After flat-out duds like Tadap (where an attempt was made to introduce Suniel Shetty’s son Ahaan) and Heropanti 2 (where Tiger Shroff’s familiar routine was tiresomely retreaded), it seems like producer Sajid Nadiadwala has a death wish on his products. For this time around, he robs Kartik Aaryan of his one USP – his likeable effervescence. And turns what’s purportedly a love story into an endlessly unanimated sleepwalk.
When the lead pair is named Satyaprem alias Sattu (Kartik Aaryan) and Katha Kapadia (Kiara Advani), it makes for a ready hashtag. #SatyampremKiKatha, remarks Sattu somewhere right at the beginning and in between. It’s perhaps the only attempt at something lively.
Otherwise, between director Sameer Vidwans and writer Karan Shrikant Sharma, they lay out pillows and blankets and pat the audience to sleep as they infuriatingly present Sattu as an unemployed nobody mesmerised by the unattainable Katha Kapadia. Sattu’s one point asset: he’s plain speaking truthful. Katha’s asset: wealth, beauty and much to hide. But the Kapadias offer her in marriage to besotted Sattu.
Kangana Ranaut’s recent film Tiku Weds Sheru, another unwatchable film, had Bhopal girl Tiku wed Sheru only to escape to Mumbai and chase her dream of becoming an actress.
Satyaprem and Katha’s marriage too goes the same way – love for the man slowly creeping in after a reluctant marriage.
As if the sluggish and repetitive nights when Katha banishes Sattu from the bedroom aren’t enough to make you doze until there’s some action, the filmmakers also weave date rape into it. The slow ‘sleep date’ with nothing to entertain or engross the viewer gives way to an even slower date rape with the writer and director unable to either give gravitas to the social crime or trivialise it in a fun way where there’s entertainment as well as social messaging.
The Gujjus are known for their vibrance but director Sameer Vidwans mutes even their enthusiasm with his bullock cart pace.
With at least two dream sequences and songs that are neither required nor racy, Satyaprem…merely induces slumber. Confusing goodness (as in Sattu’s honesty) with dullness, Kartik Aaryan is for the most part unimpactful. Even the lovely bond with his father (Gajraj Rao) doesn’t warm up to an elevating degree.
Relying more on her beauty than on duty, Kiara doesn’t even make the effort to feel from within the trauma of date rape as she too sleepwalks as Katha.
Talents like Rajpal Yadav are wasted in inconsequential roles of the milkman.
There is a happy ending. If only you can keep your eyes open until rapists get their comeuppance and couples go beyond the “first base” for some long overdue action. Ho hum.
Watch Satyaprem Ki Katha Trailer:
Also Read: Kafas Review