There is no other way to describe this movie other than an experience. I have always loved Aanand L Rai's films, yes even Zero, because he and Himanshu Sharma have a penchant for telling interesting stories in an interesting way. And Atrangi Re is no different!
The story of a girl from Bihar who is madly in love, forced to marry another man and ends up falling in love with him as well. This may seem like a very usual love triangle of a woman not so sure about who she wants, but there is so much more to Rinku Sooryavanshi's story. Her emotional journey from Sajjad to Vishu is what makes Atrangi Re truly atrangi and at the same time heartfelt. From Bihar to Chennai to Delhi, the film takes us on quite a ride through Rinku's emotional roller coaster. We join Vishu as he follows her on this head-spinning ride that ends on a gut-wrenching yet beautiful moment.
But is this really the end? I have so many questions for the makers of the film about Rinku, her future, her life with Vishu and so many more. But I guess that is a story for another time.
Talking about the makers, Atrangi Re, the film rests on the trio of director Aanand L Rai, writer Himanshu Sharma, and composer AR Rahman. Aided ably by the camera work of Pankaj Kumar, Atrangi Re is delightful, beautiful, and full of emotions.
And the emotions come from the performances. Akshay Kumar in his extended cameo gives a charming performance, something that the actor can do quite easily. The role of Sajjad is not really a challenge for him. Right when I thought that Sara Ali Khan was happily playing the sweet girl, her performance as Rinku shows that in the hands of a director like Rai, she can do wonders. Yes, there are a few over-the-top moments, but she conveys Rinku's vulnerability, helplessness, and pain very effectively. But the scene-stealer at the end of the days is Dhanush. Yes, there will be detractors who may complain that he is constantly playing the Tamil stereotype in his Hindi movies. But the emotional layers that he brings to Vishu are so amazing, that he can be forgiven for his Hindi movie choices. He brings a hint of comedy, some sarcasm, innocence as well as romance to Vishu. There is only one complaint though, that an actor of the calibre of Seema Biswas is wasted. But that aside, Atrangi Re is indeed a movie to watch over the festive weekend.
Atrangi Re is now streaming on Disney+Hotstar.