Right romance

The good news is that Tomar Jonyo doesn’t ape the sing-and-sob melodramas or walk the path of fist-fights and bloodbath.

It’s a cute love story that first-time director and SRFTI graduate Nilanjan Banerjee pulls off with fresh faces, pretty locations and an engaging plot.

Joseph (Rishi), an orphan, works as the chauffeur of a Tollywood actress (Locket Chatterjee) by day and croons at a nightclub by evening. Shriya, pretty but visually-challenged, helps her mother run a flower shop.

Though boy meets girl in the most cliched fashion — Joseph rams his car into Ankhi, she falls down with her basket of flowers, and sparks fly between the two — the romance does spring a surprise or two. First, Joseph pretends to be rich boy Aditya in order to impress Shriya. He becomes a party to his boss’s kidnapping to get money for his sweetheart’s eye treatment.

Next, Joseph surrenders to the cops. Ankhi gets back her vision. The lovers part ways.

Fast forward four years. Ankhi has shed her salwar-kameez-dupatta to run a high-end boutique. Though she pines for her lost love now and then, Ankhi has found a new suitor, in the rich and nice Rahul (Subrat Dutta). The twist in the tale? Rahul hires Joseph as his driver!

Rishi puts up a decent act though he’s a tad trite at times. Shriya doesn’t have to try hard to look coy. Soumitra Chatterjee has a walk-on part of a church priest who raises Joseph.

The taut treatment, the highs and lows in the storyline and a sensible dose of humour help keep the film afloat.

Jolly Mukherjee’s music has the touch of a breezy romance; the sets are smart and chic, the outdoors scenic and pleasing.

So, even if the story has a deja vu feel, there’s enough to smile about with a popcorn packet in hand.