BubbleBollywood The casting director has done a great job of picking the ideal performing artists for every part whether it is Swara Bhaskara or Ayyub. The cinematography is amazing as it brings alive the temples of Benaras and the dusty backstreets. A R Rahman's heartfelt music adds life to the movie,his deep tracks like Tum Tak ,Tu Mun shudi,Piya Milenge are music to the ears. The dialogues are persuading and make the characters receptive. Anand L Rai's bearing and the storyline holds the watcher to his seat. The first half is fascinating than the second half. With everything taken into account, the movie ought to be seen for Dhanush and Sonam.

ba_dal9713 Spoilers! might be aheadI watched this film back when it was released in 2013. Well as a pro-movie buff I believe to think I am, I liked it, at the same time it became clear to me that this film is layered. So, it would be fun to watch it after a long pause.That pause finally ended, tonight, and I am writing this review moments after I finished it. Well, I am quite exhausted. I don't want to consider the success of a passionate love story, or any story with passion at its heart, by the amount of joy or tears it brings to the spectator, rather I want to see what the story teller intended to say. And whether I, as an audience, am able to take it or appreciate it or not. Anand L Rai already proved his story telling weaving ability and made a sacred place for himself for his utterly unique style. So yeah, I was not amazed that during this second viewing of mine, I was getting the things he wanted to tell. I got blown away with the presence of some moments, moments I believe he desperately wanted to tell. I shall give just one example of that. It is the last scene of the movie where from the background Kundan says his monologue, 'I could have got awake, but for whose sake?.....Who the hell gets awake. . . .the mood is just not right to wake up.....it's better to remain asleep'This moment told me the drive the storyteller kept in him till the end of his movie making journey. It must have been an unimaginable bliss for a film maker to be able to express a thing to his audience who finally got it. Doesn't matter if in the second viewing, doesn't matter at all.I really don't know when's the next time a crazy guy like Anand L Rai would have an insane story like this to give Mr. A R Rahman, where he would compose things like. . .'don't give a stare like this, as if you've never seen me'.... Still got it? It comes at the end!!

harsh-kabeer1 Never had a Bollywood movie enthralled and entertained me as Raanjhanaa did since Gangs of Wasseypur. It is the most heart felt mind blowing experience you will ever have! Raanjhanaa is a love story, a story the like of which you have never seen before. It is an intense, raw steaming cauldron of love brimming with unprecedented passion where love consumes all. (It is just so so difficult to put down my thoughts on this one. But damn man, I am going to give it a try.) It is not your typical warm mushy love story, the kind that are you are so used to watching. It explores love in its truest, its purest form. There are moments where the scenes are so stupid, so clichéd that it seems to be taken from a very typical Bollywood movie, that you might have just laughed at its silliness. But wait for a few moments and those scenes will grow on you. And moreover how would one expect the translation of one's passion by a generation who has fed from Bollywood movies. The difference is startling when you see Sonam Kapoor's restrained, subtle love, not because it does not carry the intensity and passion of Dhanush's, but because it is the upbringing she gets. Sonam's love for Abhay is as raw as Dhanush's for Sonam. And here where the movie shines in the exploration of love. It studies two protagonists, both of whom shimmering with love and their affection directed at different persons, but at a metaphysical level united as one in their unbridled passion. It may seem to many that there is a lot of negativity with Sonam's character, be it the way she seeks Dhanush's help or later her actions result into his miserable condition. But if one looks closely at Dhanush's character you will see how closely Dhanush at the core is the same being. Apparently, people will naturally sympathize with Kundan and not with Zoya and thereby lies a major flaw in the treatment of the story. Since the two love stories reach the same dead end and the two characters are indistinguishable in their actions and deeds, it is inappropriate for one character to be portrayed in a more positive light than the other. Dialogues are very well written, many of which are witty and funny without taking away the intensity of the moments. They seem to blend with the characters, the landscape and the story seamlessly without ever feeling like just an addition to the ongoing surroundings to add to the entertainment. Dialogues never make any moment melodramatic or too fantastical to believe, they give an earthiness, a realism to the story that plays a pivotal role in making the movie so good. Dhanush has acted brilliantly and is really a talent house to look forward to. Sonam Kapoor has also given a good performance. Abhay Deol is wasted. The supporting cast is brilliant with Murari and BIndiya. The cinematography is also up to mark capturing the aesthetic of Varanasi on the celluloid. A. R. Rahman excels with this pitch perfect music direction. Raanjhanaa is a must watch for the love story that it is, a love story of fall and redemption that is not a fairy tale that culminates in the union, but a portrayal, a canvas where different true colours of love are splashed to make something so beautiful that it will remain forever etched out in my heart for eternity. In spite of all the tragedy and heart breaks, Raanjhanaa is not a sad movie. It is a celebration of love. Maybe sometimes it is just enough to love.

sandeeprajput Very nice movie. Story of the movie is very impressive. Sonam's acting is not so good. Nice direction. A clichéd love story backed by superior performances. Raanjhanaa impresses despite its few flaws because Rai portrays a simple and honest love story without making any changes. Dhanush even with wobbly Hindi is splendid in his debut performance. He makes the pursuit of a lover to be loved funnier, pure and honest than anyone else ever. Sonam is charming and even with few flaws, she and Dhanush make up for a wonderful pair. Raanjhanaa is not one of the best love stories captured through celluloid, but it certainly is one of the finest performances by a lead pair in a love story. Even better than SRK and Kajol in the over hyped "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge". Yeah, I said it but that's the truth. I don't say this because I'm a south India nor I personally like Dhanush. I mean I do like him in some films but I'm not his fan boy.