Last Updated: October 05, 2023, 22:01 IST
Dono Movie Review: Belonging to the production house of some iconic films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Koun..!, and Hum Saath Saath Hai must come with its own singular ache. How do you carry the burden of Rajshri Productions which is known to showcase the real Indian traditions in their films even today? How do you live up to your own legacy? I’m happy that Dono, which marks the directorial debut of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s son Avnish S Bajatya, is like a reinvention of their production house. With Dono, Avnish gives Bollywood romance a simple yet interesting love story.
Dono features two debutants — Sunny Deol’s son Rajveer Deol and Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma. The film explores the grey shades between friendship and love and the complexities that arise when they overlap. It also talks about the topic of closure in a relationship and how two individuals who are in love but break up due to certain circumstances can remain friends. Avnish manages to weave a contemporary love story and lace it with layers of old-school romance. The setting might be Bangkok, but there are shades of that Rajshri wala paravarik pyaar in many scenes.
The plot revolves around two strangers Dev (Rajveer Deol) and Meghna (Paloma Dhillon) who cross paths at a destination wedding. One is the best friend of the bride, who has been in love with her for the past 10 years, while the other is friends with the groom and is at the wedding with her ex-boyfriend. The story takes us through the journey of these two letting go of love and seeking closure from their past, giving love a second chance.
The problems in a relationship that Dono explores are instantly relatable. Even the dialogue between the protagonists is very real too, seeming more like conversation than words rehearsed from a script.
Director Avnish Bajatya instills all the ingredients required for a successful rom-com and bromance — love, unconditional friendship, and filmy drama. But Dono is much too long, though. There is a noticeable dip just before the interval and things tend to get convenient. Despite the first half of this 156-minute drama being easy and breezy, after the interval, it transforms into a total siyapaa with all the heartbreaks and some truth revelations. Like the beach-side backdrop, Avnish’s story is breezy but devoid of any twists. Dono is uncomplicated, has no villains, and some clichés. The film has some Rajshri trappings including a cricket match between the bride and groom’s family (read Hum Aapke Hai Koun..!), a Marwari family consisting of several members. I missed the presence of Tuffy, the dog from Hum Aapke Hai Koun.
Although, the screenplay has been written keeping the youth in mind but has nothing new to offer in any aspect. There is not much in it for the audience solely because it is a mishmash of many other romedies and bromances we’ve seen so far. However, Avnish stays away from over-the-top antics, keeping the narrative simple. The film may not be among the best love stories ever made, but it delivers decent entertainment and leaves you with a smile at the end of it.
There are some endearing moments between the two lovers, and the chemistry between the two debutantes is cute. While Rajveer is the more restrained among the two, Paloma gets to flaunt histrionics, which she does quite confidently too. There is an affable charm that Rajveer possesses. He’s unconventional and vulnerable and he knows how to use both to make a lasting impression. Yes, he looks handsome, but what you carry home is the sincerity in his performance. Paloma gives an earnest performance that grows on you. For a debutante, she appears confident.
Watch Dono for a mushy, sweet outing at the multiplex, preferably with a date. It’s a rom-com that almost gets it right.
