The makers of “Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” did not want to miss out on the opportunity of being the first mainstream Bollywood film to deal with same-sex (lesbian) love. Hence the haste. It’s true that the story is progressive but it is far from daring as well.
The film is about Sweety (Sonam Kapoor), an introverted Punjabi girl whose rich family is looking for a suitable Punjabi guy to marry her off. They are under the false impression that she is in love with Sahil Mirza (Rajkummar Rao), a theater writer who is a Muslim. Just a brief encounter with Sweety makes Sahil fall in love with her, and the confusions that follow make for a hilarious first half. Right before the interval we find out that Sweety is actually in love with Kuhu (Regina Cassandra) and the second half of the movie is about how Sweety, with the help of Sahil, tries to make her traditional Punjabi family accept her truth.
Who should watch it?
Old fans of Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla, and young and old Rajkummar Rao fans may enjoy the film. Also those looking for some light-hearted weekend comedy. But if you want a tug at your heartstrings, you may be better served checking new releases this weekend.
The film fails to do justice to this story. It wastes too much time revealing Sweety is actually a lesbian and in the next half the plot progresses so hastily it leaves no time for the audience to understand Sweety and Kuhu’s love to root for them. Yes, a small section of the film shows how Sweety started feeling like an alien in her childhood and how her preference for the same sex led her to being bullied at school. When she met Kuhu she felt like finally there was someone she could be herself with. But something does not feel right. For one there is no development of Sweety’s character to make us genuinely feel for the lead actor.
For a film that is celebrating same-sex love, it is ironic that the filmmakers seem scared of making their audience even a bit uncomfortable. Thus we only get scenes of some hand-holding, smiles and hugs from the two female lovers. It treads on safe waters. Yes, this is the first mainstream Bollywood movie showing same-sex relationships and they might be trying to make this movie family-friendly. But there is little of the kind of soulful dancing or heartfelt romance that usually highlight a Bollywood movie.
In the central character, Sonam Kapoor’s acting is mechanical and dialogue-delivery stilted. For instance, in a moment of despair, Sweety says to Sahil that she would choose to die if she cannot be with Kuhu but we do not really feel it. Other actors like Anil Kapoor (Balbir Choudhary, a garment manufacturer who plays Sweety’s father), Juhi Chawla (the impatient Chatro who is eager to be an actor) and Rajkummar Rao shine. They provide some much-needed comic relief. Abhishek Duhan (who plays Sweety’s controlling brother Babloo) and Regina Cassandra, in her Bollywood debut, are convincing too.
Pegged as ‘the most unexpected romance of the year’, events in this movie are mostly predictable. Its central message is that homosexuality is normal and has nothing to do with ‘westernization’, and that parents should live their life and let their kids theirs. Brilliant. It’s a tragedy that such an important message is so poorly delivered, even with a strong star-cast.
Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
Director: Shelly Chopra Dhar
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Rajkummar Rao
