Age Is Just A Number – Or Is It?

Review of De De Pyaar De 2.

Actors: Ajay Devgan, Rakul Preet Singh, R. Madhavan, Gautami Kapoor

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: Anshul Sharma

OTT Release: NETFLIX

Caught up with De De Pyaar De 2 on Netflix, the sequel to De De Pyaar De (2019). I have to say, I liked Part 1 pretty much, so I was keen about this one too. Part 1 is definitely one notch higher, but this one isn’t very bad either.  The subject is different, and it’s fun all over. No deep emotions, doesn’t leave you to think or reflect, so we all go home happy.

For the uninitiated, Ashish (Ajay Devgan) is a divorced man over 50 who falls in love with a twenty-something Ayesha (Rakul Preet Singh). He was married to Manju (Tabu) and has two adult children. So, Part 1 was about Ashish introducing Ayesha to Manju and his children. And Part 2 is about Ayesha getting him to meet her parents. Rakesh and Anju, college sweethearts played by R. Madhavan and Gautami Kapoor, and strangely enough, they address each other as RajJi.

“We are modern, emancipated, and open-minded.” They often echo in unison. They accept the fact that their daughter is marrying a divorcee with two kids, but the truth dawns when they meet Ashish, who’s the same age as them. All hell breaks loose, but Ayesha refuses to budge. And the parents plant a young man, Aditya (Meezan Jafferey), to woo their daughter. 

Does Ayesha fall for Adi? Does Ashish back off, or does he win her back? Do the parents finally give in? Well, you need to watch the movie.

What Works

For the pros, I would say, the movie is entertaining. Literally keeps you in splits, there’s no dull moment. As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t require much deliberation or thought. An easy rom-com that’s just meant to make you laugh. I found the dialogues pretty raw and realistic too, I mean, friends and family talk to each other like regular people do.

I could relate to all of it, except for one scene where the daughter yells at the father to F@*k off, which somehow would be too cool for my liking.

What Doesn’t

As for the cons, the biggest factor missing here was Ajay Devgan. He goes overboard in his attempt to play old, wise and mature. By the end, you realise he hardly has much to say or do, which is indeed sad. 

The movie is overly comic. I guess this time, the writers went overboard in making almost every conversation funny, which heavily brings down the story and emotional quotient, which happened to be the USP of Part 1.   

There’s a twist towards the end, which wouldn’t have made much of a difference anyway. In fact, now that I think of it, perhaps it was needless.

The music is alright, nothing to write home about.

Performances

As for the performances, both Ajay Devgan and Javed Jaffrey are wasted, it’s entirely a Rakul Preet Singh and R. Madhavan show. The leading lady does carry the movie on her shoulders, she stands out amidst Ajay Devgan and Madhavan. Well done, actually. She’s bubbly, chirpy, looks fit, and emotes well. R.Madhavan does justice to his part, Meezaan Jaffrey looks good.

Verdict

I had watched the first one at the cinema, glad I waited for De De Pyaar De 2 to release on OTT. It’s an okay TV watch, light on the mind. There are some good jokes like mentions of Kajol, Devgan’s motorbike entry, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, and stuff. So don’t expect too much, and you won’t be disappointed.

I would rate it

3/5.

Afterthoughts

Two things that keep coming to my mind post the movie.

1. There’s one scene where Madhavan asks Ajay Devgan, When his daughter pushes 40, how very old would her husband be. Won’t he be burdening her with his old age? This subject was discussed subtly and beautifully in Cheeni Kum, De De Pyaar De is a cruder version.

But the question hangs: Aren’t age-appropriate marriages more feasible? Or does love conquer every other aspect?

2. R. Madhavan plays father to the female lead, grandfather to a baby, looks fit, handsome and comfortable in his role. Ditto Ajay Devgan who plays a 51 year old with elan. 

So as much as I love SRK and SK,  I guess it’s time….  

---