Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani

Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani attempts to break new ground in Bollywood by portraying a same-sex relationship, and for that reason alone, it deserves recognition. In an industry where LGBTQIA+ representation has often been sidelined, having a mainstream movie like this signals progress. I was excited to see a film that had the potential to bring authenticity to the queer community's relationships on screen. While the film is full of feel-good moments and is overall entertaining, it falls short in areas that matter the most when portraying a same-sex love story.

Let's start with the positives. The fact that this film was made at all is a step in the right direction. Bollywood has a long-standing history of underrepresenting queer relationships, and to see a director and production team finally take the leap deserves praise. The film's visuals are bright, the soundtrack is memorable, and the pacing keeps you engaged. Additionally, the actors are undeniably talented, with both having delivered phenomenal performances in their past roles. The emotional climax towards the end of the film, where tears are shed and emotions come to the forefront, was easily the most compelling and heartfelt scene.

But, despite the earnest attempt, Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani doesn't quite land the authenticity that a queer love story needs in 2024. The romance between the two leads feels forced and lacks genuine chemistry. The characters behave as if they are close friends rather than romantic partners. If you've ever seen a truly well-executed LGBTQIA+ love story on screen, you'd know it isn't just about putting two men or two women together and calling it a romance; it's about capturing the nuances, the struggles, and the deeply personal emotional journey that queer individuals go through. That is sorely missing here.

One of the major flaws in the movie is that the relationship depicted feels oddly straight. By that, I mean that the dynamics, the interactions, and even the tropes in the love story feel like they've been lifted from the playbook of heterosexual Bollywood romances. Queer relationships are unique, and while there are overlaps in the human experience of love, there are aspects specific to LGBTQIA+ relationships that this film barely scratches the surface of. There's no deep exploration of their identities, no examination of the challenges queer people face. Instead, the movie sticks to a formula we've seen over and over in countless Bollywood romances - a formula that doesn't fit when the characters are queer.

The lack of romance is a huge problem as well. Even though the actors are phenomenal in their other roles, their performances here feel awkward and hesitant. It's almost as if they are holding back, and this is painfully obvious during the kissing scenes. The awkwardness of these moments is distracting. While one lead actor previously played a romantic scene with a woman convincingly, their interactions with their male co-star feel stilted, and the "kissing" scenes barely register as affectionate. You can tell the actors are moving their heads in ways that avoid any real intimacy, which completely undermines the emotion of those moments. When you are watching a love story, whether straight or queer, you want to feel the romance, but here, it falls flat.

Despite these flaws, I'm giving this film 10 stars because we have to acknowledge the courage it takes to create a movie like this in Bollywood. There's no doubt that Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani is a fun watch - the pacing, the music, and the light-hearted moments will keep you entertained. However, it's crucial that Bollywood filmmakers understand that queer representation is not just about swapping out the gender of a romantic lead; it's about telling stories that resonate deeply with the LGBTQIA+ community. It's 2024 - we watch films not just for entertainment but to see parts of ourselves reflected on screen. Queer relationships deserve the same level of care, relevance, and authenticity that straight relationships have received for decades.

Here's hoping that this film opens the door for more realistic, emotionally impactful, and genuinely queer love stories in Bollywood's future.

It was a less impactful yet a brave try.. Amar and Prem's romantic and emotional scenes were too bad.. everything is shown too fast and easypeasy unlike in reallife.. i loved they mentioned "who'll be the man" thing. Bee ji's character was so fun..p.s. I was so excited for this movie after songs. I am happy that a full on bollywood vibes with heroes. But i cannot take over ayushman khurana's subh mangal ziyada savdhan. What happened to daar ji?

The movie is entertaining but i thing i would not watch it again as i watch other bls many many times(call me by your name). I really appriciate the makers to pick this step.

Seeing mainstream actors dwelling into LGBTQ movies has left me awestruck and and without a single thought, I flipped to watch this film cheating to tbw list.

Pretty much no character is intriguing, even the protaganists are unwilling to prove their inspiration. Movie execution at any given point. Not a single issue of LGBTQ is addressed and the storyline is so cheesy and tacky, you could only wait for next scene to make more sense but rather the film takes reverse path only to hamper audience expectations. Good thing they released it in ott platforms, wonder it would even fare it well in here.

A Heartfelt Journey with Flaws

This film offers a touching storyline that beautifully weaves together emotion and music, creating moments that genuinely resonate with the heart. The plot is engaging, with a climax that delivers a satisfying conclusion, leaving viewers with a sense of fulfillment.

However, the acting performances, particularly by Amar, fall short of the film's emotional potential. Instead of immersing the audience in the story, it often feels like they are merely going through the motions. In contrast, Prem stands out with a more authentic performance, managing to bring a sense of realness to his character, despite the fact that he doesn't align with the character's background.

Despite these shortcomings, the film is still worth a watch. Its beautiful music and poignant moments make it an experience that many will appreciate, even if the acting could have been stronger. Overall, it's a heartfelt journey that, despite its flaws, leaves a lasting impression.

As a bl watcher I never expected such a masterpiece to be released in India. I have seen a lot of bl's when I saw its trailer I liked it and thought it would be a nicely movie like okaish i never expected it to turn out to be ONE OF MY COMFORT MOVIE AND COUPLE . If I ever feel sad I am sure Amar Prem will make me smile again . I really feel like words are just not enough to praise this movie its just wow I am really speechless . Everything was infinity on 10 , And Aditya Seal (crush) is the cutest and sweetest just mind blowing . I seriously look forward to many more such movies and series (with this couple as well cuties) Just a suggestion please make a sequal for this and make it a series where they are just being cute , getting married , loving each other , having kids etc etc SO HAPPY.