If it is a Zoya Akhtar film, it surely spawns great expectations. Her art of depicting and conveying human sentiments have always been unique and appealing.
Her outlook and perspective of the emotional turmoil, her staying away from the melodrama and her breezy and subtle presentation on celluloid has attracted and allured many, including me.
So, anything coming from her and not matching upto her credentials is a disappointment. More so, when it is her very own territory and when the ensemble cast is in prime form.
Dil Dhakadne Do, staged on a cruise takes off briskly but takes way too long to get to its desired objective. It has some brilliant moments along the way, but for most part it drags way too much for our convenience.
The Ultra-rich guild, with all their flair, flamboyance and charisma are plagued by a sense of self-obsession. Their demeanour is often peripheral and on occasions self-detrimental.
Preserving wealth at the cost of loosing family, Showcasing vanity with no obligation to modesty and caging all sorts of materialism at the cost of liberation.
But, inherently human emotions are the same everywhere.There is no demarcation between the affluents and the not so affluents when it comes to the matters of the heart.The feelings are on the same frequency, the susceptibilities too on the same forefront.
The film revolves around these very sensitivities and sensibilities of the human psyche.The narrative via an animal's perspective is perfectly apt and well thought of.
The conflicts are a plenty here: Self-made Billionaire struggling with his business and family, his subdued daughter in a scuffle with her marriage, a son in a dilemma to find a purpose, and many more.
But as they say, too many cooks spoil the broth.Each segment is dealt with superficially and lacks any actual depth and penetration.The entire perception to disputes and squabbles is devoid of novelty and the freshness one associates with Zoya Akhtar.
Hypocrisy, shallowness, self realisation all tagged with the 'been there and seen it all' attitude.
Sure, there are glimpses of Zoya's genius and a few moments of absolute brilliance making the film rise above its leisurely pace.
The scene where Priyanka is being confronted by everyone in the family on her decision of asking for a divorce is splendid and terrific.
The scene in which the entire Mehra family confronts each other in a medical room is hysterical and masterly done.
In the end, the film feels longer than its running time and a silly climax strikes a bad note too. If you are willing to condone the film's sluggish pace, you just might savour some bits out of it.
