2 States: You Will Fall In Love[/b]
The one sure thing that is common between North Indians and South Indians is that they crack jokes at the expense of the community that resides far on the other side of the country. Abhishek Verma's 2 States does the same, except that it has no qualms admitting to the same.
2 States takes the North-South divide extremely seriously and since, according to the film, South Indians are from Venus and North Indians are from Planet Red Bull, I should probably disclose here that my loyalties lie on the Northern side since perspectives are bound to differ based on culture and geography. The film opens with Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor) settled on the sofa of a psychiatrist's office as he narrates the story of his life. What follows is the usual boy-meets-girl story. They fall in love. Their parents don't. It's a well known fact that in India, you don't just marry the boy/girl, you marry their entire family. 2 States chronicles Ananya Swaminathan and Krish Malhotra's trials as they try to make their parents see that their love for each other is above the petty lines of region and language, but their effort of bringing their families together threatens to tear them apart. 2 States has more than its fair share of Madrasi-Punjabi jokes
However, it is a relief that the film does not see her losing herself and being someone she's not just because love and marriage have come into the equation. Scenes between Roy and Kapoor are intense and almost alive. The circle of alcohol, abuse and anger, and its devastating effects on a family are portrayed delicately. Nothing is too graphic but the understanding of what you are compelled to read between the lines is more powerful than any amount of dramatic shows being put up. Verma handles abuse with the proper sensitivity, which is a rarity for Bollywood.
On the other hand, Ananya's relationship with her family, her conflicts with her mother and her closeness to her father, her parents' marriage, her mother's musical troubles and her father's dislike for Chennai remain unexplained. The Swaminathan's sudden warming up to Krish seems unlikely if they are as conservative as the film claims they are. This makes the family drama seem a little one-sided.
2 States' romantic angle is a little difficult to connect given the way it is moved along in such a hurry in order to incorporate everything, but the family side of the bargain is truly touching. I ended up crying at least thrice in the film. The father-son relationship is bound to bring tears to one's eyes. Redemption is closer than it seemed before. But the end is a little too convenient. Forgiveness does not just come automatically, just because you want it to, after enduring screams, broken glasses and empty chairs.
Nevertheless, there's nothing that should keep you from watching 2 States
The one sure thing that is common between North Indians and South Indians is that they crack jokes at the expense of the community that resides far on the other side of the country. Abhishek Verma's 2 States does the same, except that it has no qualms admitting to the same.
2 States takes the North-South divide extremely seriously and since, according to the film, South Indians are from Venus and North Indians are from Planet Red Bull, I should probably disclose here that my loyalties lie on the Northern side since perspectives are bound to differ based on culture and geography. The film opens with Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor) settled on the sofa of a psychiatrist's office as he narrates the story of his life. What follows is the usual boy-meets-girl story. They fall in love. Their parents don't. It's a well known fact that in India, you don't just marry the boy/girl, you marry their entire family. 2 States chronicles Ananya Swaminathan and Krish Malhotra's trials as they try to make their parents see that their love for each other is above the petty lines of region and language, but their effort of bringing their families together threatens to tear them apart. 2 States has more than its fair share of Madrasi-Punjabi jokes
However, it is a relief that the film does not see her losing herself and being someone she's not just because love and marriage have come into the equation. Scenes between Roy and Kapoor are intense and almost alive. The circle of alcohol, abuse and anger, and its devastating effects on a family are portrayed delicately. Nothing is too graphic but the understanding of what you are compelled to read between the lines is more powerful than any amount of dramatic shows being put up. Verma handles abuse with the proper sensitivity, which is a rarity for Bollywood.
On the other hand, Ananya's relationship with her family, her conflicts with her mother and her closeness to her father, her parents' marriage, her mother's musical troubles and her father's dislike for Chennai remain unexplained. The Swaminathan's sudden warming up to Krish seems unlikely if they are as conservative as the film claims they are. This makes the family drama seem a little one-sided.
2 States' romantic angle is a little difficult to connect given the way it is moved along in such a hurry in order to incorporate everything, but the family side of the bargain is truly touching. I ended up crying at least thrice in the film. The father-son relationship is bound to bring tears to one's eyes. Redemption is closer than it seemed before. But the end is a little too convenient. Forgiveness does not just come automatically, just because you want it to, after enduring screams, broken glasses and empty chairs.
Nevertheless, there's nothing that should keep you from watching 2 States