It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This review may contain SpoilersLike most of the Bollywood films, this film is full of vulgar kissing scenes and sex scenes, A Horrible watch for the people who despise such obscenity to be watched. Even the story is irritating, from one to another,from another one to back to the first one,the cycle goes on.More than the hero of the film we are confused and irritated.If the film claims to be a good take on live-in relationship,then its a misconception on its side, its a bad take on today's youth I feel.After watching the hero of the film Sushant Singh Rajput in his show Pavitra Rishta And his first film Kai Po Che (his roles in both of these were lovable and decent) its a horror to watch him playing the kind of role he has in this film.

Marriage or commitment is a social as well as mental satisfaction tying you in a freedom less world where you have to think of other as well as yourself with context to your spouse and take responsibility. This is the though which is questioned through this coming of age film.Raghu is a confused but straight forward boy who reluctantly agrees for arranged marriage, but in certain turn of events rethinks his decision and takes a drastic step.The film starts of good and goes back and forth th "up - down" meter quite a few times. Lets just say it has its share of extremely good moments to extremely bad ones. Coming to few goods of this film. Firstly the awesome Cinematography which kept me spellbound and wanting for more. The beauty along with hustle bustle of Jaipur is captured brilliantly. 2 minutes into the film and I found my drooling just for cinematography. Another good thing is the performances. Parineeti is stand out whereas Sushant is good. Vaani has a charm but she's got miles to go before she becomes as good an actress Parineeti is. Rishi Ji as always have perfect comic timing and class acting. Third good is the comedy which manages to make you smile if not "rofl". Also the confusion among the characters is portrayed nicely, but it could have been better.Now the bad things, Firstly the confusing and abrupt climax, which is in fact too abrupt and sudden for the mind to sink in. Especially the breaking of "love triangle" seemed forced and "just for the sake of ending it" kind. It could have been better explained. Secondly, editing, the film could have easily been 5 to 7 minutes shorter. Third, lacking in character development, after two hours of the film one fails to properly define the character traits of the leads, also one does not feel any attachment towards the character, which is a huge let down.Another thing is, the "restriction" this movie is all about isn't something that society imposes on the bride-groom, but it is something prevalent and present in common or live in relation ships. Freedom is the freedom of mind not the freedom of society. So, in short the whole film becomes objectless to say.Direction: Average.Story/Screenplay: Nice with good dialogues but low on character development and flawed in parts.Acting: Parineeti stands out. Shushant is good. Rishi Ji fits the role. Vaani is Average.Music: Soundtrack is good battleground score is good. But the placement of soundtrack and occasional throw ins of old renowned music is what catches the ear.All in all a nice rom-com, which can be enjoyed with a loved one, but certainly a one time watch.

My wife and I (67 years old, not Indian, but big fans of Bollywood movies for 10 years) saw this at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. I don't think I saw any Indians at all in the audience (why?), and judging from the questions afterwards, a lot of the audience were seeing their first Bollywood movie ever.I have read most of the reviews here--almost all from Indians--and I think most of them miss the point. The director, Maneesh Sharma, also directed Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl, which also featured Parineeti Chopra. Both movies show strong, independent women taking charge of their lives. These women know what they want and aren't shy about saying so. I think it's a very good idea to show this type of woman in a movie, particularly a romantic movie. The traditional Bollywood movie where the boy is the aggressor and wins the girl is fine, but this is a different approach. Notice also that it begins with a wedding rather than ending with a wedding, and that the parents of both the boy and girl are nowhere to be seen (hurray!). Maybe the director exaggerated things a bit (smoking, for example, is so taboo in the West now that it was disconcerting to see it so much. But it made a useful point.), but I think this was the message of the movie: Romance in the modern era does not necessarily have to end in marriage. Marriage (particularly in India, I would think) carries a lot of cultural baggage, not not everyone is ready for that.Judging by recent events in India (rapes, "Eve teasing", corrupt police, etc.) I'm not sure if this movie helps the situation or not. On the one hand, it shows women as strong and independent. On the other, it emphasizes their sexuality. Not that both can't go together— but it's open to misinterpretation. Hope for the best. Certainly movies always showing women in subservient roles, constantly trying to please men (including their fathers), is the wrong message.In a Western movie, the amount of kissing would be quite normal. For a Bollywood movie, it was quite unusual. A lot of recent movies have one brief kiss now and then, but there was a LOT of kissing going on here. I'm not criticizing this because the subject is the romance between a boy and girl, so kissing would be natural. But to show it in a movie is quite daring. The director (and Parineeti) answered a question about the kissing by saying this is the "new India", and they were trying to show the modern generation (or at least the wealthier / educated generation—I'm not sure how the lower classes would feel about this).As for the movie itself, I thought Parineeti did an absolutely terrific job. I'm not sure how she could have been better. I look forward to seeing her in many more movies, and I hope she makes good choices. Vaana Kapoor was also very good, I thought—despite other reviewers' comments. You play the part you are given—and she did a good job of that. Sushant Singh Rajput had a very difficult part—he had to look surprised, bewildered, and in love, a hard combination to keep up. But he did a good job, and never went over the top and kept it realistic. Bollywood movies often go into pure silliness towards the end, and although this had the cute marriage scene that could have been completely ridiculous, the director kept it within limits. Good!I will add that I was able to meet Parineeti for a few minutes after the movie, and she was completely charming, enchanting, and delightful. I hope she is able to keep her sweet personality and not let fame go to her head!

"Shuddh Desi Romance" is one of those films that appear to be the part of present day romantic fantasies and also, the part of the satire on those fantasies as well as the whole institution of marriage. A fairly good concoction of 'masala' with quite rustic yet genuine humour, this "romantic-dramedy" proves to be a fairly compact entertainer. The storyline is the most complex feature of the film, but surely the most engaging one as well. A simpleton yet romantically ambitious guide (Sushant Singh Rajput) who is not sure about settling down, a street-smart yet emotional English teacher (Parineeti Chopra) who attends weddings as a "baraati" to add influence in exchange of subsidiary income, a homely yet smart girl (Vaani Kapoor) though left at the altar knows how to avenge herself – cross paths, one-by-one with one another. All have one thing in common – "marital bond and related hitches". What happens next is what they (and most of the young generation) relate to as (Shuddh Desi...) "romance". The plot is rich with clichés related to the marital system, the double-standards of the society and also the bewildered mentality of the youth due to which they're willing to do everything that couples could engage in except for getting married. The best performer was Parineeti, hands down. Sushant was very natural and rustic along with Rishi Kapoor. Debutante Vaani seemed like a rookie in the beginning but handled her part well and looked very pretty. Screenwriter-Lyricist Jaideep Sahni, with well written sequences having symbolic iterations and spot on word-exchanges, has added another feather to his cap after "Khosla Ka Ghosla" and "Chak De India". Other strong aspects have been direction (Maneesh Sharma; 'Band Baaja Baraat') and casting (Shanoo Sharma) both adding a lot of flavour to the already well cooked and steaming recipe. The editing was crisp (Namrata Rao; 'Kahaani') with one of the distinct features being "breaking of the fourth wall" (speaking directly to the viewers) were placed imaginatively. The music of the film was handled by the lesser known Sachin-Jigar, who did a decent work with the front runners as - the song of about romance in the 'Pink City' - "Gulabi" that was the most well presented one in the film, and "Chanchal Mann Ati Random".The film may seem like an independent sequel to "Band Baaja Baraat" with a story though heard by many, but not yet seen this way. A good watch!