SRK does some Champu-Panti in RNBDJ : Talking Talking

Shahrukh as Champu :P

Disclaimer — This post contains some major spoilers. If you want to preserve the fun, do not proceed!

I still cannot bring myself to the fact that I actually went and saw Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. SRK does his share of Champu-panti in this movie, and I recommend this to you *only* if you like a crappy story!

Alright, so here we go. SRK plays Surinder Sahni, an ordinary middle class guy who proudly carries a bag with “I work for Punjab Power” written on it. Circumstances lead him to marry Taani (played by Anushka Sharma), a much younger, full of life girl — who happens to be the daughter of Surinder’s former teacher. This mismatched marriage leads to some funny, and some not-so-funny consequences.

The first half of the movie is utter crap and highly predictable. However, SRK’s portraral of a common man is quite enjoyable — like the way he laughs, the way he speaks… The audience is compelled to laugh at such situations! But his champu panti becomes far too much sometimes.

As the story progresses, we see Taani declaring to Surinder that she’ll strive to become a good wife, but will not be able to love him. (Apparantly, Taani was to be hitched to his boyfriend, but couldn’t because he died in an accident. Her father had a heart attack, and requested Surinder, who was his favorite student, to marry his daughter. Seeing her father on his deathbed, Taani also agrees.) Hence, Taani cannot love Surinder.

However, Taani was a love at first sight for Surinder. He doesn’t openly say this to her, but is dismayed by her declaration. He seems to be very happy when she makes lunchboxes for him.

One day, Taani sees a poster of Dancing Jodi, a dance competition taking place in Amritsar. Surinder readily accepts that she participate, because he wants her to be happy.

Enter Bobby (Vinay Pathak) — Surinder’s childhood buddy, and a stylist. He gets to hear the complete story. Surinder feels that he is too boring for his wife, and asks him to make him trendy. Now comes SRK’s second avtar — the flirtious Raj — who becomes Taani’s dance partner in the dance classes. In a typically bollywood style, Taani doesn’t realise that Raj is actually Surinder. Back home, SRK becomes champu again. Next day in dance class, he is back to being Raj — you get the idea!

With Raj, Taani is back to her old self — the bubbly, vivacious girl, with whom Surinder had fallen in love. At this point of time, Surinder is faced with a dillemma — if he continues to be Raj, with whom Taani is very comfortable, that will make her forget Surinder. However, he does not need to be Surinder ever again — after all, both Raj and Surinder are the same!

He takes a bet. As Raj, Surinder proposes to Taani (The style of which, is highly interesting! He takes Taani to the highest point of Amritsar, from where the whole city can be seen. He then instructs his collegue on phone to do as he had instructed before — cut the power of the whole city, except certain areas, which say — I Love You). Taani is frightened, if not devastated, at the proposal. She had come to like Raj, after all!

Taani loses her concentration after that. She scolds Surinder even when he fights a sumo wrestler to win two tickets to Japan (yes, it does happen!). After Raj’s proposal, Taani starts to think that she is unhappy with the marriage. At a vulnerable moment, Raj asks Taani to elope with him. She agrees. Surinder is dismayed. He starts to think that he has failed the test of a husband…

Again, in a typical bollywood fashion, Taani reconsiders her decision — thinks about the time when Surinder held her hand when she was all alone, about how he effortlessly married her, knowing that she does not, and will not love him, and blah blah blah!

She tells Raj that she won’t be coming with him. Shahrukh’s character is now filled with mixed emotions.. Surinder as a husband won over Raj as a lover!

This is followed by the lengthiest climax ever! The Grand Finale of Dancing Jodi, the disappearance of Raj, and his reappearance as Surinder… Taani’s realisation that Raj was actually Surinder… Their performance, with Anushka all dressed up and SRK being a champu… And their spending their honeymoon in Japan…

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As you can see, RNBDJ does not have anything to share as far as the story is concerned. When I was inside the movie hall, people were making an exit with half an hour’s movie still left to be seen — because everybody had by then predicted what was going to happen next! What makes it stand apart is SRK’s performance, and its music (to some extent). SRK’s champu panti gives rise to some awesomely hilarious situations, especially in the song Haule Haule. Even Anushka manages to treat audiences with her share of laughter, in her sequence on a sports bike. Vinay Pathak’s character is written to be humorous as well as sensitive. The music is good, with some interesting tracks thrown in. No misplaced song and dance sequences here. Plus you get to see Kajol, Bipasha, Lara, Rani and Preity making special appearances.

And the credits roll is just awesome! Don’t miss it, even if you sleep through the story! SRK narrates the story of their Japanese honeymoon, which is supplemented by pictures, and contains some memorable lines — “This is my first public kiss to Taani ji.” “Yeh hamaare bedroom ki kuch intimate moments. Taani ji bahut naughty ho rahi hain yahaan.” “Yahaan hum ghoome fire, khaaya piya, aur dance bhi kiya. Ab toe aata tha na!” And things like that.