2 States
Year: 2014
Director: Abhishek Varman
Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhat

Chetan Bhagat’s books have long been Bollywood favourites and for a definite reason, too. Barring a damp squib- Hello (based on Bhagat’s One Night At The Call Centre), the other films made on his books- 3 Idiots (based on Five Point Someone) and Kaipo Che (based on Three Mistakes Of My Life) have proved big blockbusters at the box-office.

Now Bhagat’s another book 2 States is turned into a film and is named – err...2 States! If the early box-office reports are any indication, then this time, too Bhagat’s tale has worked in wooing the audience. So how is the film as compared to the book? Has it been given a makeover (a better one than the book!) as in 3 Idiots or Kaipo Che or has it stayed true the original work?

What’s the plot?

A Punjabi guy (Arjun Kapoor) and a Tamil girl (Aaliaya Bhat) fall in love while studying in IIM, Ahmedabad. It is a perfect case of opposites attracting each other. The guy is shy and sensitive; the girl is bubbly and outgoing. The years in the college fly away happily. After passing out from the college, the lovers decide to marry but the road to marriage is bound to be rocky with the parents from both sides not willing to see eye to eye! With the North-South cultural divide and the long-hidden family secrets threatening to tear the lovers apart, will love conquer everything in the end?

What’s hot?

·        Director Abhishek Varman decides to be almost totally faithful to Bhagat’s book and that decision works well. The original story already has enough fun, drama and emotions, which translate well on to screen. 

·        Alia Bhat continues to surprise with her rapid growth as an actress. In just three movies, she has improved beyond expectation. Here she looks chic and beautiful and effortlessly walks through her role of a bindaas romantic turned into a touchy bride-to-be.

·        Arjun Kapoor is good in his portrayal as a strong, silent romantic sulking over old family grudges. But on many occasions, his introvert portrayal seems rather overdone.

·        The supporting cast does a wonderful job. Revathi and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam as the Tamil parents and Amrita Singh and Ronit Roy as the Punjabi parents are simply superb.

·        Binod Pradhan’s cinamatography gives the film a lush look and feel.

What’s not?

·        Even though Shankar-Ehsan-Loy’s music is okay; the songs actually slow down the film’s flow.

Verdict

2 States is a feel-good, young at heart romantic saga set in contemporary times which explores the age-old regional biases and their potentially damaging effects on young lovers’ relationship. It shows that a marriage is not just about coming together of two different individuals in love; it is also about the bonding together of two different families!

In a way, for the first time, Chetan Bhagat’s story has been used as it is for the film-script and it clicks well. The author, who showed Indian readers that compelling stories could be written about common, contemporary people and their day-to-day lives; who proved that such tales could be written without any literary pretense, deserves a lot of credit for this film’s success. Of course, it does help a good story turn into a good film when the direction, acting and production values are all top notch! 2 States is worth watching.

Rating

3.5 out of 5 stars