By Rajesh Ahuja...
New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) In this age of online dating and long distance relationships on Skype and Facebook, the idea of soulmates and 'true love' may seem to be outdated. However, as the hustle and bustle of modern life buries the inner voice of our heart under the cacophony of daily existence, filling an emptiness in our lives, one yearns for true love. It is the idea of 'true love' and 'soulmates' that forms the theme of Divya Khosla Kumar's second directorial venture 'Sanam re'. In the age of 'ROM coms' and 'romantic thrillers, attempting a 'classic love story' is a brave attempt by Divya, who had made a promising directorial debut with 'Yaariyaan', a college romance which proved to be a surprise hit at the box office. If 'Yaariyan' struck a chord with the college youth, 'Sanam re' touches your heart with the innocence of 'pure love'. The movie is an emotional love story between Aakash (Pulkit Samrat) and Shruti (Yami Gautam). Aakash, is a city-slick boy who is busy working, with no time for relationships or love. A twist in his life brings him back to his old village, stuck in time where he meets his childhood friend Shruti and realises that he is in love with her. It shows Aakash and Shruti’s love and conflict in various phases of their life from childhood, teenage [years], the current day and then their old age. It shows how destiny plays a part in getting these two together. As a director, Divya has beautifully captured the conflict in the lives of Akash and Shruti and their journey to discover true love for each other. Like her earlier film Yaariyan, Divya again shows adeptness in bringing out the right emotions for the characters of Aakash and Shruti in various phases of their lives. The director draws inspiration from several iconic love stories of the late Yash Chopra. The film boasts of excellent performances from Yami and Pulkit. Yami has an excellent screen presence and after 'Vicky donor' and 'Total Siyappa', she draws attention for being natural and 'effortless' on screen. After his comic role in 'Fukrey', Pulkit impresses in the romantic role. The chemistry between Yami and Pulkit in the film comes across as 'excellent'. In fact the chemistry between the actors in the film is perfect. They seem like a perfect Valentine pair. In fact, in the run up to the film, Yami has been quoted as saying that Pulkit has been one of her best co stars till date. As the grandfather of Aakash, actor Rishi Kapoor again makes a mark in his brief role.The movie boasts of brilliant cinematography. The film is a visual treat with exotic locales like Shimla, Ladakh and Calgary, imparting a fresh look to the film. The music by Mithoon is excellent, with all the songs being at the top of the charts. It is an ode to love that touches your heart and makes you believe in 'true love'. UNI AR PY SB 1255