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De De Pyaar De, directed by debutant Akiv Ali and written by Luv Ranjan, is an unusual romantic comedy. Starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Rakul Preet in the lead, De De Pyaar De is a love triangle, if you can call it that, of a different kind. Not only does the film deal with age-inappropriate romance (and so did Cheeni Kum), but also it addresses some topical themes our society is still not comfortable discussing. Like, casual sex, live-in relationships and one-night-stands. De De Pyaar De Movie Review: Tabu Towers Over Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet in This Unusual Romcom.
So does that make De De Pyaar De a cool and mature movie for the current times? Intentions to be that are definitely there, but the film falters in being a great coming-of-age comedy, thanks to some really flawed and misogynistic (even if it claims otherwise) writing. The movie finds itself in the same vein as Luv Ranjan's previous movies, though it does rein in some of the sexism, perhaps, because of its big stars in the cast.
In this special feature, we look at 13 moments in the film that made us go WTF! De De Pyaar De Box Office Collection: Ajay Devgn, Tabu and Rakul Preet Singh Starrer Off to an Average Start, Witnesses 15% Occupancy.
#1 Nothing Moved!
Rakul Preet makes her intro in the film posing as a stripper at a bachelor party that Ashish (Ajay Devgn) throws for his friend. After trying to seduce the groom, we find out that she is really a honeypot, the bride's friend, Aisha, coaxed by the bride herself to check the groom's fidelity. When the marriage is about break, Aisha convinces her friend that her fiance has only compiled due to peer pressure (he didn't) and she can say so, because when she sat on his lap (while seducing), she 'felt nothing'! Dear Aisha, this whole damage control wasn't required at all, if you didn't gatecrash the party in the first place!
#2 Misplaced Flirting
After the party at Ashish's, Aisha woke the next day on his bed and finds that she is without her clothes. Thinking she had sex with Ashish, she tries to act cool with him when he serves her breakfast. When Ashish tells her that nothing happened the night before, she is actually annoyed that he didn't take advantage of her! Seriously, no one in DDPD team thought there was anything wrong with this? Ashish, meanwhile, has the final word when he says he doesn't use the excuse of being drunk to have sex with someone! Ah, well...
#3 Photoshopped Degrees
A recurring motif in Ashish's scenes with his psychologist friend (Jaaved Jaaferi) is the frequent mention of how latter's certificates could be photoshopped. However, there is no payoff for this gag, and we are not even sure why they keep mentioning. Is it an Easter Egg on Jaaferi's role in 3 Idiots or if it was a really unfunny gag, we will never know!
#4 'Singham'
How many time will you make Ajay Devgn repeat his Singham act before film-makers themselves find it trite? In De De Pyaar De, Ajay Devgn once again gets into Singham mode when he tackles robbers trying to rob his character and get handy with Aisha (on her insistence; this girl is a certified moron). Nothing wrong with some fan-servicing, but it shouldn't feel random and out of place. Later, the film throws in another throwback gag, this time on Vijaypath, that had Ajay and Tabu. Once again, it feels shoe-horned into the narrative rather than being a natural gag.
#5 Ajay Devgn Can't Kiss
Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan are two superstars who explored onscreen kissing quite late in their career, and it clearly shows in their smooches. Ajay has three kissing scenes in the film, each more awkward than the other. We now don't know what's worse - Ajay's kissing or his dancing - and De De Pyaar De, unfortunately, has both!
#6 Why The Need to Meet the Family?
Ashish is such an immature and irresponsible person that he has not met his family for years and spent that time earning big bucks in London, and dating women. He hasn't been in India for such a long time that he doesn't even remember if he has divorced his wife. So why did he even feel the need to let Aisha meet his wife and kids, other than for plot's sake?
#7 That Screechy Daughter
We understand that Ashish's daughter, Ishika, is irked with him for ditching them years ago. But why was the need to make her screechy nearly the entire time the character was on screen? Hands down the most irritating character to be seen on the big screen, after that irritating daughter of Anil Kapoor in Fanney Khan!
#8 Ladies and Cars Are the Same, Basically!
In an absolutely baffling scene, the two ladies in the film discuss the advantages of having an old car vs an upgraded vehicle. There is no reason to doubt that cars are allegories for the ladies themselves. Not only is the scene degrading to women, but it is also not even funny. But then what do you expect from the pen of someone who gave us Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety?
#9 The Rakhi Scene
When most of the gags don't work, what do you do? How about a comic scene that is bound to shock most of the average Indian audiences? For some reason, Ashish's daughter, who never hear of the term 'separated', tells her boyfriend that her father is dead. So when Ashish comes to meet them, her family tries to pass him off as Majnu's (Tabu) brother. This leads to a really ridiculous, unwarranted scene where Ashish is forced to get rakhi tied by Manju during Raksha Bandhan, just to convince the boy's father. And not a single person, save for Ashish, feels it isn't weird!
#10 Infidelity is Fine if Intentions are Fine
In a scene near the climax, Ashish goes to console a depressed Manju. They get intimate and have sex. Considering that he was going out with Aisha, this act of his, of course, amounts to cheating. Though Manju advises him not to, Ashish still confesses to Aisha about his intimate encounter with his ex-wife. What follows is an incredulous scene where there is justification given for infidelity, as the sexual encounter is passed off as a 'debt' Manju later even manages to convince Aisha that if one sexual encounter cannot develop into love, then how can another sexual encounter (with someone else) make someone fall out of it! That's profound...for someone really shallow!
#11 Instant London Visa
In order to convince an angry Aisha, Manju goes to London to meet her without telling anyone and brings her back to India, all within a day! In the world of Bollywood, there is no need to hassle with the UK immigration for getting a visa. And since Manju stays in Manali, she either has to go to Chandigarh or New Delhi to get one. Considering both the cities are hours travel away from Manali, it feels like Manju actually used the Quantum Realm to travel wherever they want!
#12 Alok Nath's Below The Belt Joke
Alok Nath's character feels like a continuation of the one he played in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. In normal cases, it would have been a funny idea. But after the allegations of rape against him, Alok Nath's presence in the film is a source of irritation. And his final line when he teases Ashish's son that his father is sleeping around with the girl he has a crush on, feels cringe-worthy!
#13 Manju's In-Law Flirts With Her
Even though their kids are about to get married, that doesn't stop Ishika's future pa-in-law from flirting with her mother, much to her infatuated tenant (Jimmy Sheirgill getting typecast)'s chagrin. Okay, Mr Ranjan and Mr Ali, where are you going with this?
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2019 10:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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