A love story that centers around Bilal (Harshvardhan Rane) and Tara (Sonia Rathee), who are polar opposites and have different expectations of life. But there's more to it than meets the eye when their paths cross and circumstances force them into a fake marriage alliance.
Bollywood has used the idea of "opposites attract" many times, and Tara vs Bilal is no exception. But it's still a sweet and simple love story that makes for a light and cheerful watch. The casting of the film is perfect. Thus, the main couple hold the fort with their natural chemistry whenever things go wrong in the movie. However, this 122-minute drama hits the nail on the head with the most important aspect of a romantic drama: the heartwarming love story.
Director: Samar Iqbal
Writer: Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh
Stars: Harshvardhan Rane, Sonia Rathee, Moa Wikberg
The film opens in London when Tara arrives on her honeymoon to discover that her husband Karan (Sardmad Varraich) has abandoned her and taken all of her jewelry and money. Bilal, the owner of the hotel where Tara and her husband had stayed, discovers that she is broke and kicks her out. He then fights for her own survival. But fate has other plans for them, as Bilal's family (a house full of women) pressures him to marry despite his desire to remain single. As a result, he devises a plan to stage his marriage to Tara, and follows the rest of the story.
Directed by Samar Iqbal, who previously directed Vidya Balan's leading man Bobby Jasoos, it's a simple romantic story that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. The right dose of humor is incorporated into various scenes throughout the film, making it an entertaining watch. Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh's story and script are quite fast; the first half takes time to develop well-drawn characters on screen and focuses on their backstories, while the second half relies entirely on the main couple's chemistry and how they overcome their inner demons. A scene just before intermission will surprise you and make you wonder, "What just happened?" However, thanks to these interesting plot twists, the story keeps you engrossed throughout.
Produced by John Abraham and T-Series, the film is shot in some of London's most beautiful locations and has above-average production values. The writing, on the other hand, is overly simplistic, making this layered narrative predictable fare. Manan Bhardwaj's romantic song Teri Ho Gayi adds gravitas to the main couple's romance, while their Nichod Dunga is quite upbeat and vivacious.
Harshvardhan Rane plays his character charmingly. The emotional scenes of him, in which his voice drowns from time to time, will surely touch your heart. Sonia Rathee matches the innocence and vulnerability of her character. Your heart genuinely goes out to Rathee and Rane's emotionally charged backstories. Raheem Mir, who plays the queer Ritz, has some one-liners, and his Lal Dupatta sequence is just hilarious. Even his romance with Jigz, played by Pranay Manchanda, is endearing. The gang of old ladies, played by Mona Ambegaonkar, Shagufta Ali, Deepika Amin and Niki Walia, did well in their supporting roles.
Tara vs Bilal is hardly a compelling romantic drama, but it's definitely a welcome change from the recent spate of remakes.
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