Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Movie Review: Sexuality With Sensitivity, Achcha Laga

Don't you dare term same-sex preference as disease! Why mock at lesbianism bro if you are straight and hate homosexuality? All this and more with so much dignity; Vidhu Vinod Chopra's sister Shelly Chopra Dhar drives home a very delicate subject, simply and effectively. Of course, it was crystal clear from the trailers what's Sonam's big secret in this Vidhu Vinod Chopra's flick Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga--- but what remained to be seen was if Shelly has handled this sensitive subject sensitively. Aided by actors who have always been dignified- Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Sonam, Rajkummar Rao- Shelly puts out a piece which breaks rules without going overboard, and yet it's in your face. Shelly, did you use a balancing machine? 

Anil, like always, is brimming with energy which translates into correct emotions almost all the time. Watch him in the scene when he sees his on-screen and off-screen daughter Sonam caged and crying for help (Shelly reserves this scene, easily the best of the whole lot, for the last). Sonam is very easy to the eyes and comes up with a very classy exhibition whenever talking about her preferences, kudos to her for accepting such a role (bet some mainstream heroines would have chickened out). Rajkummar Rao, my common sense says, does little to no rehearsals; he is so natural.Regina Cassandra, the vibrant partner in the relationship, is cast perfectly. This girl is a beautiful face not easy to forget.

The music, however, leaves a lot to be desired- expected lilting tunes from Vidhu's stable. ELKTDAL is slightly slow in the initial stages. Good to see Juhi back with Anil on screen after 19 years, but I would have preferred her in a meatier role. Also, the film wanders a bit too much in the lanes and bylanes of Moga (Punjab) with some characters that don't matter before setting up Sweety’s confession- and that's actually where the real film begins. So, yeah that's the other side of this coin. 

But I shall still keep this coin and not spend it, yes the film is a treasure in today's times when many parents present themselves as uber cool but are still dakiyanusi if their children show deviant sexual behaviour. Some films really slap you on your cheek and ask you to wake up, ELKDTAL is one such- but at the same time, it plants a kiss on your other cheek. Dignity, and I get no word other than that, is written all over ELKDTAL--- a quality which most of us have unarguably (and of course sadly) just lost especially in recent times.

I am going with THREE-and-HALF.




Image Source:Youtube/FoxStarHindi,Saregama Music