Tanu Weds Manu Returns: Movie Review

Tanu Weds Manu 2 is a sequel. The last sequel that I watched was The Hangover Part 2. Eight words to describe my reaction to the film: ‘I wish I had not watched this ever’. The jokes were limp, the scenarios were contrived and the people were not funny, just annoying. I felt let down. Were these the same people who made The Hangover? And then I realized that there was a part 3 of the same plot. This time I just skipped the movie. I did not want to hear the same jokes thrice over. Tanu Weds Manu Returns is also a sequel. It is rare sequel that delivers the same punch twice.Weddings are chaotic and it is in this chaos there are stories to be discovered. Unhappy in-laws, disorganized vendors, flirtatious looks, coy brides, confused grooms … there are so many stories to be told. Mira Nair told us one amazing story in Monsoon Wedding (2001). Bend It Like Beckham and My Big Fat Greek Wedding happened a year later. There have been many more wedding stories before and after this one even in recent times in Bollywood.Five years back Band Baaja Baarat kicked off another round of wedding films. Tanu Weds Manu (2011) made us all sit up and appreciate Kangna Ranaut’s talent. She became the darling of the masses with her portrayal of the unsure bride who gets dumped by her fiancée in Queen. In Tanu Weds Manu Returns (TWMR), Kangna takes one more step to establish that she won’t give up till she gets what she wants – even on screen.Director Aanand Rai made Strangers (2007) with Jimmy Shergill. That was a dud. This was quickly followed by another dud Thoda Life Thoda Magic. Then he hit bull’s eye with Tanu Weds Manu and immediately came back Raanjhana which tanked. Strangers, Raanjhana and the two Tanu films all have the same writer Himanshu Sharma.Tanu Weds Manu 2 scores not for the storyline which is fairly over the top but the dialog really connects with the audience. Four years of marital life has done what marriage often does to couples. Manu (played by Madhavan) has fattened up like a sacrificial lamb and the four years of marriage have left no zing in the relationship. That seemed so realistic especially because Madhavan's emotions remained visible under his adipose tissues. That verbal sparring session resonates with the audience and the film goes off to a rocking start.Manu’s sidekick Pappi played by Deepak Dobriyal leaves Madhavan completely overshadowed. After a while the audience just ignores Madhavan and tunes in to what “Pappi” will do next. Kangna plays a double role and it is in her role as a buck toothed Haryanvi college girl that she really excels. She is awkward in her movements and creates an entirely believable character called Kusum Kumari Sangwan. She tries to impress her suitor with an English song and stops after the first line to check if her accent is too strong.“Your Haryanvi accent?” enquires Manu“No, my American accent.”https://youtu.be/G7xudY_1KV4Right through the film, the dialog stays fresh and packs a punch. After a while the audience seems to forget the storyline and its absurd and contrived twists. People just sit back to enjoy this brand of humor and the story seems to become somewhat irrelevant.It is an unpretentious film that discretely tucks in some “social messages” about women’s empowerment without the audience even realizing. The songs are catchy. My pick would be the wedding song Banno sung by Brajesh Shandllya and Swati Sharma.https://youtu.be/UpHtkZ9K5R0 The second half flickers a bit in its impact. It is hard to escape the curse of the second half that most films can’t avoid. The second half of a sequel can be forgiven for the lapses. This film was not really about the story. It is about watching Kangna and Deepak Dobriyal (Pappi) rule the scene.Should you watch this fun film? Yes, go have a blast.----------Join me on Twitter @AbhijitBhaduri