Aaha Kalyanam Review: Nani Is The Only Saving Grace.

Aaha Kalyanam Review: Nani Is The Only Saving Grace.

Cast: Nani, Vaani Kapoor
Music: Dharan Kumar
Story: Maneesh Sharma
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Direction: A.Gokul Krishna
Censor Certificate:
U/A Run Time: 142 minutes
Release Date: 21 Feb, 2014
‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is a romantic entertainer dubbed from Tamil remake of Bollywood hit ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’. Giant production house of Indian Cinema, ‘Yash Raj Films’ have entered Southern market with this flick. Nani and Vaani Kapoor have done lead roles in ‘Aaha Kalyanam’, directed by A.Gokul Krishna.

Shakti (Nani) is a Tapori. He falls for Sruthi (Vaani Kapoor) at first sight. Sruthi is an ambitious girl who sees herself as a best wedding planner in future. Shakti starts helping Sruthi with her ambition so that he can impress him. After few cinematic incidents, Shakti and Sruthi start a wedding planning agency called ‘Gatti Melam’. When they become successful in business, romance takes front seat and leads to their break up in business. Rest of the story deals with how the same business reunites them. Performances: Nani is natural as a happy-go-lucky guy. He has done complete justice to his role with great ease. Vani Kapoor is beautiful. She has got strong chances to go top in South Indian films. Simran has played guest role as an arrogant wedding planner. None among rest of the cast have made their presence felt.

Cinematography in ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is of top notch. Songs are not impressive and BGM is okay. Editing in the second half could have been better. Art work deserves appreciation. Gokul Krishna’s direction is mediocre. Screenplay is very important for these kind of thin story lines but sadly, it is completely neglected.

Though comparisons are inevitable as ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is a remake of ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’, a trend setter, ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is nowhere nearer to its original. Gokul Krishna has remade story of BBB but not its soul. Greatest strength of BBB was the chemistry between lead pair. It is completely missing in ‘Aaha Kalyanam’. Of course, Nani is partly succeeded in matching with the energy levels of Ranveer Singh, but Vaani Kapoor is a big let down if we compare her to Anushka Sharma. A major difference between ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’ and ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is the former was made with a strong script which turned two actors into stars overnight, where as ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is completely banked on Nani’s image. Though first half of ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ doesn’t generate curiosity in you, it is at least watchable for few funny moments. But second half is very poor. Heroine’s stubborn character could have been established well. Sudden changes in behaviors of lead pair after interval are not conceived well. So second half is completely ruined. Climax of ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is little different to that of BBB, but it doesn’t make any impact. Lip sync is horrible as ‘Aaha Kalyanam’ is dubbed from Tamil. Even songs are not impressive for the same reason.

Fans of ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’ are going to hate ‘Aaha Kalyanam’. However, people who haven’t seen the original may like it. YRF has ruined one of their best films to enter South. Nani is the only saving grace. This film has very weak chances of doing well at box-office.