Director: Karan Johar
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh and Dharmendra
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few directors in Bollywood are as beloved as Karan Johar. Since his rise to stardom during the 1990’s, Johar has transformed into one of the best filmmakers in India’s film industry. Whether it’s doomed lovers, housekeepers or terrorists in dangers, Johar has proven he can make great movies about strong characters. Arguably, Johar’s finest strength as a filmmaker has always been his courage. He is one of those filmmakers that has never been afraid to tackle provocative subjects which are associated with taboos isuch as infertility. Through his abilities to craft movies which are compelling, Johar has left behind a legacy which is lasting. A legend in India, Johar has become an icon in Bollywood Cinema. Despite facing issues in his career, Johar has never lost a lifelong love for entertainment. Throughout his long-lasting career, Johar has created several memorable films which are absolutely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Johar and adore all films which he has made in his career. However, “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” certainly stands out as his most entertaining movie. Released in 2023, Johar’s most recent film offered a powerful portrait of lovers which face family feuds in India. Packed with bold musical sequences, engrossing storytelling and astonishing acting, it’s an extraordinary Bollywood family drama. At the centre of it all is an exceptional performance from Alia Bhatt, who embodies a woman that faces a broken family in tensions. Although “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani” is an exhilarating romantic drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, lacking the momentum of Karan Johar’s best movies. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment which would satisfy fans of the director.
“Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” tells the story of a couple in love that faces broken families. Alia Bhatt portrays Rani Chatterji, an ambitious woman that’s born in wealthy Bengali families. Rani has always followed her family’s strict cultural traditions without ever disobeying their authority. However, her life forever changes when she falls in love in doomed relationships facing disaster. Rocky (Ranveer Singh) is a rebellious young man in a family from a middle-class background. Due to differences in social standing, Rocky and Rani’s parents are against their wishes of getting married. Acting against parents’ culture, Rocky and Rani embark on a great adventure to fall in love in a world where all the odds are definitely stacked against their favour.
Karan Johar has often been fascinated with broken families which face disaster in Indian culture. His iconic film “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” provided an engrossing portrayal of dysfunctional Indian families torn apart by a social class barrier. With “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”, however, Johar made his first ever movie about Punjabi families. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the struggles faced by Punjabi families that face rivalry but he succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Johar captures a family on a journey to find its identity. Emulating Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding”, Johar effectively uses montages to capture hardships Indian families are facing. For instance, montages enhance the family meetings scene. During this memorable scene, Rocky and Rani get their families to meet for the first time in an emotional encounter. Using bold montages, Johar creates a portrait of broken families that’s engaging. Montages are complicated techniques. As Zoya Akhtar’s “Gully Boy” proved, montages enhance Bollywood films about rappers. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Johar captures the hardships that lovers in broken families are facing.
Another aspect of “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” which deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it is one of the best Bollywood movies you will ever see. Johar has always had an aptitude for creating memorable musical sequences in his movies, and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” is no exception. Johar expertly uses cross-cutting to create musical sequences about broken families that are engaging. For instance, cross-cutting enhances the What Jhumka? song. During this heartfelt musical sequence, Rocky and Rani attend a party in which they show affections for one another. Using cross-cutting, Johar creates musical sequences that are engaging. Furthermore, the musical score is spectacular. Pritam’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film an engaging atmosphere by capturing the heavy burden broken families bear. Using breathtaking production, Johar captures broken Indian families which face destruction.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” is a film about Indian families that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses dramatic monologues to capture the hardships which two lovers from a different social background are facing. Inspired by Shekhar Kapur’s “Masoom”, Johar expertly uses monologues to capture Indian families that face doom. For instance, monologues enhance the family argument scene. During this unforgettable scene, Rocky expresses his frustration being treated poorly by Rani’s family through a heartfelt monologue. Using stunning dramatic monologues, Johar crafts portraits of dysfunctional families audiences can relate to. Dramatic monologues are not easy techniques to use in movies. As Gauri Shinde’s “Dear Zindagi” suggested clearly, monologues enhance Indian movies about therapy. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through an excellent screenplay, Johar captures broken Indian families facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Alia Bhatt delivers one of her best career performances as Rani. Bhatt first earned recognition for playing feminist heroines in classic Bollywood movies. With “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to play an Indian woman seeking to marry against wishes of her family but she succeeds. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most meaningful role. With stunning expressions, she captures angst, frustration and rebellious spirit of a woman seeking a romantic relationship. It’s an extraordinary performance from one of the most beloved actresses in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Alia Bhatt, the supporting cast is stellar and worthy of recognition. Ranveer Singh is remarkable, bringing charisma to an Indian man that seeks to marry women against the wishes of families that are upsetting. Jaya Bachchan is brilliant, capturing the powerful position of a matriarch struggling to raise a broken family which faces tension. Last but not least, Dharmendra merits appreciation. As Rocky’s grandfather, he brings wisdom to the movie.
Despite its brilliant performances, however, “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” can’t quite captures hardships faced by Indian families. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks strong pacing. Unlike Johar’s finest films that are consistently entertaining from start to finish, the film lacks a strong sense of momentum. Johar’s decision to integrate subplots about poor housekeepers in the film is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty technique, scenes focusing on Gayatri’s attempts to stand up against her family aren’t as entertaining as Rani’s love story. As Ramin Bahrani’s “The White Tiger” proved, subplots of housekeepers elevate Indian satires. Therefore, “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” is one of those Bollywood movies not everyone will adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Karan Johar will enjoy “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” and so would audiences seeking heartwarming entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood family drama, it honours a legendary filmmaker that’s beloved in India.
3 years following the release of a celebrated Bollywood drama about lovers that are torn apart by broken families which are divided, it’s a breathtaking reminder of a legendary director that has never lost ability to leave audiences captivated making movies in his groundbreaking career people have always appreciated.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 