Super fun!

Expectations were riding high on Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (APKGK) as it is Rajkumar Santoshi’s second comedy film in 15 years and it pairs Ranbir Kapoor with Katrina Kaif for the first time. Luckily, it doesn’t disappoint and makes you laugh all the way.

Prem (Ranbir Kapoor) is the gold-hearted President of Happy Club. With his buddies, he goes around solving people’s problems and doing his best to make them happy. Smita Jaykar is his doting mother and Darshan Jariwala is his father who thinks he is good for nothing. Prem falls in love with Jenny (Katrina Kaif) at first sight. He wants to confess his feelings to her but she tells him she loves someone else. The story follows Prem doing anything and everything to make Jenny happy.

APKGK is very silly but it’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. You can’t stop laughing as it moves at a breathless pace, leaving you no time to think. Barring a scene where two eunuchs kiss and a lady’s saree comes off, the comedy is clean and a mix of slapstick, action and dialogue. If you thought All The Best was funny, this is way funnier. It is reminiscent of good comedy from the ‘90s and even portions of Andaz Apna Apna, especially because of the comical don, the climax scene which is shot in a bubble factory and the useless yet street-smart son angle.

However, what it lacks in story because of a boy-meets-girl formula, it makes up for in its comical situations. Watch out for Salman Khan’s cameo, the chaotic climax, the scene where Smita Jaykar gets romantic with Darshan Jariwala, Ranbir’s first encounter with Katrina, the rescue of Devi, and Ranbir’s wedding dance and halwai-wala sequence.

Both Ranbir and Katrina’s characters stammer when they are nervous and those scenes are utterly cute. Ranbir’s church scene is touching. Ranbir and Katrina make a good-looking pair and look completely comfortable with each other.

The film wouldn’t have been this entertaining had it not been for director Rajkumar Santoshi who must make another comedy because he has the knack for it and can easily give Rohit Shetty and David Dhawan a run for their money.

Ranbir Kapoor is the star of the film. The guy is effortless; he can do anything, be it romance, comedy or action and make it look convincing. His comic timing is superb. He has made his character of Prem adorable. It’s impossible not to like him and that smile is a winner all the way.

As the bespectacled, sweet and feminine Anglo-Indian Jenny, Katrina delivers one of her most natural performances to date. The girl has learnt acting. She complements Ranbir very well and looks pretty as a picture.

Darshan Jariwala, Smita Jaykar and Ranbir’s buddies are aptly cast.

The movie has a fairy-tale and European feel to it as it is shot in the picturesque town of Ooty. The action sequences are larger-than-life with special effects.

The songs are fun and well-placed. The video of Tu Jaane na, shot in Turkey is splendid with the contrast of black and white and Katrina looks like a diva in it while the melodious Tera hone laga hoon perfectly captures the joy of a fresh romance. Prem ki naiyyan is colourful.

Go to watch APGJK expecting to laugh-out-loud and you won’t be disappointed. Multiplexes audiences were clapping and cheering while watching the film. It isn’t a spectacular film but it’s very entertaining and sweet.


Janhvi Patel/Hill Road Media