Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Direction: Girish Kumar Taurani
Cast: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Sonu Sood
Rating: *1/2
Rich boy, poor girl, inevitable romance and the trials in the path for 'true love'. The formulaic love story was in the 90s what south remakes is in today's Bollywood. It raked in money, made women believe in archetypical romantic hero willing to kill and be killed was real and launched the careers of some today's biggest stars.
Ramesh Taurani has produced some of those 90s romances. Now, he decides to make one for his son. However, the formula is stale and Ramaiya Vastavaiya rehashes older stories rather than create a new one. It borrows liberally from two Salman Khan starrers - Maine Pyar Kiya and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya.
Sona (Shruti Haasan) is the poor girl and Ram (Girish Kumar) is the rich boy who must win her over and Sonu Sood, the strict brother who stands in their path. It's a showcase film for Kumar so the boy must show his much-bench-pressed body and shake a leg. His dancing, unfortunately is only slightly less stiff than his acting. Haasan acts and looks like a porcelain doll. In that, they make a perfect match.
This is that rare film where Sonu Sood comes off in comparison as the best actor. There are rare moments of humour when the rich boy works as a farm hand, but that too you've seen before.
In the end, you know all shall be well. This is that kind of film. Question is would you pay for this rather than pull an old Salman DVD.