Not a Love Story

Director - Ram Gopal Varma

Producers – Sunil Bohra, Shailesh R. Singh, Kiran Kumar Koneru

Music - Sandeep Chowta

Cast – Mahie Gill, Deepak Dobriyal, Ajay Gehi, Mahesh Thakur, Zakir Hussain, Darshan Jariwala & late Rasika Joshi

          ‘Not a Love Story’ marks Ram Gopal Varma’s return to Bollywood after his brief stint in Telugu cinema. The promos and his tweets (including some of ‘Subba Rao’) had suggested that it was a film loosely based on the murder of Neeraj Grover by Emile Jerome Matthew and Kannada actress Maria Susairaj. The bloodbath in promos and controversy prior to its release was sufficient to ensure that the film would attract healthy crowds.

          The film begins with Anusha Chawla (Mahie Gill) convincing her boyfriend Robin Fernandes (Deepak Dobriyal) that Mumbai might turn out to be that place where her struggling acting career gets a boost. He reluctantly agrees to let her leave Chandigarh but makes sure that he is kept informed about her daily routine. Anusha faces the Mumbai heat but is unwilling to compromise herself to bag a role.

Enter Ashish Bhatnagar (Ashish Gehi) who turns out to be life saver for Anusha when he helps her to get a lead role in a film. A party for this success is organised where both get high.  Eventually they end up in bed in her flat. A possessive Robin gets irritated when Anusha doesn’t respond to his calls and lands up the very next morning at her doorstep. When he discovers a naked Ashish he (unable to control his anger) stabs him, chops his body and burns it. Anusha if left with little choice but to partner him in crime. Their journey behind the bars to the court forms the rest of the story.

All the actors have studied the script closely and have been true to their professions except Mahie Gill. She is used as a sex doll whose sole purpose is to show extra skin (and cleavage) with every progressive scene. Deepak Dobriyal stands out in his role of Robin (he is able to do justice to d negative role with the same ease as he did to the positive role in Tanu weds Manu). Amongst the supporting roles Zakir Hussain is perfect in portrayal of a tough, no nonsense cop. Darshan Jariwala leaves an impact even though he has a very small screen presence. It was a delight to see Rasika Joshi (as Ashish’s mother) on the big screen for the last time (she passed away in July due to cancer).

Ramu has failed to retain his magic which he recreated with Rakta Charitra. Some of the scenes have been brilliantly directed but not equally well edited. As such it leaves an itch on your palm. Cinematography is the worst I’ve seen in a long time. The weird camera angles irritate the eyes throughout the film. The song ‘Rangeela Re’ (as Anusha’s ringtone) gets on your nerves (her phone doesn’t seem to stop ringing till her arrest).  Loud background music adds fuel to the fire. Lights are poor. I would have preferred sepia for at least one scene. Even outdoor scenes taken during daytime look very dark. Ramu hasn’t paid any heed to the technical aspects. However script by Rohit Banawlikar gets good marks.

          In conclusion ‘Not a Love Story’ is that film that leaves you dissatisfied. You beg to get out of the theatre. The climax is long stretched and a lip lock (to sum it all) leaves you short of words to express your disgust.  I go with one out of five stars for Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Not a Love Story’. Kindly see it if you have the patience to bear it.  One last request Ramu - I’ve got high expectations from Department. Don’t fail me next time