Raabta

'Raabta': Crackles with Sushant-Kriti's cascading chemistry (Review By Subhash K. Jha ; Rating: **** )

There is something about Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, something sexy without really getting into the bed or talking dirty the way Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor did in "Befikre", which for all practical purposes, has a sexual pun tucked away in the 'fikre'.

Sex is, of course, important in "Raabta". Why should it not? Two young people Shiv and Saira (do not frown at the religious divide which the film blissfully ignores) meet, flirt and do whatever else follows. This is Budapest captured in all its gorgeous glory by Czech cinematographer Martin Preiss who can't decide what he loves more, the lovers or the landscape. So, the camera decides to celebrate the lovers' love and the landscape all in one swirling breathless scoop of sleazeless sexiness.

Sushant always plays his characters as eager-to-please, an early Shah Rukh Khan without a crafty charm that allows the cunning skill of being charming to show on screen without the fear of being called a showoff. Who but Sushant among the current lot of 20-going-on-30 male stars can get away with chocolaty cheesiness of a line like "Some parts of me are chocolaty".

Okay, then.

Sushant's co-star Kriti Sanon is remarkably free of inhibition. She exudes a morning-fresh dewiness even in the sweatiest of situation. And it can't get any sweatier than this: Sushant's best friend Varun Sharma (the new Shakti Kapoor in town) hooks up with a plump and parodic soothsayer who looks at Kriti and grunts, "You don't get much sleep. You are haunted by nightmares"... Sanon looks right back. If she can stare down Sushant's mock-leeriness, what is a funny-looking card reader?

"Raabta" is fun to watch in the first-half when Sushant and Kriti do a "Befikre". It's when they take on the janam-janam ka saath Madhumati/Milan/Mehbooba theme that the clouds gather. And the problem is Jim Sarbh. Cast in the key role of the arrogant lover who stalks Kriti from one life into another, Sarbh who was so brilliant and menacing as the terrorist in "Neerja", delivers a whimper of performance.

Playing a liquor baron, he is like a mug of beer without the foam. Off-key and flaccid, he speaks his lines of intense passion to Kriti as though he was reading the newspaper headlines.

If only the third angle of the purportedly tempestuous triangle had got it right. Nonetheless, the post-midpoint time-regression into the past has both Sushant and Kriti undergoing a seductive makeover. Sushant even changes his voice to woo Kriti in a previous life. Their intense conflicts in the past located in an indeterminate tribal territory, convey a primeval immediacy.

The plot allows room for humour even in the most strenuous of circumstances, and that's this winsome romantic comedy's USP. For example, while Kriti's Saira agonizes over her past life with Sushant, he remains blissfully oblivious of their past connections, preferring recreation to reincarnation, choosing flirtation over mediation, Ummm over Om.

The fun element never forsakes the film even when the three main characters are locked in an intense afterlife discourse. Sadly, there are only three characters in the film worth talking about. Not to mention Rajkumaar Rao who appears unrecognizable as an old man who resembles Vijay Raaz.

That's okay. Mistaken identity is part of the mischievous game-plan debutant director Dinesh Vijan devises to keep the theme of reincarnation from getting grim. "Raabta" is fun most of the way. If only Jim had loosened up and had as much as Sushant and Kriti.

Maybe in another life?

'Raabta': Fails to entertain, connect (Review By Troy Ribeiro ; Rating: **)

In one of the scenes of "Raabta", liquor tycoon Zakir Merchant (Jim Sarbh) tells his love interest - Saira (Kriti Sanon), "Jab tak samajh nahi aata… be my guest." I am sure the audience too will take him seriously and stoically gape at the screen.

With badly etched, one-dimensional characters, "Raabta" is portrayed as an epic love story with reincarnation et al.

Shiv (Sushant Singh Rajput) is a gregarious and charming banker who only has "how to hook a girl" on his mind. Accompanied by his best friend essayed by Varun Sharma, he goes to Budapest for work, where in due course he meets a chocolatier Saira. There is instant chemistry between the two and they are hooked for life.

But then life is not so easy, the convoluted plot goes through formulaic tropes of an oft-seen romance, till Zakir Merchant enters their lives and turns it topsy-turvy, drawing them into the web of their previous life, some 800 years ago.

The problem with "Raabta" is the plot. The film looks like two distinct films put together on the editing table. The first half of the film is devoted to the contemporary period and most of the second half has the period drama.

Also, apart from the plot the direction is tacky. At one instance, marooned on an islet, while escaping from Zakir's men, Shiv lands up offering packaged bottled water to Saira. How he gets the bottled water, leaves the audience scratching their heads?

Apart from this, during the first half, the fast paced lifestyle of Shiv coupled with the meandering plot reveals nothing, making the viewing tedious. And by the beginning of the second half the plot is so predictable that you want it to wind up soon.

Sushant Singh Rajput is earnest, but inconsistent in his delivery. He is despicable yet charming as Shiv and exudes charisma as Jilaan. Similarly, Kriti Sanon as Saira and Saiba is endearing but fragile and confused. Together, their on-screen chemistry lacks depth.

Jim Sarbh, who was earlier seen as the terrorist in the film "Neerja" is a misfit, as the once prince and now Zakir Merchant. Understated and ordinary in his approach, he propels the narrative convincingly, but unfortunately as an antagonist he is not menacing. He disappoints and this is not his fault.

Varun Sharma, as Shiv's friend is stereotyped and unimpressive. With heavily loaded prosthetics, Rajkummar Rao as the ancient tribal head, is a waste of resource.

The songs do not add much to the narrative but they are a pleasant break from the monotonous twisted plot. This is evident especially during the performance rendered by Deepika Padukone.

With brilliant production values, the film is all gloss and fluff.

"Raabta" which means connection, fails to connect with its audience.