Ginny Weds Sunny Movie Review: Half-baked plot uplifted by charming, relatable performances
Updated on: 13 September, 2021 12:06 AM IST |
Written by Navjot Gulati and Sumit Arora and directed by Puneet Khanna, Ginny Weds Sunny is the film that happens when people, who’ve grown amidst primitive conditioning, try to come across as liberal. Before anyone quickly jumps to the defense and reprimands me saying it’s just a film, let me quickly dismiss that claim as irrational and save you the trouble. But firstly, let me get to the plot.
Satnam aka Sunny Sethi (Vikrant Massey) is eager to marry and meets prospective brides in the hopes to start his own restaurant at the shop owned by his father. But constant rejections continually keep downing his spirits. He then decides to pursue his school crush Ginny Juneja (Yami Gautam) with a little help from an improbable source, her mother Shobha Juneja (Ayesha Raza Mishra), who is a matchmaker by profession. The catch is, Ginny is confused about her relationship status with her ex-boyfriend Nishant Rathee (Suhail Nayyar), while she harbors feelings for Sunny. Will they have their happy ending?
The writing is basic, for the lack of a better word. The screenplay invests a lot of time in the meet-cute portions between Yami and Vikrant that by the time you reach the interval, you find yourself worn out already. The messaging itself is problematic. Despite the woman in question exercising and asserting her agency, the plot eventually concludes that her life cannot achieve a sense of purpose without the presence of a man. Ginny isn’t a problem child really who needs saving. She dresses well, is confident and quite independent in her ways. Yet, her mother, friends and even her colleagues at work, constantly chide her with the idea of seeking a companion. The film also emphasizes how routinely toxic can the interference and authority of parents be in the private lives of their children. Even if the man looks as dreamy and cute as Vikrant is, how does a parent trust the safety of their daughter in the hands of a complete stranger to such an extent that he is encouraged to follow her around her whereabouts, instructed on how to make a place in her heart and then manipulate her? There is a moment when Vikrant’s Sunny even calls out these dubious tactics to win over the love of his life. But that merely comes across as a lip service. In another bizarre instance, Nishant comes across as the Haryanvi lad from Rohtak, while his parents don’t seem to be sporting the same accent as he does. Tighter editing by Sandeep Sethy could’ve helped the film remain taut and engaging. But technically, the film is a convoluted mess.
Where salvation is sought only through the sincere performances by the cast. Yami is on a roll after her brush with success, following the release of ‘Bala’. Dazzling and arresting, the actress tries her best to make the most out of a character that is never fully realized unlike Pari Mishra in the earlier film. 2020 has clearly been Vikrant Massey’s year. In ‘Ginny’, the man lets his guard down on the image he has been shouldering for a while, an intense, methodical actor who has been at the helm of some of the most path-breaking films and web series in the last five years. Vikrant invests Sunny with charm and innocence despite being a complete, bratty man-child, a recurring cliché with North Indian men. The actor displays his exemplary dancing skills in the film. It must also be mentioned that he is one of the very few actors in the industry who is happy to star in films, led by actresses or centered around them. Ayesha Raza Mishra as the mother is an absolute hoot. Rajeev Gupta and Menka Kurup as Sunny’s parents are equally commendable. A round of drinks by the pool between the three actors will leave you in splits. Mazel Vyas as Sunny’s sister Nimmi is notably spunky.
As a film, ‘Ginny Weds Sunny’ is harmless. It just did not warrant a stereotypical execution. Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of the actors, it makes for a great one-time watch.
