Aanand Rai has a knack for creating cinema that is as much about realism as it is about magic. His most recent collaboration with Himanshu Sharma and Kanika Dhillon is a testament to this.
Tanu Weds Manu
Aanand L Rai is a filmmaker who excels in creating stories that speak of the Indian psyche. His movies are rooted in the culture, language and lifestyle of small towns while addressing the larger issues that thump any given society.
Tanu Weds Manu is a romantic comedy that has both the fun and dramatic quotient perfectly balanced. Kangana Ranaut gives a performance that is sure to make you erupt in appreciative laughter.
Manu (Madhavan) is a doctor from Delhi who comes to India to marry. He is joined by his father (K.K. Raina), mother (Dipti Sharma) and buddy Pappi (Deepak Dobriyal) for the purpose.
Raanjhanaa
Anand L Rai’s long Bollywood love story Raanjhanaa swerves dangerously between cinematic styles, but it’s engaging through the end. It stars Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol.
The first half of this two-and-a-half-hour film is set in the heart of Banaras, which is drenched in color and vibrancy. The film’s soundtrack is a highlight, with AR Rahman’s slow and melodious tunes serving as a backdrop to the drama.
In the second half, however, the story takes a political turn. Jasjeet Singh Shergill (Abhay Deol) is an idealistic student leader at Jawaharlal Nehru University who aims to bring about change in the country.
Zero
Despite its blemishes, 'ZERO' rises on the strength of Shah Rukh Khan, who gives a brilliant performance as Bauua Singh, the dwarf man. Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub also do a good job as Bauua's friends.
Himanshu Sharma's Screenplay works till the interval, but starts to fall apart after that. Moreover, the movie feels too long at 150 minutes.
Zero is a story about Bauua, a 'dwarf' man who struggles to find love and happiness. His initial romance with Aafia Yusufzai Bhinder (Anushka Sharma), a scientist with cerebral palsy, is enjoyable.
Atrangi Re
The director of Tanu Weds Manu, Raanjhanaa and Zero has a knack for presenting stories with layered emotions. He also knows how to strew innovative twists into his narratives without being ashamed of taking risks.
Atrangi Re is a tale of love in an unusual way. It focuses on Rinku (Sara Ali Khan) and Vishu (Dhanush) who fall in love after being forced into marriage by her family.
But when Rinku tries to elope with her lover Sajjad (Akshay Kumar), her family decides to force her into marriage with a Tamil Brahmin named Vishnu (Dhanush). The movie then follows the journey of these two as they struggle to overcome their differences and find love in the process.
Raksha Bandhan
The director of 'Tanu Weds Manu' and 'Laal Singh Chaddha', Anand L Rai, has once again made a bold statement in his latest film 'Raksha Bandhan'. Despite the loud acting and glaring flaws, 'Raksha Bandhan' manages to deliver a very important message on women empowerment.
The film tells the story of a shop owner, Lala Kedarnath (Akshay Kumar), who is in a desperate hunt for a groom for his four sisters. He does whatever it takes to get them married.
But he is unable to convince his sisters that it's OK for them to be happy without him. The dowry system is still alive and kicking in India and this movie does its bit to spread awareness about it.
