Starring Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, the Shashank Khaitan directorial is engaging and the end will leave you speechless.
A loose adaptation of 2016 Marathi film Sairat, Dhadak introduces Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, son of actors Rajesh Khattar and Neelima Azeem, in lead roles. The film, directed by Shashank Khaitan touches your heart with some intense romance and emotions; Ishaan as Madhu and Janhvi as Parthavi are promising in this tragic tale of love.
Based in Udaipur, Madhu and Parthavi fall head over heels for each other and become rebellious when society tries to tear them apart. Since they belong to two different strata of society – Madhu is the son of a middle-class restaurant owner while Parthavi comes from an influential political background – they face severe reaction when their families learn about their love. However, the way they deal with the situation and where life takes them forms the pivot of the story.
What makes Dhadak worth watching is its freshness and innocence that the two actors bring in with all honesty. While Janhvi is appealing and radiant, Ishaan is confident and full of energy and the two of them have done justice to their characters. However, Ishaan outperforms Janhvi and one feels more connected to him than the latter. As they face the cruel world that is against their love, Madhu and Parthavi become the strongest version of themselves and bring out the best in each other. Aside from the two, Shridhar Watsar, who essays the role of Ishaan’s vertically challenged friend, is a laugh riot, and Ashutosh Rana as Parthavi’s brutal father and political figure is perfectly intense.
The music of the film is certainly a major highlight with beautifully shot songs, two of them including ‘Zingaat’ have been recreated from Sairat. It blends in with the setting of the story. The cinematography by Vishnu Rao is also on point as he captures the scenic landscapes of Udaipur while editing is crisp, with a few misses in the second half that featured some unnecessary scenes.
Dhadak has remained steady on the box office post its worldwide release on July 20 and has raked in over 40 crores but it has received negative to mixed reviews while it is being compared to Sairat. Given the circumstances surrounding the distressed couple, the film is a little too glossy and, while there is a comment on honour killing after the film ends, Dhadak fails to shed light on the subject.
While the story was predictable, the treatment is fresh. If we look at Dhadak in isolation, and not compare it with Sairat, the sensitive and immature romance, dramatic highs, beautiful locales and strong performances make it a can-watch.
