In and out of love

Meri Pyaari Bindu
Hindi (U/A)   Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Parineeti Chopra
Director: Akshay Roy

In two hours, Ayushmann Khurrana tells one how not to grow out of that first crush. Quite expected of someone who grew up on a diet of 60s and 70s, devouring Gulzar, Rafi, Burman, Kishore and Asha.

Khurrana also proves that time is no kick-ass healer when the “crush” is your neighbour, classmate and 2 am friend.

Every time our man thinks he is over it, he bumps into his Bindu. And the complex downward spiral begins again.

Meri Pyaari Bindu appears fresh at first. Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra light up the screen as they prank around and do the teen stuff, sprinkled with several golden oldies.

Out of college, Khurrana wants to be a writer, but scrapes through as a pulp novelist. Chudail ki Choli, anyone?

However, Khurrana is spot on as the pet of a large, loving Bengali family. Parineeti wants to be a singer, but has a habit of leaving things midway. She is a drifter in relationships too. A serial engagement-breaker, Ms Bindu is neither serious about her career nor passionate about the men in her life. While it’s not a crime to be perennially undecided, Parineeti’s patchy characterisation undoes all the bubbly, chirpy act.

The movie has its moments. But most of them originate from Khurrana’s old tape recorder. From ‘Abhi na jao chhod kar’ to ‘Do naina aur ek kahani’, it’s the songs that save the day.