"Praktan" feels like a delightful mixture of enchanting melodies, contagious nostalgia, and heartfelt exploration of an "imperfect relationship" that's been tucked away for too long.
The story resonates surprisingly well because, first, it neatly captures the struggles as well as dilemmas faced by middle-class couples, and second, the messages are delivered in a clear and uncontrived way, creating a harmony that makes it easy for a broad audience to connect with.
Having said that I also believe that this easy accessibility may have limited the film's true potential.
The overbearing simplicity sometimes kept the writing from reaching higher emotional margins, so while it had the right elements, the drama and emotions did not quite soar as high as they could.
Moreover, the choice to introduce three differently aged couples to represent three stages of marriage was a lovely idea, but the writing lacked substance to give them equal space and tie them together into a cohesive narrative.
It might have been more productive to focus solely on the group of Sudipa, Ujaan, and Malini.
