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Hot take: Ek Ladki ko Dekha to Aisa Laga

Writer's picture: AmrutaAmruta

Updated: Nov 21, 2020


‘Ek Ladki to Dekha to Aisa Laga’ (2019) is first and foremost a brave and well-intentioned film. It knows not to tackle deep-seated prejudices head-on, cushioning them in the comforts of a movie genre that is so familiar in its beats as to border on the mundane. A big fat Punjabi family with recognizable tropes and idiosyncratic characters is home to a girl who is not like others, and the fact is only gently (but bluntly) revealed to us halfway through. The second half revolves around a street play intended to bring this fact to an all-too-judgmental society.


The problem with the film though is that this unusual story is caged within a choppy and disjointed screenplay. The approach is comic, so when the tone shifts to more serious stuff (the girl alludes to suicide in an offhand way) the severity of her pain doesn’t land as it should. Apart from Rajkummar Rao as the Muslim playwright who turns into her friend and Anil Kapoor who brings nuance and gravitas to the role of her father, the performances feel one-note. The biggest offender is Sonam Kapoor, who simply lacks the depth needed to render the complexity of the central character. The narrative also gives little to do for the love interest played by Regina Cassandra, meaning that we aren’t invested in this love story receiving the acceptance it needs. The soundtrack is clunky and not in sync with the proceedings.


Still I enjoyed the gentle ways in which the film pushes gender stereotypes: a father who likes to cook instead of managing a business, a pushy Punjabi woman who unexpectedly advocates for freedom, a possessive brother who places his intolerance for homosexuality above his religious intolerance. We are a complex and layered society, with a long way to go before people can be accepting of each other, the film says. The problem is in the overly-saccharine approach: gouged in candy floss, the flashes of impact fade quickly, leaving little trace. The effort must be lauded, the effect is likely lacklustre.


Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 2h

Year of release: 2019

Streaming platform: Netflix


Hot take is a series in which I offer my first impressions of films from India and around the world.

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