Gehraiyaan review: The Shakun Batra film has its intense moments, thankfully more than the choppy counterparts

Gehraiyaan - a film that has generated quite some buzz, and controversy, from the moment the promotions began. This film was being touted as one that would test if the Indian audience is ready for bold and mature content. And quite rightly, the film opted for an OTT release and skipped the theatres. But, if the promo gave you the idea that the film would explore the love, and intimacy, between two people who aren't supposed to be together, then well, there is so much more. Of course, this is a Shakun Batra film after all, and his fans (including me) can vouch for how maturely he deals with the complexities of love and of relationships in a family. But can it beat the maturity that Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu or the layered portrayal of a dysfunctional family in Kapoor And Sons?

When you watch the film, you might feel that this one would delve into the character developments through the relationship that Zain (played by Siddhant Chaturvedi ) and Alisha (played by Deepika Padukone ) would share. After all, that will also give us a window to see the flaws that these two had in their relationship with their respective partners- Tia (played by Ananya Panday ) and Karan (played by Dhairya Karwa ). The intensity goes into a crescendo, just like a big wave, but then it comes crashing down quite hard, not in the best way, and by the end, the waters turn choppy. 

The problems thrown in the way of the characters are many. The insecurities that Zain and Alisha, and later Tia is shown to be undergoing are plenty too. However, even with intense moments and a loaded first half (like the one you'd get if you divide the film roughly equally), the film can not give the impact that it should've. And the main problem here lies with how Shakun Batra tried to deal with the resolution of the problem.

As a person who absolutely loved Kapoor And Sons, you'd know the similarities are many. Events to bring the family close is similar, there is a major revelation put at the end, and there is a conflict resolution and a hope for a happily ever after despite all the dysfunctionality. However, like has been mentioned before- the impact does not remain the same. The difference comes with the way the resolutions are made, and how despite all coming outs, some truth lay hidden underwaters. Yes, that also fuels curiosity and helps keep the film open-ended. but the lack of resolution is something that bothered me. 

So, am I dismissing the film? Absolutely not. The film has its own layers that come out one after the other. This is a film where you are not to judge the characters (though I could not help but judge Zain a little). But we also know where his motivation comes from and how his family shaped up his instincts. The same holds true for Alisha. While Tia also gets somewhat roundness, I do have a problem with how Karan's character is shaped. 

Deepika Padukone's performance stand out in the film, and the script provided her an excellent opportunity to showcase her range. Alisha is mentally broken, is disconnected from her father and suffers from severe anxiety. She fears getting stuck and her decisions are primarily taken to break free from the monotony. From showing the dilemma to the anxiety and breakdowns to her emotional upheavals- Deepika grabbed the opportunity and did full justice to her character.

The other person who gets as much space to perform is Siddhant Chaturvedi. He has his own set of struggles and has to make the decision as to who he wants to be with. But situations and helplessness make it difficult for him to make a clear choice. This character too feels stuck, with the walls closing in at some point and it is at these moments that Siddhant Chaturvedi's performance shines.

Ananya is earnest as Tia, the girl who is fighting her own battles too. She has secrets deep within herself and is called too trusting. She does get the chance here to showcase her range, and while she is good, she is kind of also getting overshadowed by Deepika and Siddhant. Then there's Dhairya Karwa, who is given limited space to explore the complexities of a character, but who manages to cut a mark for himself. The ensemble also include Naseeruddin Shah , whis is flawless, and spontaneous as Alisha's father.

Gehraiyaan has Shakun Batra written all over it, as we had discussed before. From the camera, to storytelling, it all has the classic features that you'll expect in his cinema. But what stands out is the music, that rises and falls with the narrative as would a wave, and the frames that are selected.

Watch Gehraiyaan for how it shows the complexities of relationships. Do not go for it thinking about how it portrays infidelity This for how the intimate scenes have been filmed. The film, much like the characters, wants to make the audience shed their judgemental outlook and see things as it is.