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It’s a breeze. Yes, do leave your sense of logic at home. Munch on popcorn, enjoy a sandwich and slowly sip that cool Coke. You will walk in with Dhawan-ish expectations and walk out smiling.
Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai may not be David Dhawan’s best. Nor by any chance is it his worst. But when one thinks that he may not make another film as director after this 45th film in 27 years (!!), one cannot but say that it is an enjoyable outing, albeit compromised, as per the times, in its music. For catchy songs have been a part of so many Dhawan delights. And of several Tips Films’ productions too. Alas! We are no more in that era, when music labels that turned film producers ensured that at least their music was memorable.
Jass (Varun Dhawan) and Baani (Mrunal Thakur) are seeking a divorce for the maddest reason possible: he wants to get physical all the time, complains the lady, though he argues that he only wants a kid. The judge (Ali Asgar) gives them a six-month period to decide if they really want to split. Baani feels that as she is a CEO of a company, she must concentrate on career before getting into motherhood.
At home, Baani hugs Jass and tells him to move on in life. But as a ‘final’ concession to their love, they decide on one final drunken spree with their favorite bottle of liquor.
Jass is a photographer, moves to UK, and by chance, sees Preet (Pooja Hegde), a girl who was going to drown in the swirling currents of Rishikesh and who he had saved with CPR, taught to him in school by his principal (Manoj Pahwa).
Preet now falls for him and introduces him to her brother, Jogi Randhawa (Jimmy Sheirgill). Jogi warns Jass that if he ever dumps or deceives Preet, he will kill him. Jass also has also fallen for her and with a free conscience (has not Baani told her to move on?) reciprocates.
On ‘International Pregnancy Day’ Preet announces that she is pregnant. But!… that same day, Baani arrives in London and tells him that she too is set to be a mother—remember that last fling with the wine?
Jass now has to hide the girls and his ‘pregnant’ secret from each other. His best friend, Kunnu (Maniesh Paul) comes down to London to help and song-and-dance and madness ensues. What happens next is obviously crazy, chaotic and compellingly lunatic, and Dhawan ends the marry-go-round in an unconventional manner, which is not logical either!
The story (Dhawan himself), the racy and pacy screenplay (Yunus Sajawal) and the dialogues (Farhad Samji) are uniformly whacky and many of the lines elicit smiles, chortles and—rarely—guffaws: like I said, not Dhawan’s best but far from his worst. In fact, as director, Dhawan makes up and more for his last fiasco—the OTT release of the Coolie No. 1 reboot!
The cinematography (Ayananka Bose) is top rate and UK has rarely looked so stunning. The art direction (Asutosh Patnaik) is as alluring and Ritesh Soni’s editing keeps pace with the general goings-on. And except for the re-creations, the original music is eminently forgotten as soon as the song is over, but the choreography and costumes are eye-filling.
Varun Dhawan is in superb nick as Jass and though his character may be inspired by his father’s outings with Salman Khan and Govinda, he makes his own distinct mark. The heroines only provide the glamour and among the support, Jimmy Sheirgill as Jogi, Rakesh Bedi as the medical ‘assistant’ Rajesh Kumar as his lieutenant Ghuggi, Chunky Panday as the gynecologist, Mouni Roy as the ‘hired’ mother, and Maniesh Paul as Kunnu seem to be enjoying themselves. Kriti Sanon is charming in her cameo and Johny Lever, Rajpal Naurang Yadav, Ali Asgar and Manoj Pahwa do what is needed in their cameos. But Ayesha Raza Mishra is wasted.
If you are feeling blue, go have a blast! Even otherwise, the film is all about having a great time. Entertainment, entertainment and entertainment, as we were told many years ago, is the mantra. Serious cinema seekers may please stay away.
Rating: ***1/2
Tips Films’ & Maximilian Films (UK)’s Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Produced by: Ramesh Taurani Directed by: David Dhawan Written by: David Dhawan, Yunus Sajawal, Farhad Samji & Sachin Kumar Singh Music: Anu Malik, White Noise Collectives, Tanishk Bagchi, Rony Ajnali & Gill Machhrai, Akshay & IP & Javed-Mohsin Starring: Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Jimmy Sheirgill, Rajesh Kumar, Rakesh Bedi, Maniesh Paul, Chunky Pandey, Mouni Roy, Ayesha Reza, Manoj Pahwa, Rajpal Naurang Yadav, Johny Lever, Kubbra Sait, Ali Asgar & others Sp. App.: Kriti Sanon & Varun Sood
