Dum Laga Ke Haisha Movie Review - Simplicity wins you over

Ameet Bhuvan

To think this is a Yash Raj release, the production house that is known for over the top emotions packaged in gaudy colors and gloss, is a long task; yet Dum Lagake Haisha is the best film in years to come out from them. Simple, honest and straight to the heart, the movie wins you over. 

Lappu is a good for nothing tenth fail who works in a cassette recording shop in Haridwar. He is married to Sandhya, a B.Ed aiming to be a teacher who also happens to be rotund (for the lack of a better word). Forced into an arranged marriage, Lappu hates his new wife, marrying him since she liked him, Sandhya earnestly is trying to make it work. How they make a mismatched match work is the crux of this short small gem of a film. 

Set in small town Haridwar of the 90’s, DLKH is bang on the nail with its characterisations and nuances of the time and place. Kumar Sanu in all his nasal glory blares out from every radio and cassette player as we see small time India juggle with old traditions of marriage and new fangled notions of independent women who can assert themselves.  

With an ensemble cast worth dying for, DLKH creates the right ambience and slice of life feel that is so essential to the story. Light frothy and farcical in its approach, the story line deals with issues that plague the great Indian family since ages, sex, arranged marriages, breaking marriages and dealing with them, the idea of women in a household, things are dealt with such lightness that while one gets the sting it is never preachy or boring. 

The film is carried through also by the lead cast. Ayushman Khurana as the vulnerable confused tormented Lappu is brilliant, believable and totally in his element making one forgive Hawaaizada. The revelation is however debutant Bhumi Padnekar as Sandhya, never before has a hindi heorine debuted with this strong a role in recent times - she is lives and breathes the role, never once making us think she is acting. In fact that can be said for the entire film, not once do we feel this is not real life moments that are magnified on the silver screen. 

Slice of life served with warmth and a dash of humor, do not miss this one at any cost. 

Rating: 4/5