Writer: Janak

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Watch this if you liked: "Aashiqui 2", "Saawariya" and "Mausam"

It is quite rare to see a Bollywood film that stays true to the story with conviction but "Raanjhanaa", translated in English as "Lover", conveys the emotions associated with love as pure as possible.

Kundan (Dhanush), son of a Tamil priest, falls in love with Zoya (Sonam Kapoor), a Muslim girl residing in Varanasi, India. Kundan is deeply in love with Zoya but she only treats him as a friend. When Zoya is sent away for further studies, Kundan is broken-hearted. In her absence, he helps her family and after a gap of eight years, Zoya finally returns only for Kundan to find out that she is with Akram (Abhay Deol).

Director Anand L Rai and screenplay writer Himanshu Sharma get the presentation of the town right and it is used as an effective stage for the characters' drama. The film has a nice and colorful opening in the first half but ends up being weighed down by heavy melodrama in the second half. The script even throws out a major surprise that gives the film an overly serious tone.

Kollywood actor Danush, who is known for his song "Why This Kolaveri Di", makes a powerful Bollywood debut, as he delivers his lines in Hindi and expressions skillfully. Without conventional good looks or a six-pack body to boast of, his ability to make his character so believable was his biggest asset. Sonam plays her role with calm and ease. Also, she has been groomed to look much nicer here. Abhay Deol and Swara Bhaskar impresses whenever they appears but Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays Kundan's sidekick Murali, is the one to watch out for.

The film comes alive with Oscar winner A.R. Rahman's slow yet melodious tunes. The soundtrack, which is released both in Tamil and Hindi, stands out and blends seamlessly with the story. The beautiful camera work and cinematography compliment the settings of Banaras and Varanasi, India.

On the whole, the film is interesting to watch as it is not just a normal Bollywood romance. Besides the exceptional performances by its main leads, the scenes and dialogues will touch fans' hearts deeply. Grab that popcorn, your lover's hand, some tissues and go watch this film.

Cinema Online, 25 June 2013