Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi -dvd review

By Joginder Tuteja, January 21, 2009 - 12:45 IST


MOVIE DETAILS

Cast: Sonu Sood, Eesha Koppikar, Vishal Malhotra
Director: Kaushik Ghatak
Producer: Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Rajkumar Barjatya, Ajit Kumar Barjatya
Music: Ravindra Jain
Lyrics: Ravindra Jain

THE FILM

One doesn't play Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi with many expectations. After all Barjatya films have a certain predictable element to them and with a title like Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi, you expect the narrative to be following a tried and tested sugar-n-saccharine route. Add to this the fact that the film is not actually directed by Sooraj Barjatya but TV director turned film maker Kaushik Ghatak and you aren't really kicked to play the DVD.

Moreover, the film when released at theaters had seen selected screening (at least for the first couple of weeks when it stood by its no-multiplex stand) due to which it didn't really make much news. The songs hadn't been successful either while the lead pair was seen in an avtar that was completely contrasting to their earlier repertoire of work. So all in all, the maximum one expected from the film was a passable two hour long feel good affair that you could watch while pausing and playing at regular intervals.

However, there is a surprise in store within first 20 minutes of the film itself. As the reels unfold, you realize that Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi isn't really a boring fare at all. In fact interesting for most of it's parts, if you can still sit through Alok Nath's grins and 'tulsi' in his 'aangan' and Doctor Uncle (Srivallabh Vyas replacing Satish Shah from Hum Aapke Hai Kaun) making a 'I am loving it' entry with a 'He He He, Chalo Beti Ek Parantha Ho Jaaye' dialogue and the 'bride-to-be-after-12-years-of-courtship' Eesha Koppikhar and 'am-I-reminding-you-of-Amitabh-Bachchan-of-early-70s' Sonu Sood, then chances are that you would get some kind of guilty pleasure while sitting through Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi.

This two hour film is clearly divided into two parts. While the first half is all happy with Alok Nath's death bringing in that much anticipated (and obvious) twist in the tale (which actually is the starting point of the tale itself), the second half thankfully doesn't turn overtly melodramatic. Yes, predictable it is and that too in big doses as the last 45 minutes are straight out of Raj Kiran-Shoma Anand episodes from the 80s family socials. Still, there is some mercy as Vishal 'Raj Kiran' Malhotra doesn't really go wayward and stays true to his 'didi' Eesha even as his wife (Chhavi Mittal) comes close to being a Shoma Anand before making a hasty move out of the stuffy house/stuffy relatives/stuffy surroundings/stuff electricity arrangements/stuffy everything. What is really hilarious though is her sudden move from sarees/suits to tops/jeans as soon as she packs her bags. Oops, not required!

So what do 'bride-to-be' and her 'groom-to-be' do throughout the film? Well, for the first one hour they sing, sing and sing. Nothing wrong here actually since the moment the feeling of 'this-one-is-meant-to-have-a-musical-narrative' sinks in, the music does start sounding better and better. The decision making point is good as well where the two decide to keep a platonic relationship on till bride's siblings settle down. It's the moments, after the initial conflict is settled down that speak of an all around predictability even though Kaushik Ghatak ensures that he doesn't make the proceedings boring.

PACKAGING

The DVD comes in a neat plastic packing. However, for a movie that promises to maintain a feel good mood, it is surprising to see an all black-n-dull background to the cover design.

DURATION

The film's duration is 126 minutes

SPECIAL FEATURES

The DVD doesn't come with any special features

TECHNICAL DETAILS

- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
- Subtitles in English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo

PRICE

Rs. 199/=

CONCLUSION

In their meatiest roles till date, both Sonu and Eesha come up with good image change, especially Eesha who is present in almost all frames of the film. Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi belongs to its lead pair and while Eesha gets slightly more footage than Sonu, both of them have given their all in being the quintessential Barjatya couple. This one can be given a relaxed watch!

rating 2 and a half out of 5