2 States | Bollywood Film | Hindi Movie | Personal Reviews

We have often said that making a movie from a book is not an easy job. It is tougher when it comes to a popular book. Chetan Bhagat is a marketing genius, we must say. Studying at IIM – Ahmedabad, one of the finest institution teaching Business management, have its own advantages. He has the track record of almost all of his books coming to the celluloid soon or later. So far his following books are adopted into Hindi films:

• One night @ the call center (Hello)
• Five point someone (3 Idiots)
• The 3 Mistakes Of My Life (Kai Po Che)

Now one more movie has made from his novel 2 States: The Story of My Marriage with the same name. To add to the information his another book Revolution 2000 is also in the talks to be made into the movie.

Neither the book is literary genius nor the film is the finest cinematic experience for sure. But, there is a target set of readers and viewers for whom he writes and that group likes his book. Same we can say for the films. Majority of youth who is above their teens and either doing masters in Business administration or Engineering, love to read Mr. Bhagat’s books and so do they love watching movies based on his books.

Let us discuss about 2 states.

The book is said to be inspired a lot from the real life of the author. He and his wife met in the campus of IIM Ahmedabad. Chetan was a boy from Punjab and Anusha is a girl from Tamil Nadu. Both of them have different background and persona. But as it is said the opposites attract! And they fall in love. They then got married and proud parents of twin boys.

The book and the movie is a story inspired from the same. As we don’t know the real events happened, we can say it is partly autobiographical. The story is about a Punjabi Boy Krish Malhotra and Telugu girl Ananya Swaminathan. The meet in the campus of IIM Ahmedabad, falls in and,…, well, they got married, but not that easily.

While watching the movie, some questions came to mind. How can a girl who is doing her MBA is not aware that Gujarat is a dry-state (Leaker is prohibited in Gujarat). If we give her the benefit of doubt that she grew in the state where drinking is common, then also, the students going for such a high degree to one of the most reputed institutions, they got familiar with the Institution, Hostel and surroundings via media. The student who got admission in IIM should be very intelligent and we cannot expect them to not to be aware with such common stuff.

Also, we didn’t see them studying seriously!? Well, the movie is about love story of course, but then also, when you show campus and their love story is actually happened there, you expect to weave, study and related events in the story for sure. And, as the matter of fact, we cannot see them fall in love in the movie, though we see them making love in the movie. And that also at the early state of their meetings. Either the generation is very much open now a days like the western countries, or it is wrong representation.

Nowadays we see articles in various newspapers and magazines about the tense relationship between the author and his father. In fact most of his books presents a tense relationship between father-son. The interviews published at the right time, at least they spread words about the movie. Human beings have a nature to know the good and mainly bad about others. We might not be happy seeing our happiness but love to gossip about others, and even enjoy it. The generation gap is a serious issue and the personal relationship of a person is something for the people involved in it. We should respect it and hence we will not be discussing the matter of the same.

The movie’s first hour moves on without much (serious) happening. A song Locha-E-Ulfat is there as the positive point. The song has good music and is enjoyable. The wardrobe is convincing at various places. Though we are not convinced with the sets of Hostel rooms where they were staying, and even enjoying togetherness! The interior is very polished and rich, for example.

Arjun is growing as an actor and there are some scenes which he underplayed rightly. Aliya gave a fantastic performance in Highway but here she is not upto that mark for sure. The writing have its own glitches, and the direction adds to it. Ronit and Amruta are convincing as parents of Krish and we can say the same for Shiv Kumar Subramaniam and Revathy, playing parents of Ananya. The rest of the supportive cast does their job. Revathy and Ronit performed their parts really well.

The music album of the movie is above average and some songs are good to hear. The boy convincing girl’s family and girl convincing boy’s family stuff will found interesting by majority of youth (the target audience). Makeup is heavy at places (for example the Lipstick of Amruta Singh).

The second half of the movie is better than the fist, and the finale is definitely worth watching. The tight editing, more focused storyline and direction could have made the movie much better and entertaining. Young people, college going students and just married couples will like the movie for various aspects of the same. The movie will have ingredients to woo the target audience.

Interesting Facts

• The first choice for the movie was Shah Rukh Khan and Asin Thottumkal as lead pair. Due to various reasons they are not the lead role of the film, and we think it is good for movie and them both. Shah Rukh is a nice actor but cannot look convincing as college going student, now.
• The name of Saif Ali Khan and Ranbir Kapoor were also in the news for the film. Even heard that Imran Khan was to play Krish but unable to, due to some date(!!!) problems.
• Siddharth Anand and Vishal Bhardwaj’s name were in talks as the director of the film, at a stage.
• Apart from IIM-Ahmedabad, some shooting is done near Astodiya and other location in Ahmedabad. Even part of the film is shot in Chennai.