhavan) are at the doctors’ desk discussing their frustration with one another. Hilarious scenes. If Tanu has complaints about Manu not showing any spark / enthusiasm in relationship; Manu’s logic is from where to bring spark (is he a lighter) and how many times or ways he should be telling the same three words –’I love you’. Kangana complaints about monotony in relationship. Manu interprets Tanu’s moodiness, emotional ups and downs as her having bipolar disorder and the doctor very politely puts it across to him, if that is the case, then every female on this earth might be having bipolar disorders. Both of them had a long list of blames and accusations against each other. The whole drama and conflicts makes Manu land in mental asylum and Tanu decides to come back to Kanpur. Her uneasiness of leaving Manu in mental asylum is handled in her own eccentric manner. She informs Pappi (Deepak Dobriyal) in a very effortless tone regarding Manu being in mental asylum and asks him to get him out. Pappi is in his usual witty self, prefers to do the sight-seeing in London rather than directly going to the asylum. On getting Tanu’s reminder, he brings Manu out of the asylum. Both of them fly back to Delhi. Adding a twist to the story – when Manu goes to University to deliver a lecture, where he sees Tanu’s doppelganger Kusum Datto Sangwan, an athlete. Manu feels that in spite of dreading to fall in love, he has once again fallen in love with Kusum. As Manu & Kusum begin to fall in love. Parallely, Tanu being at her usual best – eccentric, unapologetic, unpredictable and rebellious. She deals with her heartbreaks in her own unique fashion. She doesn’t mind hanging out & letting her tenant Chintu (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) pry on her without any emotional baggage. She even starts dating her ex Raja Awasthi (Jimmy Shergill). If Manu is dating Kusum in Delhi, Tanu is supposedly going out with Raja. What happens, when Tanu comes to know about Manu & Kusum’s marriage? Where does Raja Awasthi fit in all this? Whom does Manu choose at the end – Tanu or Kusum?

Director Anand L. Rai has delivered again an entertaining film with balance dose of emotions. Usually its very difficult to carry a sequel but he has done with ease and with complete justification to its first part. Along with the romantic angle, the film also touches upon the issues of gender equality, respecting and valuing women, accepting a child born out of medical intervention etc. These issues are touched upon in the flow of the story without disturbing the texture of the film or without being preachy. That’s a great achievement. This film also achieves a rare feat of a sequel being better than the original. This movie is a grand mix of old and new styles of Hindi cinema, not meaning that it does not have its own unique style. Hats off to Kangana Ranaut. She deserves standing ovation. This film belongs to Kangana Ranaut. This is another stellar performance by her after Queen. Here we have not one but two Kanganas. Tanu along with all her ‘care a damn’ attitude and in your face frankness also has a touch of cynicism, this time around. It is brought about beautifully by the dialogues and essayed marvelously by Kangana. She is totally rocking and endearing as the feisty but good natured Datto as well. R. Madhavan as a depressed, patient man who sees a glimmer of hope and love in Datto is perfect. He does justice to the character of a man who badly wants love but is not totally convinced of what he is doing. Deepak Dobrial is hilarious. His expressions are just amazing. You have to laugh with just his body language and expressions. He is excellent. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub is impressive. Jimmy Shergill is good. Music is peppy and supports the film well. With this film, Anand Rai has proved yet again that the public is ready to accept an indie film provided it’s honest, original and clean. On the whole, ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, is an absolute entertainer, full of hilarious and eccentric scenes. If you like the prequel, you will love the sequel! Must Watch!