Run, not for fun

Nonika Singh

It begins on a dramatic and refreshing note; what with the hero standing up for a girl who has had sex with another boy. To be honest, the end is somewhat quirky too. 

Without a doubt on the surface, the film’s core premise is unusual. A website to make lovers elope - in a country where marriage as an institution is imposed on millions - is indeed a wacky thought. The subject by itself had a whole lot of potential. Alas, despite the novelty factor and a fairly talented cast this romcom lacks spark, both on the romantic front and the comic. What can the actors do in a film that tries to be a mad-caper and singularly lacks the energy so needed to make it so?

Well, Amit Sadh, as an ordinary Bihari salesman, Ram Bharose, who gets the brainwave to launch a site to make lovers run, holds his ground. However, Taapsee Pannu seems miscast and fails to capture the effervescent spirit of Punjabi lass ready to defy conventions. To be fair, her character is somewhat complicated and doesn’t draw the best out of her. 

Our very own Jalandhar lad Arsh Bajwa has a meaty part and some moments too, but is not as impactful as the length of the role that is almost parallel to the main lead could have ensured. 

Set in Amritsar, the Punjabi flavor, which could have been the film’s USP, too is bereft of its real full of life essence. A pity! For the right peppering of the robust Punjabi humour and liveliness can propel even a staid subject. Rather the film gets its nuances right only when it lands in Bihar, where Bihari English of one of its interesting cameos by Pankaj Jha and mamaji’s( Brijendra Kala) joyous demeanour bring some cheer and mirth. But that ebullience too is shortlived and not enough to make the film sail through choppy waters. 

And then the beep sounds further stifle the film. No, no don’t get us wrong, it’s not the sanskari censor board at work. Sure enough, a couple of abuses have been beeped out too. But the real axe has fallen on the word .com, thanks to a matrimonial site that dragged the makers to the court. Thus the word .com has been expunged not only from the title, but also the dialogues. Each time it’s uttered (ahem not allowed to) it strikes a rather disharmonious note. Of course, as the director Amit Roy says that it made no difference to the content. After all, what’s there in a name? 

Thus with or without .com the only goalpost that the film with several contrivances and conjectures in tow reaches is boredom. 

Love tales of ordinary people can tug at your heartstrings...sadly, this love story that tries to pack several in between makes for a tedious watch. Avoidable fare.