Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐ 1/2
Genre: Romance
Year: 2025
Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes
Director: Vivek Soni
Cast: Madhavan, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Manish Chaudhary, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Namit Das
Kid rating: PG
The trailer of Aap Jaisa Koi looked amazing, an actual quietly cool film questioning regressive social mores. Plus it stars Fatima Sana Sheikh who pulled at our heartstrings so effectively in the recent Metro In Dino, AND a cleaned up, shaved Madhavan. So does it deliver? Well . . . yes and no.
Shrirenu Tripathi (Madhavan) is a 42 year old Sanskrit teacher. He meets 32 year old French teacher Madhu Bose (Sheikh) from Kolkata, via the arranged marriage route. The two like each other despite differences in outlook – she is a liberal, independent woman, while he is a little more staid, still rooted in old world mores and morality.
One can almost hear the wedding bells when the relationship is put to the test. Is what’s good for the gander good for the goose? Not per Shrirenu. Madhu wants a marriage of true equality, while Shrirenu demurs. The twain might never meet.
This film reminded me of the wonderful (and much better) Tanu Weds Manu in it’s romantic tone, it’s small-towny feel and the soulful ballads. Shrirenu lives in Jamshedpur, a shy, hesitant, lonely bachelor who would like some (respectable) female comfort. When the lovely, high-heeled, chiffon-clad Madhu appears on the scene, Shrirenu cannot believe his luck.
Both Shrirenu and Madhu’s characters are appealingly sketched out. Madhavan and Fatima bring them to life. I am glad to see Madhavan back in form again as charmingly insecure Shrirenu. And Fatima Sana Sheikh is absolutely marvelous as the luminous Miss Bose. I loved that her character exuded quiet self-confidence. Even when she questions Shrirenu’s patriarchal outlook, it is not in the strident tones of the weak, but in the reasonable tones of a woman who knows her worth and will brook no nonsense.
Also nicely done are their family members. Manish Chaudhari as Shrirenu’s overbearing, patriarchal brother and Ayesha Raza as his sweet bhabhi are total scene-stealers. Madhu’s large family is well-portrayed as educated and forward-thinking. Namit Das as Shrirenu’s bumchum pal was great.
Aap Jaisa Koi as a film was lovely to behold, each frame so well put together. Lovely tree-lined streets, the elegance of Kolkata, softly focused frames! Kudos to cinematographer Debojeet Ray.
Here’s the rub though: despite all these positives, this film does not succeed like it should have. It started off well, but then it dragged its feet. It dithered. The screenplay faltered. All that lovely romantic energy just dissipated. Also, while I did like Shrirenu’s character, it is a tad annoying to see yet another hero take the easy way out. Made for a namby-pamby ending.
But that’s my grouse. Aap Jaisa Koi is still miles ahead of the chauvinist crap Bollywood dishes out as the norm. And yes, it’s a simple, non-deafening, pleasant, visually pleasing film. A one-time watch recommended.
Kidwise: Clean.
