Review : Dono : Rajshri legacy continues…

#RajshriProductions is known for family entertainers. They specialize in movies which could be watched with the entire family without cringe feelings. Earlier they used to make small budget films but when #SoorajBarjatya’s debut directorial #MainePyarKiya, saw big budget being spent. Now the third generation of Barjatyas is in filmmaking and #AvnishBarjatya, son of Sooraj Barjatya has debuted as a director with #Dono. Dono is made keeping Rajshri legacy of family films in mind and is made on a large scale. The story has a good germ. The lead pair is not emotionally involved with each other till the three fourth of the film is over and that’s something new. But it should have handled in a modern way of filmmaking.

Dev Saraf (Rajveer Deol) runs a start-up in Bengaluru but is running in loss, just like his personal life. Since childhood he has fancied a girl Alina (Kanikka Kapur) but now she is getting married. It’s a destination wedding at
Hua Hin, Thailand. Initially undecided he ultimately reaches there and shares wedding duties with Meghana Doshi (Palomi) who is the groom, Nikhil’s (Rohan Khurana) friend and has just come out of a relationship with
Gaurav (Aditya Nanda) who also groom’s best friend. Circumstances keep bringing them, Dev and Meghana, together but both are nursing broken heart and advice each other on how to get over a breakup. What transpires later and in between forms the crux of the story.

Debutant director Avnish Barjatya, like Rajshri tradition, has not included baddies or bad characters in the story. He has successfully played with human emotions, especially today’s young generation where being in and out of relationships is not taboo. Though the film
keeps reminding you Hum Aapke Hain Kaun,
he has captured the big fat wedding essence adeptly but in old school style. Something new, novel in the storytelling was expected from him. He has done a decent job though. Rajshri is known for lilting music in their films but this time around Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is just passable. Technical sides are excellent, including cinematography. Rajveer looks handsome, reminding one of Dharmendra (his grand father) in his younger days. He dances well and emotes well too. But he needs more polishing. Paloma, who is Poonam Dhilon’s daughter) lacks the beautiful personality her mother had but scores in acting department. A surprise package is Kanikka Kapur who looks beautiful and has delivered a sensible performance. Other newcomers Rohan Khurana and Aditya Nanda do not disappoint.

Dono is a clean family one time watch film, though a couple of kisses are thrown in.

Rating : ***