Y-Films, Yash Raj Film’s new banner for the youth, by the youth seems to have taken upon itself to capture the pulse of the young urban Indian crowd and it’s first offering hit theatres Friday. Luv Ka The End (LKTE), a bubblegum frothy rom-com starring Shraddha Kapoor and a bunch of newcomers is Y Films’ first acid test. After the success of Band Baaja Baaraat last year, the audience has regained hope in the Yash Raj banner and expect them to continue delivering fresh feel-good movies. So does this gamble pay off? Read on.
Rhea (Shraddha Kapoor), Jugs (Pushtiie Shakti) and Sonia (Sreejita Dey) are best friends who have just graduated from junior college. Rhea who is dating Luv Nanda (Tahaa Shah), the most popular guy of the college, thinks that she would make her 18th birthday special by taking their relationship to the next level. Little does she know that Mr. Charming has been cheating on her and using her to win a point – based game. Needless to say that when she finds out, she is hurt. But does she sit around quietly crying, cradling her broken heart? Nopes. Deciding to bring an “end” to Luv’s escapades, she along with her friends plan out a nightmare for him to teach him a lesson, hellish enough for him to remember her 18th birthday forever.
Shenaz Treasuryvala and Roye Seagal’s screenplay is pretty simple and very frankly those familiar with Hollywood movies of the same genre may not find anything new as far as the story is concerned – no prizes for guessing that a large part of the inspiration is John Tucker Must Die and to an extent Mean Girls. However, the treatment of the story, as well the new faces and their performances, lend freshness to the movie, which is difficult to ignore. Though many of the characters lack dimension, the humor and the witty dialogues (especially Jugs’) keep you entertained. A large crux of the movie is based on the ways in which they teach Luv a lesson and surprisingly these are highly entertaining. A bit far-fetched no doubt, but thoroughly enjoyable. Sure you will find this movie riddled with stereotypes – the cute simple girl, the stud bad-boy boyfriend with dumb sidekicks, the mean snooty beauty queen, the geek with a secret crush etc. But director Bumpy makes sure that the characters never border on annoyance and in their own silly way make you enjoy it.
Performances are a major part why this film works. For starters, new faces mean new interpretations of the characters and this helps you to ignore the stereotypes. Shraddha Kapoor, who had a bad start with Teen Patti, is perfect as the sweet virginal Rhea – wronged but out to take her revenge. The teen character suits her perfectly and that works in her favor (watch out for the scene where she reacts after finding out her boyfriend has been cheating). She definitely does well in light-hearted roles and though with talent, her success will definitely depend on the types of roles to chooses to do. We think she should play to her strengths. Tahaa is good as the ‘cool-dude’ of the college although we must say that his accent seems totally out of place. Shakti who was seen in Yash Raj’s popular tele-series Mahi Way is way too good as the tomboyish, loud-mouthed, weight unconscious friend. As are the other actors playing the friends. Archana Puran Singh as the wannabe mother of Sonia is over the top as usual but that’s what her character demands while Rhea’;s mother is the only weak link in this movie as far as acting goes. The very good-looking Ali Zafar makes a brief cameo as star Freddie Kapoor in the foot tapping song ‘FUN Fun Fanaa’.
Being a Yash Raj product there is no doubt that no stone has been left unturned to make the production as grand-scale as possible as hence there is nothing amiss as far as the visual treatment of the movie is concerned. Songs are peppy with The Mutton Song already being quite popular and the title song catching up too. Amitab Bhattarcharya’s lyrics, specially for The Mutton Song, warrant a mention. Editing is crisp and Shenhaz-Roye’s screenplay is commendable enough.
LKTE is definitely what one would call a ‘youth-oriented’ movie. Without doubt this movie was made keeping in mind the teenage multiplex-going crowd and for them this film does work. Urban lingo, Gen Y attitude and teenage mentality, LKTE has it all. Frothy, bubbly, light musical. You will definitely come out of this one smiling.
