<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> Well, this could be a record of sorts when an entire soundtrack of a film has been made out of recreated versions. However, this is what happens in case of <em>Luka Chuppi</em> which has five songs in there and each of these has been a hit in its original versions during the last few years gone by. Let's check these out. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-956950 size-full" title="Music Review Luka Chuppi" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Music-Review-Luka-Chuppi.jpg" alt="Music Review Luka Chuppi" width="720" height="405" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> The only song in the album which has been recreated from a Bollywood flick, <strong><em>'Poster Lagwa Do' </em></strong>is based on <em>'Ye Khabar Chapwado Akhbar Mein'</em> from Akshay Kumar and Urmila Matondkar starrer <em>Aflatoon</em>. This time around the singers at the helm of affairs are Mika Singh and Sunanda Sharma, and both come up with a very energetic outing. White Noise Studios is the force behind the new composition and lyrics, though this version could have done without the brief rap portion. Also the crescendo that picks around 'Ek Ladka Ek Ladki' is a bit odd and avoidable. Tanishk Bagchi, the man responsible for quite a few recreated versions during the last few weeks, picks Tony Kakkar's <strong><em>'Coca Cola'</em></strong> and gives it a new flavour, pun intended. This one is an instant party hit and you want to hit the dance floors while it is on. Tony Kakkar pairs up with Neha Kakkar for this song and also writes lyrics along with Mellow D with Young Desi stepping in for the rap portion, which actually works for this number. In the same mould as the kind of dance numbers that were last seen in Kartik Aaryan's <em>Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety</em>, this is a winner. Things turn sober after a couple of dance numbers with Tanishk Bagchi recreating Goldboy's <strong><em>'Photo'</em></strong>. A love song about remembering the one whom you love most, this one has beautiful and simple lyrics by Nirmaan that add on to the romantic appeal. Moreover, the manner in which Karan Sehmbi sings this one, it turns out to be instantly likeable too. The only regret? This one is way too short in duration as one would have wanted to hear more of it. Celebration number <strong><em>'Tu Laung Main Elaachi'</em></strong> comes in next and Tanishk Bagchi scores well yet again while recreating Gurmeet Singh's<em> 'Laung Laachi'</em> that was originally sung by Mannat Noor. Kunaal Vermaa is the lyricist for the new version that has Tulsi Kumar as the singer. She is just the right choice for this sweet and pleasant sounding number that is set to be a rage all over again up North, given its traditional flavour that is out and out 'desi'. When composer Bob and lyricist Raja came up with <em>'Khaab'</em> a few years back, even they wouldn't have imagined that it would emerge as a major chartbuster with a really good shelf life. This is what has happened now; what with the song finding a new version in the form of <strong><em>'Duniyaa'</em></strong> that indeed has a timeless appeal to it. Akhil, who had sung the original version, returns along with Dhvani Bhanushali and Bhrigu Parashar for this really beautiful love song that has new lyrics by Kunaal Vermaa and music put together by Abhijit Vaghani. A winner all over again! <strong>OVERALL</strong> The music of <em>Luka Chuppi</em> is a major winner with a wide variety to it that should appeal across segments. Agreed that there is no new original number in there but then the packaging of earlier chartbusters ensures that you are hooked right though the proceedings. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>‘Coca Cola’</em>, <em>‘Photo’</em>, <em>‘Duniyaa’</em>

Luka Chuppi
U/A: Romance, comedy
Dir: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Kriti Sanon, Kartik Aaryan, Pankaj Tripathi
Ratings: 

If you ever needed a better proof of the fact that most 'star-actors' (especially the new-age ones) are inevitably over-rated, given that the success of their characters, or indeed their films, depends so much on the script: Well, here is one.

This picture stars Kartik Aaryan, lately anointed the rising star among millennials, largely on the back of three super-hit rom-coms in a row - Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), its sequel (2015), and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) - by the same director (Luv Ranjan).

Social media, and of course the usual entertainment portals, have been fired up ever since, capturing his newly captive mass-base. He walks into a picture of a similar genre, with hardly a story, let alone a screenplay, and you can watch the same actor, looking dumbfounded, fumbling all over the frickin' place - much like his film.
Which is about a girl, with a stock-expression (Kriti Sanon), taking stock of her young-adult life. She isn't quite ready to get married. But doesn't mind being with the guy she's just about met. She decides to live-in. For? 20-odd days, pretending to be married, in another town - sounds like a long vacation to me!

Either way, it's a logical step for a modern couple to take. Not for the characters in this movie, who live in seriously moronic times. Local news channels have gone berserk over, "Desh mein naya system aaya hai" - referring to an epidemic called live-in relationships! Goons, with the heroine's dad lording over them, are at every nook and corner, whacking/harassing couples over an inescapable pandemic. A top Khan Bollywood superstar has been boycotted/trolled nationwide for moving in with his girlfriend!

The hero-heroine in this pic play news reporters - continuously covering this earth-shattering story. Those behind the writing of this ultra-filmy picture were obviously born in PVR/Fun Republic. What happens next? Honestly, absolutely nothing. Or rather nothing that you may like to know, since the couple is still very much together, and their families seem okay with them being so forever. Eh?

This is supposed to be a comedy, exploring a perceived taboo, set in small-town India. Which, as a movie, is just the reverse from a decade and half ago, when Bollywood films just had to be set abroad, in order to do well - think Salaam Namaste (2005), also about a couple (Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta) living in, but in Melbourne!

Writer Javed Akhtar, astute cultural observer, ascribes this shift towards small towns as a fairly settled, secure, migrant Indian middle-class finding solace in its roots or where it came from. Given a massive string of commercial successes, emanating from stories from Meerut, Agra, Kota, Lucknow, Kanpur and the like, a formula is bound to set in.

This picture is placed in Mathura and Gwalior. An ensemble cast of rustic faces, dressed down, attempt some semi-rural humour, with odd, local mannerisms, and 'horny uncle' sex jokes. There is mention of caste and religion for the realism.

In walks Pankaj Tripathi, giving you a glimpse of how a performer can still rise above poor material - but only that much. Forget the audience, just wondering why/how they managed to chipkao this non-script on an actor, who's seriously in top form right now. Anyhoo, that's probably another story.

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