Writer/Director: Tarun Mansukhani
Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham
‘A Captivating Comedy’
Not many actresses in India are as beloved as Priyanka Chopra. Ever since her rise to fame in the 1990’s, Chopra has become a beloved actress with iconic movies. Whether it’s famous fashion figures, doomed lovers or criminals in danger, Chopra has played many iconic characters. Arguably, Chopra’s greatest strength as an actress has always been her powerful commitment to her craft. She is one of those rare actresses that has never been afraid to take risks in her career by portraying complex characters. Through her abilities to create characters which are simple to relate to, Chopra has become an actress audiences value. Even when she is not the main focus of a movie, Chopra has always left a lasting impression. Throughout her strong career, Chopra has created many memorable movies that are definitely worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Chopra and admire all the films she has made in her career. However, “Dostana” definitely stands out as being her funniest film. Released back in 2008, Tarun Mansukhani’s movie offered a bold portrait of friendships. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it is a breathtaking Bollywood comedy. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance from Priyanka Chopra, who embodies a woman that falls in love with her flatmates causing a dilemma. Although “Dostana” is a brilliant Bollywood comedy, it isn’t a flawless movie. It suffers from homosexual stereotypes that haven’t aged well over time. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment that will satisfy fans of Priyanka Chopra.
“Dostana” tells the story of two friends that pretend to become a gay couple in America. Abhishek Bachchan plays Sameer, a single bachelor with a desire to find love. Sameer has always shared a strong friendship with Kunal (John Abraham), a roommate that he cares about deeply. In an attempt to secure a Miami apartment, Sameer and Kunal pose as a gay couple. However, their plan is soon complicated when they fall in love with their female roommate. Neha (Priyanka Chopra) is a free-spirited woman with dreams of her own to pursue in America. Faced with a big dilemma, the pair of friends question if it is possible for them to find love in America. As they discover the grim reality of pretending to be gay, Sameer and Kunal wonder if they would ever find love.
Tarun Mansukhani is a newcomer to themes of friendship. A debut director, Mansukhani had never made a Bollywood movie before. It was the filmmaker’s first ever attempts to capture homosexuality in Indian society but he succeeded tremendously. Using stunning cinematography, Mansukhani captures lives of friends that seek romance. Inspired with David Fincher’s “Fight Club”, Manuskhani successfully uses montages to capture the friendship between two men seeking to fit in society. For instance, montages elevate the friends’ apartment scene. During this funny scene, Sameer and Kunal share a bond by moving into the same apartment together. Using captivating montages, Manuskhani constructs a portrait of friendship which is compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” suggested, montages enhance Bollywood movies about doomed marriages. Nevertheless, it works extremely well in this movie. Using captivating visuals, Manuskhani captures hardships friends are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Dostana” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood romantic dramas that you would ever see. Manuskhani expertly uses cross-cutting to stage musical sequences about friends that are engaging. For instance, the cross-cutting enhances the “Desi Girl” song. During this memorable song, Sameer, Kunal and Neha attend parties showcasing their bold friendship together. Using breathtaking cross-cutting, Manuskhani crafts musical sequences that are engaging. Moreover, the musical score is phenomenal. It gives the movie engaging atmosphere capturing the heavy burden friends in relationships bear. Through powerful production, Manuskhani captures romantic friends which experience tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Dostana” is a Bollywood comedy which is engaging. The film is extremely well written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture hardships that friends are facing. Recalling Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai”, Mansukhani effectively uses monologues to capture friends that part way. For instance, the monologues enhance the friend farewell scene. During this engaging scene, Sameer and Kunal bid emotional farewells in a final meeting together. Through strong dramatic monologues, Mansukhani creates a portrait of friendship that’s compelling. Monologues are complex techniques to use in Bollywood films. As Zoya Akhtar’s “Dil Dhadakne Do” suggested, monologues enhance Bollywood films about dysfunctional families. However, it works immensely in this movie. Through a strong screenplay, Mansukhani captures the hardships experienced by friends that part way.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Priyanka Chopra delivers one of her finest performances as Neha. Chopra achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroines in classic Bollywood films. With “Dostana”, however, the actress took on her most bold role. It isn’t easy to portray a woman that’s caught in a romantic love triangle, but she succeeds tremendously. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: bold, charismatic and moving in her most iconic role. With riveting expressions, she conveys the angst, bravery and reckless spirit of an Indian woman seeking romance in America. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actresses which is working in India today.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Priyanka Chopra, the supporting cast is also fantastic and worthy of appreciations. Abhishek Bachchan is astonishing, bringing sexual tension to the film as an Indian man that falls in love with roommates in a tough situation. John Abraham is superb, bringing hilarious comical relief to an Indian man that pretends to be gay facing a painful price to pay. Lastly, Boman Irani merits appreciation. As a company manager, he is always fun to watch.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Dostana” can’t quite capture the realities of relationships in America. If there’s a small shortcoming to the movie, it lacks a strong ending. It’s a melodramatic conclusion that can’t quite capture the harsh realities faced by queer communities in America. At worst, it perpetrates harmful stereotypes regarding gay men which aren’t entirely true to reality. Therefore, “Dostana” is one of those Indian movies which not everyone would be able to adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Priyanka Chopra will absolutely enjoy “Dostana” and so will audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating Bollywood comedy, it honours an actress that has built a lasting legacy.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood comedy about two friends which pretend to be gay with a price to pay, it’s a powerful reminder of an actress that has built a bold legacy through her ability to portray compelling characters in memorable movies which are beloved in India today.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 