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Gurnaaz
This light-hearted romantic film is about Rano (Sargun Mehta) who harbours the dream of marrying a rich, handsome guy living in Canada. This childhood wish stays with her as she grows up, but the reality around her hits her too. She is aware that she is not conventionally beautiful to attract her white knight, doesn’t have the qualifications for immigration nor does she have a rich father who could sponsor her. Living in a village, all there is to her rescue is her talent as a makeup artist. Even after being outstanding at it, she knows people look down upon it.
One wrong step towards fulfilling her dream of travelling to another country and she is forced to marry Sukhwinder (Gurnam Bhullar), a regular-looking boy who works at a factory. Right before the marriage, the scene where her conscience fights—one side telling her to run away and live a life of her choice and the other telling her to be a sincere daughter and think of her parents’ image, is a moving one. It shows the conflicts an average girl, from a humble background goes through in her life. Her world falls apart as she succumbs to her parents’ wish.
The first half of the film introduces us to Rano’s dream, her family background, her marriage and the new family she moves into. We also get a glimpse of the sensitive yet introvert person that Sukhwinder is. A keen observer, he guesses that Rano is not happy. When he probes her, she discloses her desire to move abroad. She also tells him about her stint at a beauty parlour. The actor takes the character to another level with his innocence and charming onscreen persona. The events that follow shape the story. From leaving his house to rent a small place, setting up a parlour (called Surkhi Bindi) for his wife, lending a hand in household chores to braving the condemnation of the world that calls him subservient to his wife, Sukha is a man every woman dreams of but seldom expresses. And Gurnam’s true-to-the-character performance makes it all the more endearing. The slow developing chemistry between Sargun Mehta and Gurnam Bhullar is palpable.
The second half of the movie is predictable but keeps you connected nevertheless. All the emotions that the two live and their family and friends experience you as a viewer can understand and relate to them. Rupinder Rupi and Nisha Bano have also done a thorough job of their characters. It’s not the regular Punjabi comedy but is surely a subject that invokes your sensibilities subtly.
A fairy-tale it may seem to most women viewers and an unreal, over-the-top drama to men but this movie has its heart in the right place. In a patriarchal society, to show a man who is so supportive and available to his wife is sure to be considered disparaging. But the bigger message, that everyone, irrespective of the gender, has the right to live their dreams is the core of this beautiful love story.
Watch it for the stellar act displayed by Sargun Mehta and Gurnam Bhullar, their exhilarating love story and the happy ending that stays with you even when you step out of the theatre.
gurnaaz@tribunemail.com
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