In ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,’ Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Rocky stands out as exceptional. His performance brings a unique charm and energy to the character that seems tailor-made for him. As always, Ranveer’s ability to own the screen and add depth to his roles shines through in this film. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the Mumbai film industry pulling off the role of Rocky as effortlessly as he does.
Karan Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ relies heavily on clichéd stereotypes, using a Punjabi-Bengali culture clash as a backdrop to explore the complexities of relationships, family pressures, and gender roles in a changing world.
The film occasionally hits the right emotional notes, but it often falls prey to outdated storytelling tactics and lacks consistency in its purpose. While some moments are enjoyable, the film seems too eager to please the audience and indulge in pontification, which hampers its overall impact.
The screenplay oscillates between losing focus and hitting the mark, but strong performances from the cast help smooth out its flaws.
Co-written by Ishita Moitra, Shashank Khaitan, and Sumit Roy, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ attempts to blend hearty laughs with “useful” marital advice. However, it struggles to strike the right balance and feels heavy-handed when it comes to critiquing patriarchy, traditional masculinity, and cultural chauvinism. Despite delivering a few meaningful truths, the film is burdened with an abundance of clichés.
The story revolves around two families with vastly different backgrounds: the orthodox Punjabi Randhawa family, where the matriarch calls the shots, and the more liberal Bengali Chatterjee family, comprising three generations of women and a male Kathak guru.
The film follows the love story between Rocky Randhawa (played by Ranveer Singh) and Rani Chatterjee (portrayed by Alia Bhatt), whose union leads to a clash of cultures and ideologies. While the film starts off entertainingly, it loses its way when it becomes too didactic in its messaging after the intermission.
As Rani and Rocky attempt to navigate their relationship against all odds, the film addresses themes of regrets, renewals, accusations, apologies, and family dynamics. Unfortunately, the storytelling tends to be unsubtle and simplistic, leaving little room for subtlety or nuance in delivering its messages.
The film’s lavish sets and grandeur are expected of a Karan Johar production, and it is filled with glitzy and peppy songs composed by Pritam. While Ranveer Singh’s exuberance shines through, Alia Bhatt steals the show with her confident and spirited portrayal of Rani. Supporting performances from Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, and the rest of the cast are also praiseworthy.
Despite its star-studded cast and glamorous presentation, ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ gets bogged down by predictable clichés and lacks the innovation and depth needed to stand out. It manages to entertain to some extent but ultimately fails to break free from its typical and formulaic trappings.