Luka Chuppi Film Review- A nonsensical comedy with patchy humour

Luka Chuppi is exactly what it markets itself- a nonsensical comedy. Do not go into the the movie expecting layered story telling or nuanced characters. Although Luka Chuppi has a run time of only 2 hours and 7 minutes the second half feels never ending and a little too stretched. Although some moments are funny like the nosey neighbour scenes, the movie feels more like an extended youtube video as compared to a coherent well structured movie. The subject of live-in relationships is surely relevant but the plot is too slim to keep anyone invested for 2 hours.

The acting performances are also mediocre everyone delivers the bare minimum. May it be Kartik Aaryan playing Guddu or Kriti Sanon Rashmi Trivedi. Both of them look good and emote with exaggerated expressions. This works in the movie and both of them together also make a good pair. The first half with their love story isn’t a bore. Kriti Sanon makes an effort to show her pain and hurt but you are unable to feel for her as there is no build up to that moment. You are almost caught unaware as there is no character development either leading to this scene. I also hope Kartik Aaryan picks a few different roles other than the same type of “chocolate boy” roles, his filmography looks too similar and Luka Chuppi fits right in with his filmography. Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurrana and all the other supporting characters don’t have characters to play they all play caricatures and repeat the same lines in every situation. Aparshakti is the most well off out of them all, while Tripathi is saddled with a sloppy jhataka clothes wearing uncle.

The cinematography by Milind Jog is endearing and the shots in the first half of Gwalior and Mathura look wonderful. The palaces are shot beautifully and top shots of the town will keep you interested. My concern was that even though the movie was shot on location there was nothing unique shown about Mathura or Gwalior, nothing would have changed for the movie even if it was shot elsewhere. Maybe in another second tier city.

The background score by Vivek Samuel Dayal sometimes become too loud. I admit it was hilarious sometimes but in some scenes it gets annoying and repetitive. Everything in every scene was underscored. The soundtrack of the movie is also good, none of the songs seem forced they come organically into the movie. In the second half the couple attempts to get married several times and until the end you just hope that this one would be the their last attempt. Some scenes are overly stretched where they should have been cut and ideas are repeated so many times that it seems to be rubbed onto your face.

The movies greatest flaw is the dialogue by Rohan Shankar. If the dialogue had a little more spunk and a few more gags the movie could have even been comparable to a “Bareilly ki Barfi”. Some dialogues are too predictable. The end of the movie also does not quite fit, the social message seems patched on to wrap up the movie quickly. The message is necessary but again there was no buildup to that moment. There is also no room for subtlety everything is bombarded in front of you until it is burnt into your brain.

If you have a free weekend watch this movie with your family or friends. Its a good movie to laugh to, its light and breezy. Make sure to not expect much and just go with the flow. Laugh through the scenes even if you get restless. I’m going with 2 out of five stars.