Do Aur Do Pyaar (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – A couple on the brink of a breakup are cheating on each other with two sexy outsiders. Whilst they’re waiting to reveal their secret and go their separate ways, life has other plans for them.

My Take – Infidelity and extra marital affairs are a topic Hindi cinema filmmakers love visiting. Mostly in the form of comedies (Masti, No Entry, Pati Patni Aur Woh) and thrillers (Murder, Jism), sometimes even stretching it out melodramatically (Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Silsila) to mixed results and unfortunately at times even controversially (Fire, Arth, Gehraiyaan).

The latest to join this bandwagon is this remake of the 2017 Hollywood film ‘The Lovers’ from first timer director Shirsha Guha Thakurta, who along with writers Suprotim Sengupta, Amrita Bagchi, and Eisha Chopra, gives the story of a dissolving marriage a refreshing spin by using a modern-day lens to explore relationships and their definition in today’s fast-paced lives.

Co-produced by superstar indie studio A24, the film manages to strike a fine balance between the highs of clandestine romance and the lows that come with the struggle to keep it under wraps. But its biggest strength lying in its intimate storytelling and relatable characters who leave little room for judgement instead garnering more empathy.

Through its enthralling story-line and sincere performances, it highlights the complexities of human relationships and the value of communication in overcoming challenges.

Yes, the pacing and its portrayal of extramarital affairs might raise concerns for some, but its lighthearted approach with a tinge of humor makes it refreshing to watch, particularly as it departs from the usual mainstream fare.

The story follows Kavya Ganeshan (Vidya Balan) and Aniruddha ‘Ani’ Banerjee (Pratik Gandhi), a couple who have been together for about 15 years and married since twelve, when they eloped and cut off all ties with the former’s family. But over the course of the more than decade long years of domestication, romance has long left the building and their relationship is as good as over. They could be mistaken for roommates if not for the cheerful wedding pictures adorning the walls of their cozy flat.

And in the last couple of years, both have even found themselves new lovers. Kavya, the dentist, is close to buying a new sea-facing home with Vikram (Sendhil Ramamurthy), her globe-trotting photographer from New York, while Ani, a cork exporter, has found an anchor in Nora (Ileana D’Cruz), an impulsive aspiring actress. While the basic thought is to get divorced and live with their new partners, neither can bring themselves to admit they are seeing someone on the sly.

Instead, furtive messages and calls are exchanged as Kavya and Ani hide their affairs from each other. Neither knows what the other is up to but both are acutely aware that it is time to go their own ways.

However, a death in the family forces the couple to make a trip back to the hill town where it all began for them. Where long-dormant feelings are rekindled, memories are jogged, songs sung in happier times come rushing back and a marriage on the brink of collapse stumbles upon a possible second chance.

What follows is drunken dancing to ’90s era chart busters, spontaneous scenes of awkward run-ins and believable congeniality while Ani’s foot-in-the-mouth syndrome provides moments of laugh-out-loud comedy.

While it is hilarious how during a sad occasion Kavya and Ani end up find their happiness. The film attempts to normalize the different phases of marriage and falling out of love. The film’s screenplay does not shy away from giving both its characters the right to be wrong, and the right to make mistakes.

And when the time comes to get real, the relationships start crumbling more and becomes messier. The initial dead silence between the duo turns into a painful noise. Realizing, the two never lacked love for each other, but the issue has always been showing up and communicating the affection, showing love through their actions. Here, director Shirsha Guha Thakurta and her writers Suprotim Sengupta, Amrita Bagchi, and Eisha Chopra never take sides or glorify the idea of having an extramarital affair, and most importantly, they don’t try to justify it either. But instead focus on selling this as a story of simple human beings with a bunch of complexities in their life.

It helps that they evoke a sense of understanding for each character in the film, instead of looking at them from a complete black-and-white prism. For example, Kavya shares a difficult relationship with her father (Thalaivasal Vijay), leaving her carving for love, meanwhile, Ani had to give up on his dreams and inspirations to take over his family’s business when his father passed away, hereby losing the light in his life.

And when the two finally have “the conversation” with each other for the first time in half a decade, the film keeps it easy between the couple. We often read quotes about how open discussions are essential to resolve relationship misunderstandings or conflicts and the film rightly shows what damage it could do if people choose silence over honesty about what’s truly in their hearts.

Performances wise, Pratik Gandhi and Vidya Balan shine the brightest with their compelling portrayals. They feed off each other’s energy and their on-screen chemistry is palpable. The two bring to life the vulnerability and loneliness of a couple with sheer brilliance while showing us the other side of the coin, their goofiness with equal passion.

Even with comparatively lesser screen time, Ileana D’Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy deliver noteworthy turns. Ileana is constantly endearing and wholesome, while Sendhil is silent yet impactful. In a supporting role, Thalaivasal Vijay is excellent. On the whole, ‘Do Aur Do Pyaar’ is a light-hearted romantic comedy that is both hilarious and heartfelt.