‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ movie review: Varun Dhawan makes this frivolous festive fare watchable

Out of Karan Johar’s young proteges, I find Shashank Khaitan’s voice the most influential in taking the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai conversation forward. Film after film, he creates the portrait of the young upper-middle-class Punjabi/ Marwari youth caught between the values inherited from the family and what the Internet defines as modern.

If Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania felt fresh, Badrinath Ki Dulhania was an engaging follow-up. This Dussera, he repeats the template by creating a plot that is essentially a cross between his previous two success stories. If Humpty won over a girl who was already engaged, Badrinath had to shed his patriarchal outlook to win over his love. Here, Sunny (Varun) and Tulsi (Janhvi) are candidates rejected in love. When they decide to crash into the wedding of their ex-partners, Ananya (Sanya) and Vikram (Rohit), they discover that in this game of ‘match the following,’ there is some magnetic connection between them as well. As sparks fly, chaos ensues, patriarchal mindsets come to the fore, and the rom-com gets a semblance of life.

Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra in a still from ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’
| Photo Credit:
Dharma Productions

Mounted as a fun outing for the festive weekend and an unabashed advertisement for the big, fat Indian wedding industry, there is no point looking for nuance in storytelling or detailing in characterisation. Still, between the jokes and jibes, Khaitan and co-writer Ishita Moitra offer some insight into the mind of the ‘I love myself’ generation and the contours of modern-day relationships, where the present is often compromised for the obtuse idea of a safe future, as envisioned by the family.

Early in the film, in a single scene appearance, veteran Salim Arif sets the tone when he imparts an important lesson on the value of self-respect in love. There is a talk of preserving a girl’s identity in crossing over to a wealthy family, and there is a silent but pointed remark on the pressure of enhancing the cleavage in the Instagram world.

After the misfire called Baby John, Varun Dhawan finds his mojo back on the familiar turf where he gets to play a modern-day version of Govinda. A seemingly flippant, mischievous middle-class boy with the heart of gold, Sunny is tailor-made by Khaitan for Varun. He chews the scenery, plays to the gallery, and is the lifeline of the film, keeping the wafer-thin plot afloat.

Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor in a still from ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’
| Photo Credit:
Dharma Productions

The sincere Sanya Malhotra is miscast in a film fueled by clickbait dialogues. Perhaps her sedate presence makes Janhvi Kapoor look bubblier than she actually is. No replacement of Alia Bhatt, but Janhvi is not as bad as Tulsi, a typical Bollywood prototype who sheds the girl-next-door image and transforms into a glamorous diva to demand attention. Her dialogue delivery is still a work in progress, but after Homebound, she once again earnestly conveys the inner turmoil of a character that is not fully fleshed out.

However, the moment you see Rohit, you know that he is going to be the third or fourth angle in the love story. The plot points and punchlines work like an algorithm where the support cast intervenes with automatic precision. The songs are not as catchy as the previous iterations of Khaitan’s love stories, but still, it is a kind of film that you don’t mind if someone else is paying for the ticket.

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is currently playing in theatres.