Movie Review: Running Shaadi

Running Shaadi is a great concept gone awkward, thanks to the last-minute cuts after the producer lost a case against a matrimonial site. So every time the characters in the film mentioned the original name of the film, ‘RunningShaadi.com’, the mouth is blurred and voice muted. And this is a lot many times. If we manage to overlook this hiccup, Running Shaadi could actually be a fun watch. More because of its characters than the way the story progresses.

Running Shaadi is set on a unique premise. Two friends start a website which helps lovers elope. In a country where parents still have a large say on who their kids marry, eloping is a common phenomenon. These guys – Ram Bharose and Sarabjeet – start a service that helps such lovers plan a foolproof strategy so that they are not caught by relatives before they get married. They are occasionally helped by Ram Bharose’s friend Nimmi. The broad outline sounds like fun. Except, the film turns more about the love story of Bharose and Nimmi than the innovative venture business idea its complications. It’s a tragedy considering an idea like this could have been made into something as good as Rocket Singh! Or maybe a Vicky Donor. What we get is a run of the mill love story about one Punjabi girl and a Bihari boy, both on the run.

Having said that, Running Shaadi is a fairly entertaining romantic comedy. While the screenplay pulls it down, the characters keep it going. Characters that are not the leads! Arsh Bajwa as Sarabjeet a.ka.a Cyberjeet who worships Bill Gates and Steve Jobs is extremely real and likeable. And the ever so dependable Bijendra Kala as Bharose’s uncle, Ujala, is a class act. It is a delight to see quirky characters from various regions of the country on screen, especially when they are kept so rooted. Neena Singh as Shanti Mami, Bharose’s aunt, is hilarious as she break-dances in a baaraat scene towards the climax.

Taapsee Pannu’s charm as an actress is palpable when she is on screen. Nimmi is not her best role, but she is still good. Her character refers to Bharose as ‘Little’, an English translation of the Hindi ‘Chotu’. Amit Sadh is dependable. Their roles do not need either of the actors to bring in their best, but they are earnest nonetheless.

In waiting for nearly three years for a release, Running Shaadi is a film that should have had an easier journey. It is light-hearted, and it is fun. You will probably find yourself laughing at quite a few points in the film. It could be considered a lost opportunity on director Amit Roy’s part, who could have used the premise to make a film that stands out. Nevertheless, it is decent enough a rom-com for a one-time watch.

Rating **1/2