Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) User Reviews

Sweet pure love story

[darpanthacker · 8/10 · 28 February 2015]

There are certain films that you go to watch with low expectations and they just blow you off with impeccable story telling. DumLagaKeHaisha is one of them.

There is hardly any moment in this 2 hr movie that can bore you and every scene has something to offer to the viewer. Its a simple story from Hindi heartland set on the basic premise that love cant be forced, it will happen if it has to no matter how the opposite person looks.

Performance wise lead protagonists - Ayushman Khurana and Bhumi Pednekar - are good. More importantly their odd chemistry works. Sanjay Mishra is top notch. Other supporting cast is also noteworthy.

Director Sharat Kataria is the one who deserves maximum credit for this lovely movie. He does not give too much space to melodrama and keeps the narrative simple. He does take some cinematic liberties to tell his story but that can be easily ignored. Finally, kudos to YashRaj banner (which has produced some obnoxious movies recently) for supporting this movie.

Go watch this movie. It deserves a share of your income to say the least.

Heartwarming and believable

[sendmailtojk · 8/10 · 2 March 2015]

It is never easy to make a movie about a topic like this. Past attempts have mutilated this kind of story so I was skeptical.One is happy to see that the characters (especially the leads) don't take unhealthy and impractical steps. Also there was no (unnecessary) villain waiting to take advantage of either of them.

Bhumi acted so believably and Ayushmann complemented her acting. These kind of movies hopefully should be eye openers to ignorant parent in Tier-2/Tier-3 cities and towns and not force their children into arranged marriages. It was just a luck break that the contest (in the end) resolved the marital issues; everybody does not get the same opportunities.

Hats off to the cast and Director for pulling off a superb movie.

Charming, just charming

[Peter_Young · 8/10 · 13 December 2022]

Dum Laga Ke Haisha is produced by Yash Raj Films. Thinking about the Yash Raj productions of the early 2000s, one cannot escape the vision of glossy, expensive mainstream films, very romantic, often based abroad and if not, centring on wealthy individuals. Some of them were wonderfully entertaining, including Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste, which were racy and socially progressive for the times, but generally most of their films became quite synonymous with superficial and shallow commercial potboilers with nothing substantial to offer. Following quite a few exceptional gems earlier, like Band Baaja Baaraat and the likes, which started the trend of social and realistic romantic films, Dum Laga Ke Haisha is even a bigger step toward a whole welcome change in Hindi cinema, and it really is a breath of fresh air in both story and execution. This new brand of mainstream Hindi cinema, which deals with everyday issues within simple families from India's lower middle class, is a real blessing. Gone are the days when Indian filmmakers insisted on showing only the glamorous side of India or being ashamed of its simpler reality. On the contrary, recent commercial films, and this film definitely among them, celebrate this simple part of India, celebrate its beauty and cultural richness, going back to the magic of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's memorable middle-of-the-road cinema.

Indeed, Dum Laga Ke Haisha is one such film - it is beautiful, authentic, and it has this sense of everydayness that makes it a terrific watch. Obviously, the core theme of a young guy who is caught in an arranged marriage with an overweight young woman for whom he has zero attraction, is a true draw in and of itself, but it's not just that. The film is charming, just charming in the way it embraces its characters, its story and situations, in the way it rejects stereotypes, and in the subtle portrayal of the romantic buildup between the two leads. Acting-wise, too, the film is a delight. Ayushmann Khurrana as always does his socially conscious cinema, and he is terrific here. He is easy to judge or dislike, but at the same time so easy to understand and feel for. His gradual growth is convincingly portrayed. It is Bhumi Pednekar though who dominates this film with her brave turn. Obviously, the physical change is admirable (she put on quite a lot of weight for the part), but just as a character, she is wonderful, putting in a consistently credible, compassionate, and touching performance. A host of tremendous supporting actors all work together brilliantly. Dum Laga Ke Haisha is set in the mid-1990s, and it also manages to bring some nostalgic value for the music and innocence of those days. The film's last sequence is a cinematic triumph and a great conclusion to this wholesome entertainment that is both enjoyable and educational.

Must Watch Movie of 2015. Ayushmann Khurrana has a long way to go!

[jay-techie2007 · 10/10 · 3 March 2015]

DLKH brings the much needed freshness in Bollywood romance movies. And it comes with a very strong message woven around a very sweet love story. The direction is impeccable with moderated melodrama.

Ayushmann Khurrana might never get the stardom like the Khans and the Kapoors but he is definitely one of those actors never afraid of doing path breaking movies and top them up with amazing natural acting - be it comedy or drama. But he gets a good competition from the new girl Bhumi Padnekar who delivers a very good performance, depicting a struggle of a fat girl in a white skin - size zero obsessed society of India. Sanjay Mishra, playing the role of Ayushmann's father, gives a memorable performance with really good dialog delivery topped up with brilliant comic timing.

The length of the movie is unusually short for a Bollywood movie but then quality is always more important than quantity. Overall, for someone in a mood to watch a light romantic movie, your search ends at DLKH.

This movie comes easily into the list of "movies I can watch anytime".

Do yourself a favor, go and grab the tickets and embrace Dumb Laga Ke Haisha

[ketgup83 · 10/10 · 19 March 2015]

When a movie teaser is released, it has to be catchy and interesting that should fuel the curiosity among the moviegoers to spend few bucks for that cinema. Dumb Laga Ke Haisha exactly works on that strategy. It had limited release ( 769 screens all over India) with shoe-string budget ( 13 crores) and unknown star-cast. What worked in its favor - is applauding performances, immensely likable story and mind-blowing script.

Marriages are made in heaven but for Prem( Aayush Khurrana), it was made in hell. In Dumb Laga Ke Haisha, marriage is made between two people of different background, different thinking and in different size.

New-bee director Sharat Katariya( 10 ML Love) is probably the talent to watch out for. The theme of the movie is simple yet noble, set in the mid-90's with background of beautiful city of Haridwar about simple, ordinary and middle-class business family which will remind of classic movies by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee. The movie is intrinsic to its core right from the beginning with hilarious moments enough to tickle your funny-bone. The initial reel will definitely bring down the house when the boy meets the girl. Even the divorce scene, the fight between the neighbours has been executed brilliantly that would put a smile on your face. Hats off to the director and script writer for making the best out of it. Background score and music is limited yet convincing. Art direction representing a typical middle-class household is worth-mentioning. Cinematography capturing the essence of Haridwar is eye-catching. Coming to the performances, Ayush Khurrana does a fabulous job as a push-over, introvert, loyal son. He does a good comeback after series of flops. New talent Bhumi Pednekar should walk away with few awards this year. This is her first film and the amount of maturity she shows in her acting is astounding. Sanjay Mishra as usual is brilliant.

Do yourself a favor, go and grab the tickets and embrace Dumb Laga Ke Haisha. Astounding 5/5

A simple, sweet but hurriedly made film lacking emotional depth with a soundtrack reminding you of the musical 80s & 90s

[bobbysing · 7/10 · 18 March 2015]

If a film reveals almost everything about the storyline in its 3 minutes trailer itself, then there is only one way it can win over the viewer and that's with its extra ordinary execution, performances and music. Thankfully Dumb LAGA KE HAISHA does exactly the same moving over its predictable drawback, presenting itself as a short (111 minutes), simple and sweet film that can easily connect to its audience with the realistic card played quite well.

No doubt the film leaves you in a less satisfied state as it ends contradicting to the expectations raised by its enjoyable beginning. But giving the producer, writer, director & the performers their deserving due, allow me to mention its entertaining features first before the avoidable ones.

Beginning with the biggest name in the project, DLKH is a pleasant surprise coming from the reputed banner of YRF and as per my opinion, this is their second appreciable project post ROCKET SINGH not depending upon any clichéd romance between the stars playing the lead characters. At first the film reminds you of NASEEB APNA APNA (1986) made on a related subject but then (moving on a different path) its proceedings take you back in those musical decades of 80s and 90s with all those cassettes, ribbons, their entangling, cassette to cassette recordings, big speakers and the times when we used to bring a Colour TV, a VCR and four Video Cassettes of different films on hire for the whole night. The voice of Kumar Sanu superbly used by Anu Malik (in the same way as it used to be in those hit songs of that era) makes you feel the nostalgia and so does the sound of "Miley Sur Mera Tumhara" running in the backdrop. Also the "Shaakha" reference reminds you of the days when RSS Shaakhas were quite active in the mornings, inviting all from every age group ranging from 10 to 60.

Introducing another first in a YRF film, here we have an unknown "heavy weight heroine" instead of the inviting glamorous one, who actually carries the entire film on her shoulder alone, ahead of her known lead hero. The highly relatable family, their lovable interactions and the collective middle class ambiance pulls you in before the intermission and the impressive spell continues in the second half too (with the court sequence and more), till it all moves down to a highly predictable and unconvincing section of 'The Game' ending on a quite less impressive note along with a smart cameo of Kumar Sanu keeping the nostalgia intact.

In other words, Dumb LAGA KE HAISHA majorly works due to its realistic local feel, lively characters, melodious music and performances. But it certainly should have worked more on these same elements with few stronger insertions in its storyline making it a bit longer ending on a different note than the game. For instance the English exam sequence added deliberately fails to make any kind of impact on the viewer, the lawyer speaking long lines in English with the girl's family looks weird and the climax game too doesn't turn out to anything close to reality or natural.

Further apart from the storyline, the second disappointment is felt when we don't find the songs incorporated in the film in their complete form as it used to be in the 90s (since the film is based in that era only). Yes, director Sharat Kataria does deliver a notable product with many fine performances and all the 'time related detailing' worked beautifully with his cinematographer and art director. But why he didn't work on the story adding more twists and didn't include the melodious songs in the film's narration was really puzzling for me quite honestly. In fact it was highly disheartening seeing "Tu"and "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" used as a backdrop and "Dard Karara" coming with the end credits while people were moving out of the theatre leaving it in the mid.

In the performances, it completely belongs to the debutant Bhumi Pednekar and Ayushmann Khurrana in this particular sequence only. Though its tough to comment upon her future film career as such but Bhumi shows her talent superbly and helps the film a lot as a complete natural or flawless performer. Ayushmann once again is decently good but at the same time looks like repeating himself at many places that needs to be taken care of urgently. In the supporting cast we once again have Sanjay Mishra and Seema Pahwa (after ANKHON DEKHI) along with Sheeba Chaddha and more. Their individual acts are all fine but I couldn't find that simplicity and natural ease witnessed in the similar homely characters of ANKHON DEKHI. Putting it clearly, they all seem to be playing their natural middle class acts with a visible effort that was not actually there in ANKHON DEKHI and perhaps that's the difference caused by a director's exact instructions and vision.

May be due to this very reason only the film looks like a hurriedly made project, lacking the depth it should have in its various portrayals missing that much required emotional pull or feel. It's as if the producer's instructions were, that just make a light hearted film with not so heavy emotions, hanging in between a romantic and comedy product that has more commercial viability in today's changing times.

So made exactly as per the above probable instructions, Dumb LAGA KE HAISHA does provide that light entertainment largely due to its nostalgic ambiance, good performances and a comeback soundtrack by Anu Malik. But don't look for any emotional depth or some exceptional storyline here offering something extra than what was there in its trailer. It's a simple and sweet film intentionally made to make you smile without much thinking, sobbing or heavy hearts.

Subtle comedy

[auti43 · 10/10 · 9 March 2015]

This movie does touch the realistic side of commoners with a hint of comedy within it. In a span of two hours the movie covers all the problems and changes a newly wed couple go through. Groom not ready to accept that bird watching is no more an option for him and bride trying to settle in a house where her education is an envy point for others. The comic melodrama keeps the viewer glued to their seats till the end of the movie. Music is nice and simple which pushes viewer to cherish the old and simple times. It was hard to believe that Bhumi Pednekar debuted with Dumb laga ke Haisha. Her eyes and facial expressions never made me feel that I was missing anything in the movie. Part I loved was, when Ayushmaan and Bhumi fight over the songs to be played in the tape recorder. Must say a brilliant idea!!

A subtle take on marriage

[ahegde3149 · 6/10 · 2 April 2015]

'Dum Laga ke Haisha' is a finely made film with a charming script and solid acting. While the story may be plain simple and honestly predictable still it doesn't fail to hold your attention for 2 hours. The story is set in 1995, Prem(Ayushmann Khurrana) is a class 10 failure runs his father's (Sanjay Mishra) cassette store in Haridwar. He is forced into marriage with a overweight girl Sandhya (debutante Bhumi Pednekar) by his family. Sandhya is a graduate and Prem's family believes arrival of an educated girl in the family will bring prosperity. Prem is finding very difficult to happiness with his forced marriage and what follows is nothing surprising.

Despite the predictable simple story, 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' has the strong point of subtle production design and great cinematography capturing the 90s era beautifully. The songs of Kumar Sanu played on cassette players certainly pushes up the nostalgia. There is also quite a bit of quirky humor and typical Indian family drama to spice up the things. But I did feel the some work could have been done in editing department as the story drags on for 2 hours. Ayushmann redeems himself after the disastrous 'Hawaizaada', Sanjay Mishra is entertaining as always and Bhumi Pednekar shows her talent with solid debut. The songs are quite melodious, I especially loved 'Moh Moh ke Dhaage'. With some negatives but more positives 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' is not the best year for me(it's still Badlapur) yet its worth a shot!

RATING: [3/5]

A film made from heart

[ritwikroyunlimited-220-824722 · 10/10 · 28 February 2015]

A film released.... a stereotype breaks.... an actress doesn't need to be size zero to become a heroine.... A strong story line, screenplay, dialogues, performances by Ayushman khurana and the newcomer bhumi phednekar.... is ready to surprise the audiences.... Music by Anu Malik gives a down to memory lane ride of the 90's.... its a Kumar Sanu Musical all the way...this is the first time i saw audiences sitting right till the end until the song is finished.... Finally with Dumb LAGA KE HAISHA.... Yash raj Films comes up with another love story with a standard of DDLJ and Rab ne bana di jodi..... Its a thumbs up for this movie.....

One time watchable.

[shiragaonkarshweta · 7/10 · 27 December 2019]

Movie is mild and good, all cast has done wonderful acting, songs are melodious.

Size Doesn't Matter - Grey Matter Does

[ayanpal1 · 9/10 · 7 March 2015]

Dumb Laga Ke Haisha is a movie that celebrates the unfounding of size and space, and juxtaposes it against the flight of ambitions in a detailed, layered, yet breezy romance that acts as both a social commentary, as well as a mainstream romantic comedy.

A narrow by-lane in Haridwar leads to a narrow minded class ten failed simpleton Prem (Ayushman Khurana in a refreshingly natural role) of the 1990s who dreams of Juhi Chawla but is instead married off to a portly and much more educated Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar in a supremely brilliant and dauntless debut).

While she dreams of a government job as a school teacher and a husband who respects her, he has nightmares about everything she stands for - be it her intellect or weight. What follows is a refreshingly original and daring film that overcomes stereotypes while bringing a smile on our faces, even as it tugs at our heartstrings.

Here the 90s is captured in stunningly nuanced detail by writer-director Sharat Katariya several times, as is the language of Uttar Pradesh (mostly), and the life of a small town (perfectly).

Be it a dash of Limca to get over retching, the unspiralling of cassettes using pens, watching of movies in VCPs and VCRs, using landline phones, giving missed calls, the fascination with Kumar Sanu, or a fight using songs being played by a warring couple, the makers get the 90s spot on. What also makes the majority of the scenes worth the 'wait' is Bhoomi Pednekar who 'weighs' her emotions while adding ample 'weight' to her character through a gamut of emotions that are sure to resonate with your heart.

Adding 'weight' to the plot is a series of sub plots involving a separated elderly aunt, parents and in-laws struggling with their values, ethics, and modernity, a young brother preparing for his board exams, a 'sankha' with its moralistic lessons, jealous friends, and a contest 'Dum Laga Ke Heisha' aimed to test the ultimate bonding between a married couple. There is humor, action, emotion, shame, romance, and triumph in equal measure that help the film measure up to the 'weighty' expectations of any discerning viewer gasping for a breath of fresh air. What helps is an able supporting cast that makes you want to 'wait' and watch the proceedings.

This small film involving small town people is sure to occupy a not so small space in your hearts and minds. All you need to do is give it a chance - just like the leads of this film are told time and again, and love will surely follow.

Watch it for an era gone by, for an unconventional heroine, for relationships that survive against the test of time, and for that sense of nostalgia that is impossible to ignore. And last, but not the least, for Kumar Sanu - who is back (along with Sadhana Sargam and Annu Malik no less). This 'Ishq' is 'Kararaa' indeed... and definitely worth its 'weight' in terms of originality, story, and execution. What are you 'waiting' for? Watch it in your nearest theater and do your bit to support good mainstream cinema with a refreshing storyline... Take a bow Yashraj Films!

Sweet love story.

[Amyth47 · 7/10 · 1 April 2019]

My Rating : 7/10

A complete family entertainer with a love story at it's heart. 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' won the 2015 National Film Award for Best Feature Film (Hindi) and it truly deserves it. The script of 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' was written in 2007, almost seven years before the release!

Superb, authentic performances from the whole cast, special mention goes to Bhumi Pednekar for going the extra mile (who gained 30 kgs to land the role) and transforming herself.

Beautiful movie and 'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage' is such a romantic track of recent years. Go watch it guys!

Marriage Doesn't Solve Problems. ♦ 54%

[nairtejas · 5/10 · 28 February 2015]

Take a story, edit the characters, and present it in an easy way through music and subtlety, and you hope to flood the audience and the entertainment industry with a new wave of fresh air. Fortunately, the audiences are clever and kick it into the less-visited stream of mediocre attempts at inventive filmmaking. This film is one such mediocre attempt.

The year is 1995. An ignorant Kumar Sanu fan Prem (Khurrana), who runs his father's audio video shop in Haridwar, finds himself struggling with the threads and aftermath of a forced wedding. Equally ignorant are his family who think that the arrival of an educated girl (Pednekar) in their house would inspire happiness and bring about prosperity. Things get out of hand when Prem openly derides his wife's bulkiness. What follows is a seen-before parade of almost friendly intra- and inter-familial tiffs originating from this hassled marriage.

Then the film uses same old methods for salvaging this implicated complication. As a result, predictability takes over and that fresh air turns stale. Now the setting is fine, where the guy is a 10th-grade failure and the girl a teacher aspirant: perfect source of egos that could wreak havoc. One senses the climax even before the film starts narrating its story, thereby losing its sheen. The expectations that a twist or a story arc would save the play ends in disappointment.

Khurrana is good, but newcomer Pednekar is better. The former is in a different avatar than whatever he was in his previous disaster Hawaizaada (2015). Pednekar acts through her face and is only supported by her portly frame. Supporting cast is brilliant.

Writing is good at parts starting with the collective wedding (samuhik vivah) and ending with a fun game. The no-nonsense narration always comes directly to the point. The short running time is a relief and so is the sporadic family humor that is better than the story itself. The mature setup and characterization further adds into the pleasure. The score sounded plagiarized, but the songs by Anu Malik are good. Welcoming Kumar Sanu to the industry after a long hiatus gives it brownie points. Great camera work captures the drama well while the native language adds to the originality, unlike how it was in PK (2014).

But if there is a best thing about the film, then it is the virtue of the husband who accepts his failures rather coming as a winner.

BOTTOM LINE: The attempt is mediocre narrating a clichéd story, but for the multiple messages that it conveys and a simple storytelling, it is worth a lazy afternoon watch. 5/10.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Vulgarity: Mediocre

Excellent Piece | Original Indian Scenario

[sarvajeetsuman · 10/10 · 23 June 2015]

I was watching this movie just for the sake of entertainment. But i got propelled to log-in on IMDb and write review. What a real daily life scenes and imagery. Just felt Awesome. Acting Was superb. The Story was just original. cinematography Excellent. The places they have chosen , Everything just makes it so real. I will say Every Indian must watch this movie, he will feel inspired. I think Indian cinema is becoming more mature day by day. The Indian Director and Producer have started thinking the real storyline of Hit Movie. Only Money Making is not just required for a cinema. I think cinema is known for the number of hearts it's touches, Number of people it inspires and originality it shows. People always live in reality but they never observe it. But when same thing is shown by some movie, it just becomes so obvious. People pay attention to it. Just Hats off Guys for the work you did. Thank You.

Its not about size...

[rohanthomas1988 · 8/10 · 6 March 2015]

If the idea of a perfect girlfriend for you is defined by her size, this film is for you. Unlike the 60s and 70s when voluptuous women ruled the fashion scene, in the 21st century models eat tissue papers to fill their stomach. Coupled with a few movies and the business propaganda of health products and gyms, you have the perfect formula for disaster.

In DLKH, the story surrounds a family which has reached an agreement with another for the marriage of their children. The groom is particularly unhappy with the shapelessness of his bride, but having to abide by custom chooses to get married anyway lest it should make his family upset. Soon after the wedding, the bride realises the extent of her husband's mental block, when he refuses to get anywhere close to her.

The narrative is slow, covering the intricacies of the character's behavior coupled with the happenings of a small town in India. The acting is top-notch, allowing the viewer to diagnose every aspect. The film throws out its moral at you and even if you don't accept it, you are left with no choice but to appreciate it nonetheless.

Worth a watch.

A Beautiful Love Story

[Jini-B · 7/10 · 26 August 2018]

There are all these movies currently doing the rounds in Bollywood that are just flash and no substance. And then there are stories like these. Pure, straight from the heart stories of people that deserve to be watched. This movie belongs to the latter category.

India as a country is obsessed with fair skinned, thin people and everyone who falls out of these aesthetic distinctions, are treated as anomalies that are always ridiculed, often in terrible ways. This mentality has trickled down to every strata of society as is seen in this movie.

Here, a well-educated girl is ridiculed by her husband simply because she is overweight. Her good qualities are not seen and her weight becomes her identity. What's so sad about this film is that this scenario is 100% true. Prem Prakash Tiwari enters into an arranged marriage setup with Sandhya Verma. At first, Sandhya tries to get to know and love Prem, but he is adamant that he cannot love Sandhya because of the way she looks. His mentality has been moulded in such a way by societal standards that he refuses to introduce his new wife to his neighbors. Over time, this builds a barrier between the two and Sandhya gives up on trying to build a good relationship with him.

It is what happens next that is so beautiful about this story. Prem is jolted into a situation where he has to rely on Sandhya and she has to rely on him and then they start to realize what love really is. Looks don't matter. The heart wants what it wants.

The acting was spectacular. Ayushmann is fabulous as Prem and even though you want to knock some sense into his character, you cannot harbor bad feelings for him because he is so endearing! Bhumi was very good in her debut role and my heart went out for her. She was beautiful as Sandhya. The supporting cast boasted of acting stalwarts like Sanjay Mishra and each of them were perfect in their roles.

This movie deserves a watch. Soulful and heart-warming.

I would like to give "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" 20 stars because it is just so good

[sowvendra · 10/10 · 3 October 2016]

This film is just so good! Right from the opening titles, when it is Kumar Sanu's voice - and not Lata Mangeshkar's aalaap - that accompanies the Yash Raj Films logo, you know that you are in for something fabulous. And just how fabulous, how familiar "Dum Laga Ke Haisha Is"! I have grown up in the 1990s. The very sight of Maxell tapes, the old Sony television set, the push-button telephone set placed in a small alcove in the wall, Bhimsen Joshi's "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" on Doordarshan, the Reynolds pen with a blue lid, and the name of the choreographer Chinni Prakash in the titles were enough to push me back on a nostalgic trip. If the setting of the film is just-so-perfect, the story and its execution are something to tell everyone about. The daily nitty-gritties of the Indian middle-class life - like, elderly ladies talking to each other in their beds before falling asleep - is just so true to life. Some sequences in the film are just worth watching again and again, like, the musical war between Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) and Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar), where Sandhya attacks Prem by playing the "Woh Meri Neend Mera Chain Mujhe Lauta Do" song from the film "Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke" and Prem retaliates by playing the "Abhi Zinda Hoon Toh Jee Lene Do" song from the film "Naajayaz" (incidentally, both films were directed by Mahesh Bhatt, who was a star-filmmaker in the 1990s). I cannot believe how a film can be so well-written and well-made and yet remain so down-to-earth. The chemistry between every actor in this film - and not only the main lead - is just fabulous. I am afraid I will just go on giving out more spoilers, and that is because I just loved this film! There is a scene with Sheeba Chadha (who played Aishwarya Rai's cousin in "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and one of John Abraham's lovers in "Jism"➖I am naming these films only to bring in some nostalgia factor) who plays the hero's aunt - bua - who has been disowned by her husband, so she lives with her brother's family. This scene has the bua being informed that her husband, who disowned her all those years ago and practically made her live like a widow all her life, has died; so, being the deceased man's wife - although disowned - could she attend the funeral? The character's rage and emotions in this scene is worth seeing, where she first rebukes the informer for insulting her by informing of the death of her husband and inviting her to his funeral, and then she weeps inconsolably at finally being really widowed. This is one of the best scenes. Another scene has the hero's mother attending the divorce court even as she has been fitted with an IV line. This sequence is hilarious to say the least. In the race sequence, when Sandhya, being carried by Prem on his back, tells him: "Humein kahin nahin jaana, rok lijiye humein" ("I don't want to go anywhere else, please stop me"), this part is an absolute tearjerker. IMDb allows just 10 stars. I would give "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" 20 stars. This film is just so good.

One time watch.

[loveanni08 · 7/10 · 5 March 2015]

Just saw this yesterday. I loved the film. Ayushyman was fantastic. He's a very good actor. The film take us into 90 's. Because of Kumar Shanu's songs. And Anu Malik music is quit good. Story is not that good but all over acting is good. You should watch it once. It drives you in 90's. Ayushman you have proved it again. You can enjoy it though. One time watch. I don't think its a bad movie but its an ordinary movie. It doesn't suck. Enjoy it. Its a fresh story. Not a copycat. That is the main point of this movie. Its an original Bollywood tale.I hope you make sequel to this as producer, keeping Zoya on director's seat again, as I think, she was brilliant as director. She might have lived her life with lots of male friends as it not for a single moment seems like a film directed by lady director (which was the only minus point of LBC from my point of view). Hoping to see more from her.

I didn't loose my smile for not even once for whole movie.

[ayushmahajandiary · 10/10 · 22 November 2016]

I was expecting to pass some time with this movie. Somewhere between first 5 minutes movies gets interesting for an Indian guy who knows that this kind of situation is very common. They acted in a comical way which, unfortunately, are some real reactions which are faced in Indian society. I do not know why I was smiling throughout this movie. Was it that this movie seems so real, have amazing actors, funny, a sweet love story. There is always a curiosity to know what next will happen, as it seems so real. This movie gets somewhat predictable somewhere near 30 hour before the ending but I was still curious. They didn't take the cliché road and maintained amazing story-line. Although ending was a little cliché but still it was sweet. Watch it if you can, you won't regret it.

Jhankaar Beats

[sesht · 3 March 2015]

Well, not sure what's going on with the prod house, but they seem determined to move away, quite conclusively, from the brand of fluff they've been purveying. Or, maybe, not move away, but adding to the(ir) repertoire. Whatever it is, its been ages since I bought that fluff, and I'm glad that their brand did not keep me away from this one.

Much has been said and written about the plus/delux size leading lady, so I'll just skip that. To me, it was just one more impediment for the lead pair to surmount, the way most lead pairs surmount the other obstacles they face over the runtime of any tale worth telling.

Khurrana may have made a few mis-steps since his debut, and I was not too sold on that one either, except for appreciating its Indie contentions. If Delhi was a character in that one, Haridwar is, in this. As is the period setting of the 'Jhankaar' nineties.

The Bajaj scooters, the cassette tapes, the mix tape makers and the onslaught of the compact disc all become as important as the main tale, and as anyone worth their salt knows, the enjoyment of any tale is in the appreciation of the leads in their milieu, where the milieu itself plays a huge part. The 90s, and Haridwar do that in this flick.

It is not 'heroic' to do the kind of things that the grey-shaded (no allusion to those 50 shades, of course) lead male does, effectively taking away any semblance of audience-sympathy with those acts. To redeem oneself from that point is a feat that can only be done by some great writing, and solid acting. Lucky that the Kataria- Khurrana combo manages to produce those in spades, leaving us entertained all the way through.

Certain slight mis-steps in the narrative towards the end, where certain events seem contrived are excusable, since they are quickly disposed off in the service of the bigger tale, that of the redemption of the lead in the eyes of the leading lady.

Saddled with the burden of evoking a mostly-shallow audience, the lead débutante succeeds, and how! The writing supports her throughout, and she bears the burden, while responding organically, and endearingly to every bit of narrative axes thrown at her.

The elephant in the room though? While I'm happy that the makers chose to portray the leading lady as someone who's happy and comfortable with herself the way she is, being overweight myself, and having known many others who are/were, I was unable to understand why the screenplay completely chose to ignore the possibility, that a character as strong as the we're led to believe that the leading lady is, chooses not to make any 'changes' to that situation of hers, while she seems to be the one with the plan for everything else that befalls her, that needs her to take stock and fight back. Strange, indeed, but I'll gladly trade that off for seeing a self-confident, self-assured lead anyday.

The final ode to the 90s (there are 2 of those) is/are tongue-in- cheek, and welcome. There is genuine affection on the part of the makers to the location, the milieu, the supporting characters (Sanjay Mishra, as always, stands out, and is ably supported by Amin, Pahwa and the rest, who're all at their natural best) and all the departments of the flick prop the narrative up (the way they're all meant to). However, and I do not mean this in a negative way, the background score stands out. Andrea Guerra, who also scored 'The pursuit of Happiness', one of the best-scored flicks ever) does the honors here, and is ably supported by the sound design, in ensuring that this flick has one of the freshest scores ever. Kudos to whoever had that idea in the first place, and for picking out whatever got into this theatrical cut that I got to watch.

Anu Malik's score for the songs are alright, with one soft number standing out. It is very apt that he was chosen to score, though I might have examined Anand-Milind or Ram Laxman as well. Or might have used them all. Who know how that might've turned out?

Definitely worth your buck at the local multiplex, and might perhaps merit multiple viewings as well, never mind the stupidity of the powers-that-be in allowing the movie to play in its entirety. I do with they had discs with unrated versions release too - that way I'd skip the diluted cinema-going experience that has seemingly come to stay, since no one else seems to be bothered at all.

A beautiful n fresh Love story portrayed by heart.

[pradiptadas1982 · 7/10 · 8 March 2015]

Today Watched "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" Frankly speaking, at first I thought that I will intentionally miss this, may be because of I thought that it's a low budget average masala movie or there is Ayushman, who had back to back flops .But somehow I developed interest towards it, as I have faith on Director Sharat Katariya who is known for his path breaking low budget movie "Bheja Fry(2007)", also read some user reviews(Not Critics review!!!!, doesn't believe on them) and thought that lets give my money on it. Believe me or not I paid back Double in a "Full House" Navina (Remember it's the opening of 3rd week for this movie).

Story starts with the self-introduction of Prem (Ayushman Khurrana),(class X failure) who confesses that he has only three weaknesses in his life: exam's English question paper, his father's slippers and Kumar Sanu's melodious voice. Now for his marriage his parents meet the parents of the graduate but fat Sandhya (debutante Bhumi Pednekar), who wants to become a teacher though Prem is least interested in her because of her fat figure. Hilariously very much frustrated n disinterested Prem does 'Nothing' on their wedding night, this news reaches the ears of both the families, thus making them nervous and also scared about the couple's future relationship. Sandhya, on the other hand genuinely loves Prem. She on the advice of her mother even tries to seduce him with a 'foreign waali VCD'. Thus Sandhya is determined to make it work somehow In spite of being married to a man who is not even half as qualified as her and whose family still treats him as their kid, Sandhya is trying to overlook all the glitches and give this marriage a chance. But at one point when Sandhya finally learns that her husband's perception of her is nothing but a fat lady with whom he can't even sleep on the same bed, she decides to spare him of this forced marriage. This leads to her filing for a divorce with Prem. As a legal formality, the court decides a time of 6 months for the couple to spend with each other, in case they have a change of mind. In between all this chaos, their village announces annual competition named 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha', in which the husbands have to carry their wives on their back and run till the finishing lines, despite all the manmade hurdles n Again, on his family's insistence, a very reluctant Prem agrees to carry the 'moti shaand' Sandhya on his back and take part in the competition.

The movie try to catch the 1990s, when the tape-cassette is dying, CDs will soon be the rage and a regular arranged marriage will turn out to be a perfect mismatch. The director Sharat Katariya knew that he had "The Content", "The Performers" (half the battle won) so he intentionally gave more pressure on "The Detailing" n he did it with star marks from first to last scene. The 90s,Beautifully captured Haridwar ,The Bajaj scooters, Back ground melody, the cassette tapes, the mix tape makers and the onslaught of the compact disc with special middle class touch all become as important as the main tale. The dialogues are quirky and it is enjoyable to have those small laughs. There was a serious need to show small towns in a new light and it is a delight that Sharat Katariya gave more importance to Sandhya's character who is not only well-educated but also an independent thinker. The story is well crafted and after really really long Yash Raj brings something very fresh (healthy as well). Certain scenes are unbelievably funny, for example when Sandhya goes for lingerie shopping and how secretive it had to be in the bygone era. Also the scene when Sandhya and Prem consummate for the first time is captured so beautifully that it seems too natural.

Regarding acting Ayushmann Khurrana(who is undoubtedly a talented actor) is successful in washing off his disastrous Hawaizaada memories from us with this film. Sanjay Mishra who plays the father of "Prem" is also an excellent actor and with his extremely genuine and commendable acting he will surely entertain you. Other performers also fit in their role did their job nicely.

And Now there is "Bhumi Pednekar", she is the debutant, she is obese, she is natural, she is soooo much Cute n lastly telling you she will make you flat with her flawless acting.

Regarding songs After sooo long days, heard this type of song.In this Era where Mikka Singh or yo yo honey singh doing play back and music industry went into gutter , thanks to ‪#‎YRF‬ that they bring back what is called true melody by ‪KumarSanu‬ & ‪SadhanaSargam‬ .1 minute into the song n i was transported 20years back with a belief that music is still alive.

On a whole a Sweet Fresh Love story which is portrayed by Heart. Don't miss it guys ,I remain as the guarantor that you will come out from the hall with a fresh mood and with a smile.

Take Home Message: Don't disappoint in your life for your partner n Nothing else, just the tag line "Love Comes in all size".

The film is nothing but simplicity of characters who are bogged down with their below-average mediocre lives.

[varuna12 · 9/10 · 28 December 2015]

'DUM LAGA KE HAISHA'

Just watched it and feeling so inspired. The film is nothing but simplicity of characters who are bogged down with their below-average mediocre lives.

'Sandhya' a fat girl played so very beautifully by Bhumi Pednekar gets married to 'Prem' played so perfectly by Ayushmann Khurrana. Both are from similar socio-economical background but she is educated with a B.Ed and he is 10th fail. This is not the only reason for the unhappiness in their marriage. Prem finds her severely unattractive because of her appearance but this 'dislike' is furthered every she tries to say something or do something which Prem takes as her 'showing off' her education. All this leads a few nasty confrontations but eventually they start understanding each other.

The film has some very depressing but realistic scenes portrayed realistically by all the characters, especially Seema Pahwa ji, Sanjay Mishra ji and Sheeba Chadda ji (that one post phone call scene is hauntingly realistic and saddening portrayal!!!!) Don't know why it brought tears to my eyes and that hasn't happened in years!

Its an amazing film and one must watch it at least once. The 'art' is amazingly done by one Meenal Agarwal and its totally believable and realistic! The photography is beautiful with some really beautiful 'arty' shots, and its crisply cut by Namrata Rao.

'Moh Moh Ke Dhaage' is an amazingly beautiful and soulful song that I am playing on loop right now while writing this.

Loved the film! My ratings: 9/10 * * * * * * * * *

A short and sweet family movie with a nice message

[farhad-03526 · 7/10 · 30 December 2018]

A good movie doesn't necessarily need a lavish set or big stars. A simple story can be invigorating with a clarity brought through the setting and the theme which enunciates through "Dum Lagake Haisha." The film revolves around the tight alleys of Haridwar and Rishikesh set in the 90s. The rugged 90s look and the dialect used in the film gets a while to set its mood. Slowly the sweetness of the drama starts to pour in; and by the end, you feel like re-watching it.

Pednekar is Fantastic, the Rest of the Movie is Not

[GypsiB · 4/10 · 9 May 2017]

Prem (Ayushmann Khurrana) is persuaded by his family to marry for financial reasons to an overweight woman he doesn't find attractive. His new wife, Sandhya (Bhumi Pednekar ) is an educated woman who tries to make her marriage work, but Prem has no interest in so doing. They are persuaded to take part in the "Dum Lagao" contest, where the husband carries his wife on his back through an obstacle course, in so doing they reconcile.

The premise of this movie is fantastic, but it just doesn't deliver. There is very little character development, less happiness, and an ending that is too sudden and not credible. Khurrana, who is too old for the role, wears a scowl the entire movie and plays his part one- dimensionally. Pednekar, in her first movie, is fantastic, giving depth to Sandhya, portraying believable emotions, and acting nearly flawlessly. Her performance is so good that she nearly saves the movie, but not quite.

You'll love it if you were a kid from the 90's.

[hamzakhanvit · 9/10 · 8 March 2015]

A beautiful movie which will take you back in the lovely 90s. If you are a person whose childhood days were spent in a middle class family, residing in a typical U.P. mohalla, then you might find many things that will be a reflection of your childhood. Though a few scenes in the movie are overdone and overemphasized, but still a lot can be enjoyed. Kumar Sanu's songs are as melodious as ever, with Sadhna Sargam and Anu Malik adding more sweetness to it. The songs are really catchy and I can assure you that they'll be looped many times in your ipods/music devices. The movie is worth watching with your family in a theater, so my advice to you is not to ruin the feel by watching it on a crappy pirated DVD or online.

Cheers, :)