Directed by Shashank Khaitan, ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’ is a second installment to ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’ franchise. It’s a light-hearted romantic comedy starring the amazing on-screen pair Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. Truly speaking, this romantic drama film has all the things you want to find in a movie. The amazing chemistry of Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt is definitely ruling the on-screen pair charts at Bollywood. You will laugh and cry your heart out in the film and they both have got the UP accent so right that you’ll fall in love with them instantly. With superb music and a striking social message, ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’ is definitely the Movie of the Year! Make your plans for the film because it promises you a 2 hour 20 minutes of fultoo entertainment. Hats-Off Varun-Alia and the whole team of Badrinath Ki Dulhania’.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania begins as a cute sweet love story between a Jhansi boy and a Kota girl, but the director understands the current tide of films that celebrate powerful, liberated women, so it transforms into a progressive story before turning cute-sweet again. Bhatt tries to make up for what the screenplay fails to bring out with her dialogues and pauses. Bhatt steals the show, again. On the other hand, Dhawan seems to be highly influenced by Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar’s popular image: Be nice to the girl, but rest assured that she will accept you sooner or later. Discrepancies in screenplay don’t help either. In order to keep up a fast pace, the story hops locations. But Badrinath Ki Dulhania remains the breeding ground of love between its two leads. It’s a Dharma film after all. On second thoughts, it works in favour of the film because of Dhawan and Bhatt’s sparkling chemistry. Their camaraderie is visible in the songs, especially in the new-age rendition of Tamma Tamma Loge, which for a change, sounds as foot-tapping as the original. Still, Badrinath Ki Dulhania has its moments, especially the comic ones. Dhawan and Vaid show impeccable timing, but overall the film belongs to Alia Bhatt. This film may not offer a substantial take on any cause, but it is one of the many that take the debate forward. Being mainstream will only help it.

"Jaise hi jawaan ho, shaadi karo, ek do saal mein santaan paida karo aur phir poori zindagi vishram." Welcome to the setting of Badrinath Ki Dulhania, where the sole purpose of young men is to get a good "deal" (read: dowry) on a girl, make her stay in her "maryaada (limits)" and have her serve you all her married life. Alia Bhatt puts in a fine performance as the small-town girl who refuses to succumb to the notion that a girl's sole aim in life is to get married. But the social message that the film tries to give is lost in its inconsistencies and mixed signals. Varun Dhawan and his onscreen best friend Somdev (Sahil Vaid)'s barely literate act gets most of the laughs. In fact, it is Varun and Alia's chemistry which lifts up Badrinath Ki Dulhania. Badrinath Ki Dulhania is peppered with humour; some of it great, but some horribly misplaced. Director Shashank Khaitan, who also wrote the film, did a better job with Badrinath's prequel Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. The songs of the first part also have an edge over Badrinath Ki Dulhania, although Roke Na Ruke Naina and Humsafar give Samjhawan tough competition. Tamma Tamma Again is seamlessly blended into the story, so that's a win. For a film with a predictable end as Badrinath Ki Dulhania, the running time seems a bit stretched and could have done with some snipping in the second half, which meanders. If you're just looking to have a good laugh and enjoy small-town humour, Badrinath Ki Dulhania will not disappoint. But if you're looking for food for thought, the film might just not live up to your expectations.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania is a rucksack full of radioactive social issues handled cautiously with bedazzled Dharma gloves. But ‘handled’ is the operative word here. Through Vaidehi, the movie checks all the important boxes: gender issues, feminism, consent, etc. But the story is treated so stylistically (with elaborate song sequences and flashbacks and cinematic moments) that it loses heat. At times, characters speak like public service announcements, and seem a little contrived. This is a story with an obvious climax, so sitting through two and a half hours to find out what you already know might get uncomfortable. But the breezy vibe of the movie and back-to-back hilarious lines should get you through it. Together, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt are the best thing that could have happened to our screens. The beautiful effortlessness of their onscreen companionship plasters a grin on your face. Dhawan as Badri is adorable; you instantly take to him. He even pulls off some high-drama scenes impressively. Bhatt, unsurprisingly, gives it her all, and her sincerity comes through. But her accent, casually swinging between Juhu and Jhansi, is bothersome at times. RSVP Yes to this wedding; it’s grand, with good music, great people and delicious food for thought.