De de pyaar de

De De Pyar De trailer looked interesting. There was a prospect of comedy I was looking forward to watching.
To summarize, the movie is about a 50-year old romancing a 26-year young thing. So, what’s new, you may ask. Let me tell you, then.
This movie takes you back to those days when comedy need not equate to crassness. It need not be slapstick to be entertaining. It shows how one can have a decent storyline with all elements of drama, melancholy and comedy woven into it.
It starts with how Rakul Preet Singh, the 26-year-old meets the 50-year-old Ajay Devgn and what starts as a random acquaintance blooms into a full-blown romance. Much time is wasted trying to establish the bond between the two, though.
You get to sink your teeth into the juicy parts of the story only after interval when Devgn, who his daughter had declared dead to her fiancé, lands bang in the middle of her betrothal along with Rakul Preet. The ill-prepared Rakul Preet then discovers that Devgn has two grown up children in their 20s; that he has a sexy looking ex-wife (Tabu); that he has a set of parents who blame Devgn for the break-up between Tabu and him.
What ensues is a set of emotional moments between the bitter daughter and father, the son’s crush on Rakul Preet (who is introduced as Devgn’s secretary), the father (Alok Nath)’s caustic comments about the age difference...
Tabu has some powerful lines written for her and seems to remain in control through all this chaos as she tries to bring the groom’s family and hers together.
There are moments, mostly unspoken, which reflect fine lines in relationships. It does not boil to a simplistic 'Age doesn’t matter in relationships’ theory. It is that hesitant touch when Devgn wants to draw Rakul Preet close but feels awkward when he realizes that she had worn his daughter’s clothes. About when Devgn’s sense of responsibility towards his daughter overpowers his attraction to Rakul Preet. Despite that, his brooding moments through his daughters’ engagement reflecting his longing for Rakul Preet. This tells us that age doesn’t take away our longing for loving and being loved. It only awaits the right person to re-ignite it.

The Indian hero always shows himself being much younger than what he actually is. In such scenario, it takes a lot of courage for Devgn to allow himself to not only be shown as a 50-year-old but also to be called a ‘buddha.’

Javed Jaffery, a psychiatrist, plays the practical voice of the societal expectations from such a skewed relationship.

Like the many movies cautioning the teenagers of the perils of hastily venturing into inappropriate relationships, this one too cautions about the possible long-term effects of this age difference on a relationship.
This hitherto unapproached subject of age difference is supported by a powerful statement like ‘In earlier times also we had marriages with huge age differences but at least this is happening with the girl’s consent.’ 

A good entertainer this one with splendid performances by Tabu and Devgn. There is nothing intense about this movie. But, rest assured, it is not a Total Dhamaal either. 

Maharshi

The movies of Mahesh Babu that I like are far and few between. I do not like those commercially-oriented ones with barely-there story lines. To his credit, he does try different genres in his films.
What evoked my interest in watching Maharshi was Allari Naresh’s presence. That Naresh is a good actor (forcibly confined to certain genre) is no secret. I am so glad that in this film he got to do something other than hare-brained comedy (though he excels at those too).
The 3-hour film is divided into three phases of Mahesh Babu’s life. A college, corporate and village life.
The movie starts with a college scene with blossoming friendship between Mahesh Babu, Naresh and Pooja Hegde, the heroine. (Suspended belief called for.)
It is the usual college scene except that Mahesh Babu has extraordinary intelligence (and loads of attitude).
He has mapped himself to a path of success wherein relationships don’t hold much meaning and are seen as impediments. He loses the two friends he makes in college before he sets forward on the journey of his life to the US where his innovative ideas in mobile applications, find him soon heading the company he works for. Just as he starts wallowing in his long-dreamt success, a blast from the past makes him visit Naresh in his village. The visit sets him re-thinking the meaning of success and this forms the third and final part of the movie.
The next act in village and the ensuing confrontation with Jagapathi Babu forms an interesting duel between two minds.
Both Naresh and Jagapathi Babu shine in their performances. Mahesh Babu looks uncannily like his father. Of course, with far better dancing skills.
The very brief almost cameo- like appearances of Tanikella Bharani, Prakash Raj , Jayasudha and Vennella Kishore remain inexplicable. I mean such powerful performers in such blink-and-miss roles? To the extent that even Pooja Hegde, the heroine’s presence was just not required. When will we get rid of the obsession with glamor quotient in Telugu films?  The heroine for Naresh is completely justified though. Without all the song and dance, we would have a crisper movie on hand. and, the fights too...too many of them just to showcase Mahesh's action skills.
The story, though not really new, is very predictive but still gripping throughout, so much so that I never realized when the 3-hour long film got over.
What works for this film by Vamsi Paidipally, is that after a long time, we have a message delivered very effectively in a film without sounding preachy. At the end of the movie, your heart will go out and want to do something for the farmer.
Brings to mind the slogan so aptly raised by Shastriji “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan!” So true! Where would we all be without the two?
Yeah, go watch the film while remaining vigilant of the above-mentioned minuses.
A 3.75/5 experience for me.