Raj
Kumar
Santoshi
has
changed
lanes.
Known
for
intense,
hard-hitting
movies
[with
the
sole
exception
of
Andaz
Apna
Apna],
Santoshi
now
attempts
a
rom-com
in
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani,
his
new
endeavour.
That's
something
we
all
know
by
now,
right?
But
not
many
of
us
know
that
Santoshi
is
equally
at
home
handling
a
comedy.
And
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
proves
it.
If
you're
attempting
a
rom-com,
you
need
to
get
a
few
things
right...
One,
the
romance
should
be
livewire.
Ditto
for
the
chemistry
between
the
on-screen
pair.
Two,
the
film
should
make
you
laugh.
As
simple
as
that!
In
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani,
the
romantic
moments
are
endearing.
Most
importantly,
the
on-screen
chemistry
is
electrifying.
Ranbir
and
Katrina
look
great
together!
I've
often
said
that
comedy
is
serious
business
and
the
audience
has
moved
over
from
banana
peel
humour
in
movies.
The
comedy
in
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
-
though
it
borders
on
absurdity
-
is
funny
in
most
parts.
Sure,
there're
times
when
you
feel
that
the
humour
looks
forced
[climax
fight
especially],
but
you
don't
grudge
it
since
Santoshi's
intentions
are
crystal
clear
from
Scene
1
onwards:
Entertainment
ke
liye
kuch
bhi
karega.
Another
factor
that
goes
in
its
favour
is
Pritam's
music,
who
belts
out
a
couple
of
lilting
tracks.
On
the
flip
side,
the
film
could've
done
with
a
fresh
plotline.
When
you
talk
of
'Ghazab
Kahani',
it
has
to
be
ghazab
by
all
means.
It
shouldn't
fall
prey
to
predictability,
but
the
second
hour
succumbs
to
mediocrity
occasionally.
Yet,
despite
the
blemishes,
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
is
a
full-on
entertainer.
One
thing
is
for
sure,
you'd
fall
in
prem
with
Prem
and
his
antics.
An
ideal
date
movie
that
should
connect
with
the
youth.
Prem's
[Ranbir
Kapoor]
fundas
in
life
were
very
simple
-
be
happy,
make
others
happy.
A
case
of
mistaken
identity
leads
Prem
to
almost
kidnap
Jenny
[Katrina
Kaif],
who
was
brought
up
by
indifferent
and
uncaring
foster
parents.
Prem
falls
in
love
with
Jenny,
but
realizes
gradually
that
Jenny
is
in
love
with
someone
else
[Upen
Patel],
the
son
of
a
conniving
politician
[Govind
Namdeo].
Prem
decides
to
sacrifice
his
love
and
get
the
lovers
married.
In
the
first
sequence,
Santoshi
makes
it
loud
and
clear
that
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
is
very
unlike
his
previous
ventures;
this
one
harbours
on
illogical
situations.
Right
from
the
time
Ranbir
sets
his
eyes
on
Katrina
[the
yellow
outfit
episode],
the
film
is
a
roller
coaster
ride.
A
few
sequences
entertain
you
thoroughly.
Sample
these:
Katrina
slaps
Ranbir
when
he
stammers
as
well.
She
feels
he's
imitating
her;
Ranbir's
sequence
in
the
church;
Salman
Khan's
cameo;
the
love-hate
relationship
that
Ranbir
and
his
father
[Darshan
Jariwala]
share;
the
sequence
at
the
party;
the
interval
point
when
Ranbir
falls
on
the
ground
literally...
the
first
hour
of
the
film
simply
rocks!
But
the
second
hour
makes
you
a
little
grumpy.
The
third
angle
of
the
triangle
[Upen
Patel]
isn't
convincing,
while
his
father's
[Govind
Namdeo]
track
is
beaten
to
death.
Even
the
villain
[Zakir
Hussain]
is
a
sore
point.
Watching
the
second
hour
makes
you
feel
that
the
film
may've
had
a
longer
running
time
and
in
order
to
bring
down
the
length,
a
number
of
scenes
must've
been
chopped
off,
which,
in
turn,
must've
resulted
in
continuity
lapses.
For
instance,
Katrina's
kidnap
by
the
villains
looks
too
sudden.
When
and
how
did
it
occur?
Yet,
there're
two
sequences
in
this
hour
which
are
remarkable
and
which
should
bring
the
house
down.
One,
when
Ranbir
wears
Katrina's
top
to
hide
her
presence
in
the
house
and
the
climax
fight,
when
Katrina
mistakenly
bangs
Ranbir
a
couple
of
times.
Directorially,
Santoshi
proves
the
naysayers
wrong
and
bounces
back
with
a
film
that
the
youth
would
relate
to.
You
can't
write
off
the
maker
and
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
proves
it.
Pritam's
music
has
'Hit'
written
all
over
it.
S.
Thiru's
cinematography
is
first-rate.
Ranbir
Kapoor
is
the
next
big
thing
and
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
proves
it
yet
again.
He's
charismatic,
emotes
exceptionally
well
and
tickles
your
funny
bone
without
making
faces.
It's
a
fantastic
performance
all
the
way.
Katrina
Kaif
continues
to
surprise.
She
surprised
you
in
NEW
YORK.
She
surprises
you
again
in
this
film.
She
scores
in
both
emotional
and
light
scenes.
Also,
Ranbir
and
Katrina
make
a
wonderful
on-screen
couple.
Darshan
Jariwala
is
exceptional.
Smita
Jaykar
is
very
good.
Upen
Patel
is
decent.
Govind
Namdeo
is
getting
typecast.
Zakir
Hussain
is
fair.
Navneet
Nishan
is
alright.
On
the
whole,
Ajab
Prem
Ki
Ghazab
Kahani
entertains
majorly.
At
the
box-office,
the
fantastic
pre-release
campaign
coupled
with
the
terrific
chemistry
between
Ranbir
and
Katrina,
excellent
music
by
Pritam
and
tremendous
appeal
for
youth
should
ensure
a
big
start
for
the
film
at
the
ticket
window.
The
business
prospects
seem
excellent,
thus
ensuring
handsome
returns
for
its
investors.