Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

When "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" rolled out just in time for Valentines' Day, it appeared to be another romantic trifle designed for parting swooning fools from their disposable income. I'm glad the timing of its release and cutesy poster didn't put me off, for it's actually a beast of different stripe.

For a start, Imran Khan – heart-throb du jour of young girls—is not cast in heroic vein. He plays Rahul Kapoor, only offspring of an over-achieving architect father and a socialite mother. An amusing opening montage shows various types of kids: goody-two shoes, hell-raisers in angel guise, rebels looking for a cause, and so on. And then we have Rahul. From infancy, he's been told exactly what to do and how to do it. His own aptitudes don't matter for his father wants a miniature high-achieving clone of himself, while Mom is preoccupied with the pursuit of eternal youth. When the tot announces he's won a silver medal for swimming, his father witheringly corrects him, "No, what you did was lose the gold." Unsurprisingly, Rahul grows up into a permanently browbeaten youth with a pathological compulsion for neatness and a passion for ironing his socks. Precisely the kind to sweep girls off their feet…

Dispatched to Las Vegas by Dad to intern at a big American firm as a preliminary step to becoming India's next architectural wunderkind, Rahul gets fired and doesn't know how to break it to his parents. That very day, they fly in to spend Christmas with him. Can a young man's life get more excruciatingly wretched? Why, yes, because his folks haul him off to the Christmas party from hell. A horrified Rahul gets unsolicited sex advice from Dad's loudmouthed friend, while the friend's new wife (hello, Mrs. Robinson) gropes his bum. Rahul makes a run for it, knocking over a waiter with an enormous platter, causing everybody to stare. Rahul's parents look pained. More withering looks follow and they depart for India in a gust of disappointment.

When Rahul encounters Riana Braganza, a free-spirited hairstylist, similarly unemployed, he feels compelled to prove he is no snore-inducer. Bolstered by copious quantities of alcohol, he loosens up and actually has fun. In a boozy blur, they impulsively get married at a chapel officiated by an Elvis impersonator.

This is no unacknowledged rip-off of "What Happens in Vegas"—it turns into something else entirely: a sweet-natured, generous-hearted reflection on human follies. Told they have to wait until the New Year for an annulment, Rahul and Riana return to India for a week. The Las Vegas location seemed arbitrary because the lead pair must get hitched in a hurry for the story to move forward – it's when the action shifts to India that the film hits its stride.

In Bombay, Rahul witnesses another type of family: boisterous fun, affectionate, supportive with no secrets or lies. The Braganzas take him into their bosom, and he blossoms into a fairly agreeable young man with sporadic bursts of confidence. Does this mean boy and girl will now fall in love and decide to remain married? It would be wrong to reveal any more, but suffice to say this is a charming antidote to the cloying sugariness of usual Valentines' Day fare.

Kareena Kapoor's Riana Braganza has certain shades of Geet, the character she played to perfection in "Jab We Met", but they are sufficiently unalike to hold one's interest. With scarlet streaks in her locks, a well-moisturized complexion, and a junior miss wardrobe, 32-year old Kareena does a pretty persuasive job of projecting youthful spontaneity and her pairing with the boyish Imran Khan doesn't jar. But, honey, it might be more fun to play women as opposed to girls – look at the blast Vidya Balan's having these days.

Imran Khan does a sterling job of playing squished—it's genuinely delightful watching him perk up as the film progresses. Ratna Pathak Shah and he reprise their mother-son roles (Ratna was Imran's mom in "Jaane Tu…ya Jaane Naa"), but the relationship they share couldn't be more dissimilar. Here Ratna doesn't have a single nurturing bone in her sleek well-toned bod. She's very funny as the self-absorbed, vain socialite, deliciously glamorous in a number of fashion forward looks. She made me laugh aloud when Imran finally has a cathartic meltdown at a dinner party, venting his rage at constantly being infantilized, a perplexed Ratna asks, "But what's wrong with chopsticks?" How I would love to see Ratna play Amanda Prynne in "Private Lives" opposite—who else?—Naseeruddin Shah as Elyot Chase in a Hindi version of that evergreen Noel Coward drawing-room comedy. Boman Irani is wonderfully off-putting as the severe, perpetually disapproving father whose first instinct is to scowl.

In a small cameo, Soniya Mehra (the late Vinod Mehra's daughter?) is a hoot as the extremely amorous date who decides to have her way with the cowering Imran.

Riana's large and loving family – all new to me, did fine work, especially her plump fun-loving dad completely devoid of tact. I also loved her toothless granny, tottering at the edge of dementia.

If one had to quibble, I would point to the cultural stereotypes the film plays on: Riana's laid-back tolerant family drinks, smokes, doesn't get bent out of shape over premarital sex –they're Christians, you see—maligned in India for their loose morals and tight clothing. But here they're the good guys, so that would just be me being tetchy - pay no heed.

Karan Johar has shrewdly mentored a number of fledgling filmmakers, and Shakun Batra,who co-wrote (with Ayesha DeVitre, hairstylist/writer—a truly uncommon hyphenate) and directs this film, proves yet again that Johar has impeccable instincts for choosing producing projects. Shakun's film has an authentic voice and tone and his characters are endearingly flawed, funny, and very human.

Even in 2020, it feels so fresh to watch it. Kareena Kapoor is just mind blowing & Emraan Khan is also so good in his role. yup i want to see him again in movies. this movie is so good & it tries to show to life from a different perspective. Movie just refreshes you 💙

Not bad as I thought it would have been (I mean, with Kareena and Imran my expectations weren't too high), just a simple, light comedy with an unexpected end. Quite enjoyable. It could have been better but it could have been a lot worse too. P.S. All songs can/must be skipped, you're welcome.

Coming from the house of Karan Johar, the promos are bound leave no stone unturned to ensure the visibility of "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is high and garners fabulous opening at the box-office. "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is a feel good rom-com with all the ingredients in adequate proportions. The songs are catchy ensuring they hold top position on the charts especially the title track and "Auntyji". Comedy is good ensuring the audience is entertained at regular intervals.

Imran Khan has evolved into a consistent performer who is getting better with each passing movie. Kareena Kapoor attempts to reprise her "Jab We Met" character Geet. Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak, Ram Kapoor and Anju Mahendru lend adequate support star cast. Shakun Batra as a first-timer holding directorial reigns knows his job well.

Finally the pertinent question - does "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" match up to "Jab We Met" since similarities are many? Lets just say "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" is a poor-man's "Jab We Met". Watch it and you will know why.

In a bid to try something "different' movie makers experiment with several different ideas. This movie is kind of an experiment which as one of it's characters is kind of just an average. It reads like a diary and has a very simple and basic storyline - nothing more, nothing less. The basic premise is very Jab We Met but any other comparison to the original movie would be unfair. This does not match up.

There are a few moments in the movie that are really sweet and even touching so to say. The Goan school tour, the analysis of personalities and even Rahul's genuine reaction to Rianna's rejection.

The rest of it is somewhere between a tourism ad for Las Vegas ( in winter which is unique) and Goa. Every character is so definite in personality and diametrically opposite that it is hard to accept such exaggerations. Rianna and Rahul are opposites and so are their families, their backgrounds , lifestyle etc. They meet in a way that is possible only in Hindi movies and their relationship develops in a similarly unique and somewhat unbelievable manner.

This is a feel good movie so it is nice to watch it when you are low. Of course there is no significant story progression and it's more like a snapshot of two people interacting for a week. Many people have disliked the ending but to me that was the only honest part in the entire movie.