Chetan Bhagat’s best-selling novel 2 States is set to captivate audiences on the big screen on 18th of April. To celebrate the release, the makers decided to re-release the book with a new cover.
As the world becomes more integrated and tolerant of inter-racial relationships, it would seem that when it comes to traditional Indian families, the north-south divide is as strong as ever in matters of love and family loyalty.
This spring the trials and tribulations of true love will be brought to life with the big screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s popular and quirkily observational 2009 novel 2 States, which humorously details inter-community love and prejudice in India.
The story follows the ups and downs of modern, forward-thinking couple Krish Malhotra (Arjun Kapoor) and Ananya Swaminathan (Alia Bhatt) who are drawn together by fate when they meet as students. Over the course of their studies, the youngsters fall deeply in love. But the path to their everlasting happiness is paved with pitfalls and problems, as both are from different states in India – Krish is a North Indian Punjabi boy from Delhi and Ananya is a Tamilian-Brahmin girl from Chennai in the South. Matters are further complicated when they decide to get married, but both agree that they won’t move forward with their wedding until both families approve.
Events take an amusing turn when the respective parents meet. There is an immediate cultural clash between the bold and colourful antics of the Punjabi family versus the orthodox, conservative musings of the Tamil-Brahmin family, and the parents oppose the wedding with hilarious results. To convert their love story into a love marriage, the couple faces a tough battle – for it’s easy to fight and rebel, but much harder to convince.
“2 States deals with a lot of familiar conflicts that still happen in families today in India”, says Arjun Kapoor during the launch of the new book cover. Would his own family have any of these issues ever? “I don’t think my family would have a problem with who I have a relationship with. If it ever happens, we’ll talk, but I don’t think it will.” So according to him, what do men look for in a woman? “I can only speak for myself. Someone who lets me be who I am. She should have a personality.”
So what do woman look for in a man? Alia Bhatt gives a quick, short and direct answer. “Honesty, loyalty and a sense of humour.” The actress goes on and tells how she read the book while she was shooting for Student of the Year. “I read the book while we were shooting for Student of the Year. I thought it should be made into a film, but never thought I’d be playing Ananya.”
Released by Hollywood’s biggest player in India, UTV Motion Pictures internationally on Friday 18th April 2014, 2 States is a stirring romantic comedy film in true Bollywood ‘Masala’ style, and comes from the acclaimed Dharma Productions stable, which is helmed by talented director and producer Karan Johar. Also lending his producing talents to the film is Sajid Nadiadwala’s company Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The novel has been adapted for the screen by director Abhishek Varman (Assistant Director on My Name Is Khan and Jodhaa Akbar).
The film brings together some of Indian cinema’s most accomplished and talented actors from North and South. The lead stars are Arjun Kapoor, who plays the intelligent, dreamy, duty-bound Krish Malhotra, and Alia Bhatt, who plays the feisty and beautiful Ananya Swaminathan. Both are supported onscreen by a stellar cast, including, Amrita Singh, who plays the prejudiced, battleaxe Punjabi mother Kavita Malhotra and Ronit Roy, who turns in an impressive performance as the alcoholic, down-trodden father Vikram Malhotra. There are also worthy performances by Revathy and ShivKumar Subramaniam as the devoted but long-suffering Tamil-Brahmin parents.
2 States is the compelling, humourous and emotive story of young, contemporary love across the chasm of the community divide in India. Will Krish and Ananya overcome the odds and win their families’ approval for their relationship? Will their respective families attend their wedding? Watch 2 States to find out.
2 States releases worldwide through UTV Motion Pictures on 18th April 2014.
