MUMBAI: With the tsunami known as Saiyaara still sweeping across every inch of the nation, it's evident that love stories will never go out of flavor in Bollywood. The audience still craves for romance of the young hearts, with good music to back it up, regardless the age demographic. Dhadak 2, starting Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri is another such tale of love, arriving quickly on the heels of Saiyaara. Does it have the ingredients to work just as well? Well, box-office performances such as Saiyaara happened once in a bluemoon and nobody can predict it, but one thing's for sure, Dhadak 2 has what it takes to be a memorable love story of a different kind.
Dhadak 2 hits you like a ton of bricks, seamlessly balancing the theme of class divide for a mass audience, uniting viewers, invigorating viewers, and collectively evoking strong emotions — such is the impact of several key moments, more so in the second half. The icing on the cake is that hitherto this is Siddhant Chaturvedi and Tripti Dimri's best work yet, well supported by the rest of the cast. Technically, too, the film ticks most of the boxes, with the production design, makeup, costumes, and Sylvester Fonseca's camerawork elevating the look and feel that Director Shazia Iqbal seems to be going for.
It's not all hunky-dory though. The film is too long at over 140 minutes, with the trio of editors (Charu Shree Roy, Omkar Uttam Sakpal, and Sangeeth Varghese) making for a case of 'too many cooks spoiling the broth'. There are a few narrative lapses, too, and the buildup in the first half takes a tad too long. That being said, none of it is as glaring as impossible to look over, and at the end of it, both Karan Johar and Dharma Productions for drafting another socially conscientious entertainer wrapped in a touching love story.
3.5/5 stars
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