Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar review: Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor starrer is all that a millennial romcom should be

Film: Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

Director: Luv Ranjan

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor, Anubhav Singh Bassi

Platform: Theatres

Bollywood Bubble ratings: 4/5 stars

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar REVIEW:

I am truly hyped up and excited as I sit down to write this Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar review as truly it is the kind of romcom that Bollywood needed. To hear the entire theatre erupt into laughter in unison for almost the entire runtime of over 2.5 hours is not a feat you see quite often. Many of the Indian audiences thought that the genre of romcom is dead, but TJMM revives it with a bang.

Shraddha Kapoor is back on the screen after 3 years and from the first frame I realised how much you missed seeing her on the 70 mm. Ranbir Kapoor also returns to the genre after almost a decade and you can’t help but fall in love with him all the more. It might be stating the obvious but Luv Ranjan and romcoms are a blockbuster pair and TJMM takes that legacy forward.

Exotic locales, great music, scintillating chemistry between the leads who also bring in a lot of freshness, impeccable (and unforced) comedy and spellbinding performances. These all factors just make TJMM a delight to watch on the big screen.

The first half is peppy and fresh, with the beautiful and scenic locations of Spain. It keeps you hooked and excited for the coming part. But the second half takes the film a notch higher. It has drama, emotions, comedy, some delightful and poignant cameos (yes, there are more than one) and all that was already there in the first half, just a lot more.

There are some hilarious callbacks including Ranbir-Alia aka Ralia, Aashiqui 2, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. They came quite instantly and left me and the whole audience in splits.

While the second half is the strong point of the film, I must INSIST that it is the last 30 minutes that just makes the film fly several levels higher. It became quite difficult to stay still at my chair while watching it as I was just jumping in joy and excitement, and so was the entire theatre. The whole segment even redefines a popular Bollywood romcom cliché entirely. Saying anything more would be a spoiler but it is phenomenal to say the least.

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Drawbacks

If you have gone with the mindset of watching a romcom, just like I did, there isn’t much to complain about. There are just a few things which I feel could have been better. The first thing is the runtime. At 2 hours 40 minutes, it might seem a tad bit too long for a film of this genre. But I must say that there isn’t anything that you might feel is unnecessary.

The second thing is Ranbir’s dialogues. The actor pulls them off well but they become too monotonous at times with his metaphorical approach. One feels a little disengaged when they come one after the other in huge amounts.

There is one more thing I wish to be different but it’s like an alternate take on the ending, and it’s an artistic choice. Explaining it would be a spoiler to the film, but there is a minor tweak in the ending that I would have preferred more.

Story

Mickey (Ranbir) is a rich Delhi boy who lives with a typical loving and chaotic Punjabi family and runs several businesses. It also includes one secret business of helping people break up with their partners. His friend and business partner Dabas (Bassi) is set to get married and on his bachelors trip, they meet his fiance’s friend Tinni (Shraddha).

Tinni is an independent, liberal woman who wants to live life on her own terms. An instant infatuation gives rise to a sparkling romance between the two but reality hits on coming back home. How the two try to make the other person face the reality first makes for an intriguing romcom.

Star Performances

Ranbir is a STAR and he proves it with his performance in TJMM. The actor has an innate charm that just pulls you in towards him. Every time he appears on screen you get a smile on your face. He has that boyish innocence in his eyes that he knows when to switch on and off, depending on the scene. You feel excited about his plans, laugh at his situations and even feel a little sad for him when needed. He is truly one of the best in his generation, and he proves it yet again. Seeing Ranbir back in the romcom genre comes like a breath of fresh air and I just fell more in love with him.

Speaking of freshness, Shraddha is a revelation. This isn’t a kind of role you have seen her play before. Her part in Luv Ka The End might be the closest to it, but it is quite far from it as well. She plays a head strong girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it too. She looks ‘hot and sweet’ as Ranbir’s character puts it in the film. 3 years to see her back on screen is indeed a long gap but the film makes that wait worth it.

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Ranbir and Shraddha’s chemistry deserves a huge appreciation as well. There is a spark between them from the first frame they appear together in. You want them to come together but you also want to see them tease each other. The way they talk with their eyes to each other feels something out of a fairytale. There is no alpha in this relationship. Both are indeed equals and that equality makes their chemistry all the more fiery. It’s indeed quite surprising no other maker thought of casting them together before. But after TJMM, I am sure many will.

Dimple Kapadia took my heart away as Mickey’s mother. She is a typical loud Punjabi mother, but far from it being stereotypical. If she is loud at one moment, she is caring, nurturing and patient the other. Every scene she appears in lights up because of her presence. The role seemed tailor-made for her.

Anubhav Singh Bassi gets a fantastic acting debut. Usually seen as the rugged every day man in his stand ups, Bassi gets a makeover in the film. His comic timing is undoubtedly impeccable. But stage and screen are different, and Bassi manages to ensure that phenomenally while maintaining his classic signature.

Child actor Inayat Verma deserves a special mention as she is a surprise. I hate this cliche phrase, ‘chota packet bada dhamaka’ but for her, it is indeed the most apt one. In each of her scenes, she says something witty that just takes you by surprise leaving you in awe of her. This girl has a sea of potential inside of her.

Boney Kapoor also makes his acting debut and he is truly a find. You wouldn’t feel his full impact until those last 30 minutes arrive and then, he just shines like crazy. Hasleen Kaur plays Mickey’s sister and her innocence would make a place in your heart. The other cast members also leave an impact and what makes the casting special is that no role feels unnecessary or just there for the sake.

Direction/Screenplay

It won’t be wrong to say that Luv has identified his audience’s pulse. He knows what they want from him and he delivers that. But TJMM is not like his Pyaar Ka Punchnama franchise or Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Even he has taken a different route story wise and people would be quite happily surprised by him. The runtime is the only thing in the screenplay that could have been worked upon. But still, I will again say that nothing seemed not needed.

Luv and romcoms are a match made in heaven. The filmmaker knows how to connect with the youth and present a story that feels real and fictional at the same time. To maintain that balance ain’t easy but he does that effortlessly.

Music

I had been wanting to talk about TJMM’s music for so long. This soundtrack proves how important of a role good and original music plays in hyping up a film. The music in TJMM adds to its appeal. It fits in situations and makes you more excited. Tere Pyaar Mein, Pyaar Hota Kayi Baar Hai, Show Me The Thumka and O Bedardeya have already made a place in people’s hearts and playlists. The two yet unreleased tracks Maine Pee Rakhi Hai and Jaadui are as amazing as the other 4 songs. Pritam has truly spread his magic yet again. And Arijit Singh is now a staple in every soundtrack and the songs here justify why.

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Conclusion

From the first frame to the last, TJMM will keep you hooked and entertained. It is a full on masala romcom entertainer that Bollywood had been missing. It is not a landmark film but it is unforgettable. You would feel compelled to step into the theatres one more time after seeing it once. Ranbir and Shraddha will put their spell on you. These two together are fire on screen and I can’t wait to go for a second viewing myself.

The film has the potential to take the box office by storm. The buzz around it and the advance bookings hint at a big opening. But the word of mouth will help it sustain in the longer run. Vidya Balan once said films run on 3 things, entertainment, entertainment and entertainment and TJMM is 2.5 hours of full on entertainment.

Watch the Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar trailer after the review:

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Also Read: Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar to Bholaa: Bollywood releases too look forward to in March 2023