Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui--another social breakthrough for Ayushmann

 If you are not familiar with Ayushmann Khurrana, he is unique for Bollywood.  He finds himself in a variety of socially challenging roles. See below for more on his history.  "Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui"(2020) is like a lot of romance comedies, except the focus is a transgender partner.

 Film was in theatres not only in India, but also in Ontario this past December.  Netflix picked it up very recently as there does seem to be streaming competition for Khurrana's films.

Manu's workout business is declining.  His two partners think they should rent out space to a Zumba instructor which not only would attract women fitness seekers, but also get more men who could ogle the women, especially the instructor.  Maanvi is certainly attractive, well spoken and feminine.  

 The reveal comes early, but after a sexual relationship has been established.  Shock and feelings of betrayal.  He didn't know what a trans girl was and went into a fit.  He wanted her to leave the city as well as the business.  His partners pointed out that they were now making money and everyone was happy, including his two sisters who were constantly trying to get him married off.  Word spread quickly and hit a peak when his sisters created a big fuss at a Zumba class that went viral, feeling their brother had been duped, but later blaming him thinking he knew all along.  The healing process takes time and random events before a happy ending.

His two sisters were the first to know and of course told the rest of the family.  Manu's father had been widowed for over a decade and had told his son to marry Maanvi so he, the father, could marry his secret love.  But now he felt downcast and very upset along with his two daughters.  A live in grandfather was kept uninformed, and of course he learned, but wasn't as upset as the others. 

We met her father early in the movie and he seems a doting dad.  Later he tells her he thinks of her as both son and daughter, but we also learn he visits her behind his wife's back.  His wife and a few other relatives already know about the transgender operation and want to avoid her.

We watch Manu view transgender videos and listen to a psychologist help to gradually make him accept the situation.  As often in such films it takes a family crisis and Maanvi's father has a heart attack which his wife attributes to worrying about their son/daughter.  But in truth Maanviis is the one he requests to visit.  Manu shows up and realizes that he had been happy with Maanvi and wanted to make up with her.  Of course it is not quite that easy, but the climax is similar to what you might expect, perhaps allowing for a lingering homophobic culture, but if you like rom-coms you will be satisfied.

If you are not a Bollywood fan you might be annoyed by the Punjabi dancing, but it is not too intrusive and reflects joy at different times in the story.  There is humor as you might imagine, but it is not so much at the expense of transgenders.

Transgender issues are starting to get noticed, but it is still something that makes many feel queasy.  As Maanvi says she was always a woman inside and decided to be a woman on the outside.  She declared to her mother who was most upset, that she had been the model for what Maanvi wanted to be. The videos that Manu watches are not just for him, but for the audience to understand a little better.

Abhishek Kapoor was director and helped write the script.  He has a unusual history as an actor.  He starred in several films that were shelved.  He has directed some good films:  "Rock on" (2008) and "Kai Po Che" (2013) which he also adapted the script--check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/05/kai-che-po.html   

Supratik Sen wrote much of the dialogue and script and provided the story.  Earlier films involved with included "Kaminey" (2009), "Kai Po Che" (2013), "Parched" (2015) and "Fitoor" (2016).

Music provided by team of Sachin Sanghvi and Jigar Saraiya.  

Ayushmann Khurrana played Manu and was muscled up and portrayed a bit of machoism.  He has developed a reputation for choosing roles with a social element to them.  For example his first feature he was a sperm donor with "Vicky Donor" (2012).   In "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" (2015) he tries to get out of an arranged marriage with an overweight girl better educated than him.  In "Shrubh Mangal Savdhan: (2017) he had erectile disfunction.  In "Article 15" (2015) he played a military officer fighting caste discrimination.  Check:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/12/ayushmann-khuranna-actor-to-watch.html

 Vaani Kapoor played Maanvi at first as a bubbly Zumba instructor, then a rejected lover.  Her films include "Shuddh Desi Romance" (2013) for which she won several debutante awards and "Befikre" (2016).

Anjan Srivastav played Maanvi's understanding father.  He started with films in 1976 including "Chak De! India" (2007) and "Sanju" (2018)

Social concerns can be approached with seriousness, but also with humor.  You can look at unfamiliar situations and become aware of injustices, but sometimes it is effective to laugh.  This movie demonstrates a little of both.  An earlier movie that opened my understanding a little was "Peranbu" (2019), my top movie of 2020.  Not wishing to spoil an excellent movie I would just like to point out that a transgender is part of the solution to an awkward situation.  Check it out as it is an excellent movie:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/03/peranbu-top-film-out-of-india.html

Except for the transgender angle I would describe this movie as a typical rom-com.  But that is a strength to help us to adjust to a new reality (for many of us).  Watching others overcome social hangups can be therapeutic.

I have bolded the first listing of movies I have seen, admittedly partly due to vanity, but also to establish familiarity with the film.

KAI CHE PO

For those of you who have not discovered the full range of Bollywood this movie will have no meaning for you.  Too bad.  It reminds me of many pleasant memories.

It has no stars to draw a crowd or the usual masala mix.  It is based on a best selling book.  It is just about three guys who stick together through a lot of problems plus a sister who does complicate things a bit.

Chetan Baghat who wrote "The Three Mistakes of My Life" that the movie is based on is an author I really discovered when he was being discredited for supplying the basic idea in the novel, "Five Point Someone" for one of the best ever Bollywood movies, "3 Idiots"  This movie is not to be confused with the Three Stooges, but it certainly does have a sense of humor.  One of the driving forces behind  "3 Idiots" was the book Chetan wrote regarding his training at an engineering university.  A concern in the movie was the number of suicides from students.  It made a serious point with humor and a little mystery.

I read his one book available at the local library, One Night @ the Call Center and was also able to see the movie adaptation, "Hello".  The book had a sense of humour that hit a nerve.  Since then Chetan has progressed and is now a part of the Bollywood scene.  He helped transform "The Three Mistakes of my Life" to a script working with Abhishek Kapoor and two others.  Another adaption will soon happen.  You can read an earlier blog on Chetan http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/10/chetan-bhgat-new-discovery-for-me.html

"Rock On", an earlier movie directed by Abhishek Kapoor was basically a movie about four friends joined together by enthusiasm for music.  The music should not be confused with stereotypical Bollywood music.  Actually composed by my favorite musical team, Shankar, Ehsaan  Loy, a very diverse team.  Rock On marked a role by director/producer Farhan Akhtar who also did his own singing.  By one report apparently Farhan and Abhishek parted company after "Rock On", but have since reconciled after "Kai Po Che".

Farhan had earlier directed another male bonding movie, "Dil Chata Hai",  and later acted and wrote for "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara," directed by his sister Zoya.  Another movie, that although with romance had a strong emphasis on males sticking together.  An earlier blog on Farhan  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/11/farhan-akhtar-young-man-on-rise-in.html

Cricket creates a different atmosphere Americans and Canadians cannot strongly identify with.  In Kai Che Po a core idea is to set up a cricket school, although none of the main characters play at a high level.  You don't have to understand the details, but just appreciate that there is skill involved, games can be very dramatic and fans can go overboard.  If you follow hockey or baseball there are a lot of similarities.  An earlier blog on cricket in Bollywood  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2011/11/bollywood-movies-and-cricket.html

A key producer was Sidharth Roy Kapur who recently married Vidya Balan.  That shows he must have something on the ball.  For a recent article on Vidya  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/08/vidya-balan-very-versatile-bollywood.html

The four stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh, Raj Kumar Yadev (better known as Rajkummar Rao) and Amrita Puri were not picked for their ability to attract fans, but all accounted themselves well.  The emphasis is on the story.  It may seem dull to Westerners, but it is not really.  The personalities of the four main actors clash and blend.  They are involved in historical events particularly an earthquake, religious riots and a major international cricket match.  The music by Amit Trivedi fits in well with the story.  It won't take long before you are engrossed.

It is not often that a movie without major stars does as well as "Kai Po Che", but the director puts a lot of emphasis on the story.  Commemorating 100 years of Indian film Abhishek made some introspective comments.  He felt that Bollywood is too much of a family making it difficult for outside talent to break in.  Movie people look down on television, but Abhishek thinks that is where new talent can be found.  Movies depend too much on music and Bollywood relies far too much on song and dance.  He feels also that intermissions are harmful in that they force too many scripts to conceptualize over two parts for the sake of popcorn and samosa sales.  He dislikes the role of censor and thinks they should be replaced by a ratings system.  I think Abhishek marks a step in the right direction.