Director Ravi Udyawar has borrowed the title of his film Do Deewane Seher Mein from the iconic song in the 1970s film Gharaonda, remembered for its gritty, realistic portrayal of life and for avoiding a traditional happy ending to its love story. Also set in Mumbai, and about a pair of young people looking to find their place in the world and to find love, Udyawar’s film has a more contemporary but equally profound story to tell. A modern urban romance, it tells us that we are capable of living our dreams despite our imperfections and deserve to be loved, just the way we are.
Do Deewane Seher Mein is about Roshni (Mrunal Thakur) and Shashank (Siddhant Chaturvedi), young professionals trapped in their boring and monotonous lives in Mumbai. They initially meet in a traditional, matrimonial set-up arranged by their parents, but Roshni is quick to reject Shashank, though he has clearly fallen in love with her at first sight. The short, subsequent meetings patiently and painstakingly devised by Shashank, which gradually get their relationship on track, bring to the fore each person’s strengths and weaknesses.
A refreshing element of this love story is how the lovers truly complement each other and bring out the best in their partner. Their romantic rendezvous in the coffee shops and streets of Mumbai, in the Kumaon countryside where they go on a holiday, or even in each other’s homes, allow the pair to realistically weigh the pros and cons of prolonged coupledom. Instead of drenching the duo in hearts-and-flowers sentiment, or making the script sparkle with unnecessary wit and wisdom, the gentle humour of the narrative provides more insight into relationships than many other modern romantic comedies can be credited for.
Roshni and Shashank are not painted as romantic stereotypes either. Instead, they are well fleshed-out, believable characters that audiences will easily identify with. Having been turned down by a former lover, Roshni’s fear of romantic commitment is handled with sensitivity. Her smart, urban sophistication is a foil to Shashank’s inhibitions and lack of confidence, owing to his rustic accent. Shashank’s middle-class, aspirational parents are sketched to perfection, but Roshni’s family and home seem almost too good to be true.
The romance in this film, based on mutual attraction, friendship and trust, makes way for a vibrant, adorable and youthful chemistry between the lead pair. The subtle ways in which the lovers show that they truly care for the other and protect each other from a harsh, judgmental world, appear genuine, sincere and heartwarming. Sporting a casual look, Mrunal Thakur’s portrayal is spontaneous and grounded, with only a hint of her insecurity about her own beauty and distrust in relationships, both stemming from past experiences. Siddhant Chaturvedi’s performance is defined by an emotional rawness and vulnerability, traits of Shashank’s character that win him the audience’s empathy all too easily.
Do Deewane Seher Mein does not make the audience suffer any excess drama or emotion. The only dramatic scene is perhaps the one in which Roshni takes on her dictatorial boss at her workplace head-on, and marches out of a meeting after announcing her resignation.
This simple, old-fashioned love story about two people totally different from each other who fall in love and get married also encompasses three main talking points that are neatly integrated into the main narrative. The first and perhaps most trivialised concern is that of invisible but permanent scars left due to childhood body shaming, including how a person’s confidence can be destroyed for life when their speech defects are ridiculed by peers or elders. The second and more common concern, is that of the impossible and ever-changing beauty standards sold by the media and fashion world that women are supposed to conform to. Last but not least is the problem of toxic relationships in which women often give up their own freedom and happiness trying to match up to their partners’ ideals of beauty and perfection.
The songs in Do Deewane Seher Mein are never intrusive; they simply and effectively enhance its mood and special moments. Aasma aasma sums up the mood of a love that frees and uplifts the soul while Tera mera saath expresses the warmth of a romance that is calm and strong, holding out the promise of a lifelong partnership. Contemporary and real Mumbai cityscapes give the film an authentic touch while its changing colour palette reflects the mood and emotional arc of its main characters.
As its credits start to roll, what the viewer is left with is the thought that it is possible to find true love and happiness even in a highly competitive, glossy and unreal world. Hence, the film marks a fine attempt to rejuvenate one’s faith in life and love at a time when belief in traditional relationships and the very moral fabric of society is on the verge of collapsing.
