Chirasathi is DDLJ revisited. Here’s how:

Dipankar De is the grim and stern father, ala Amrish Puri, who won’t have his bholi-bhali daughter Koel (Ria) date a boy of her choice. He fixes her marriage with the ‘suited-booted’ Bhaswar.

That’s when Koel, like Kajol, is suddenly gripped with the urge to see the world with her girl friends (Ria can only go as far as South India, the producer’s pocket not permitting a Europe sojourn).

Next, dude-with-a-dimple Hiran (Raju) joins the gang of girls on the bus to Ooty with a guitar slung across his shoulders, Raj-style.

The courtship drama begins — he smiles, she frowns; he sings, she scowls. Yet it doesn’t take long for the two to discover love, losing their way in the woods, getting drunk on mahua and whispering sweet-nothings.

The lovebirds go their own ways, only to daydream and pine, till Hiran strums his way into Koel’s family. And yes, Hiran and Koel meet, greet and even romance on the terrace like Shah Rukh’s Raj and Kajol’s Simran.

In the climax, Bhaswar does a Punjab da puttar Parmeet Sethi, letting loose a bunch of baddies on Hiran.

The only novelty? The subplot revolving round the secret that Hiran’s deranged brother and Koel’s dead sister had been lovers.

The only variety? The signature track, which is a straight lift from Jeena yahan marna yahan from Mera Naam Joker and not something from DDLJ.

The missing link? Daddy De doesn’t cry “Ja Simran ji le apni zindagi” because Koel gets shot in the arm and lands up in hospital, knocking some sense into him to unite the lovers.

If you don’t mind the de ja vu factor, Chirasathi is a better watch than the average Tolly fare. It looks good and feels good, though the half-a-dozen songs slow down the story.

Koel’s charm and cheerfulness, and Hiran’s droopy-eyed romantic look work for the film. The two make a cute pair.

But a word of advice for Hiran — please leave the weepy voice and hamming at home.