Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Flamboyant Punjabi Rocky and intellectual Bengali journalist Rani fall in love despite their differences. After facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other’s families for three months before getting married.

My Take – For kids growing up in the 90s and 2000s, like myself, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) are the quintessential Bollywood films. Solid entertainers that put Karan Johar as a filmmaker on the map.

Particularly due to his trademark elements of drama, humor and emotions, that are married to a format which imparts important life lessons by criticizing societal factors like patriarchy, misogyny, gender bias, body shaming, and restrictive roles, all packaged in a glossy true commercial Hindi cinema template.

Now returning to directorial duties after a 7-year hiatus, following the mixed bag that was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), his latest sees him once again visit the romance genre with a modern twist, which albeit still indulges in the familiar tropes we have known and loved.

As one would expect, this one too has palatial sets, vibrant color schemes and contain cheeky innuendos, but most importantly it provides the unabashed glamourous entertainment that we have been missing from Hindi cinema for a while now.

Consistently hilarious, surprisingly subversive, with some relevant societal subjects brought up, and full of fan service for lovers of Dharma’s brand of family entertainers, the film is a good watch for a fun, relaxing and chill weekend.

The story follows Rocky Randhawa (Ranveer Singh), a well-built, good-looking, rich, Punjabi, Delhi boy, who lives in a traditional nuclear family under the thumb of his stern grandmother Dhanlakshmi (Jaya Bachchan), who operates as the domineering matriarch of the Randhawa household and runs the prosperous Dhanlakshmi Sweets with her equally rigid son, Tijori (Aamir Bashir). While her husband, Kanwal (Dharmendra), an amnesiac stays in the shadows wheelchair bound following an accident soon after Tijori was born.

But one day, when Kanwal presents a name in the form of Jamini (Shabana Azmi) along with his photograph from his scattered memory, Rocky, keen to help his grandfather starts looking for her. A search which leads him to Rani Chatterjee (Alia Bhatt), an educated, strong-willed and cultured Bengali journalist, who also happens to be Jamini’s granddaughter.

However, in the process of getting the old lovebirds back together, a passionate young romance sparks between Rocky and Rani despite the intellectual chasm between them. Drawn together like opposite ends of a magnet.

Their casual lust turn into true love story that baffles their families. Because the Randhawas and the Chatterjees are not just different in cultures but also in ideologies, setting up never-ending tests for both Rocky and Rani.

Twenty five years into his career, director Karan Johar‘s latest is like a wholesome culmination of many of his previous films. There is forbidden love that compels one to step outside the boundaries of marriage, the larger-than-life presence of the family, in this case, two extremely polar-opposite families, and the tackling of social bias and lack of inclusiveness. If the first half is all about loving someone, the second is all about loving your family.

Here, director Karan Johar pays homage to classic Hindi cinema with references to vintage songs and films. His admiration of cross-generational stories is palpable here as we see a battle of ideologies between the youth and the elder generation.

Despite the larger-than-life backdrops, he attempts to present a story of today that is relevant to today’s generation. Along with writers Shashank Khaitan, Ishita Moitra and Sumit Roy, he attempts to address the clash between progressiveness and tradition, resulting in all sorts of unlikely dramatic conflicts like Rocky speaking out against cancel culture, or being upbraided by Rani’s mother for his embarrassment while shopping for bras.

Also, as Rocky and Rani switch homes, they aren’t just convincing their families, they’re also undoing years of misogynist conditioning, helping liberate their elders from generational trauma, and learning from them. It’s not just about children teaching their parents the follies of their ways, it’s a two-way street and a reminder for us young ones that in matters of the heart, being revolutionary is not enough, but must tread firmly that too gently and with love.

Having said that as a director Karan Johar is in full form. The sets are grander than ever, with hundreds of background dancers, in colorful costumes and indulgent dance numbers. Sadly, what the film lacks are memorable chartbuster numbers, a familiar staple of his films.

Performance wise, Ranveer Singh is shows his comic range as well as emotional range with aplomb. Even though he plays a loud character, there is a subtlety to his performance. Alia Bhatt goes toe to toe with him as their chemistry is sizzling. She not only looks stunning throughout, she presents herself well as a flag bearer of all women of today, her family making you wish you had one like that.

Witnessing living legends like Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi reunite on screen is pleasure to watch, as each bring a unique level of emotions to add to the screenplay. The main cast is well supported by brilliant performances from Aamir Bashir, Kshitee Jog, Anjali Anand, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly and Namit Das. On the whole, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ is a wholesome entertainer that doesn’t forget to be meaty and meaningful.