Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Opposites attract or so we have heard. But free spirited Tanu and staid Manu, the couple of “Tanu Weds Manu Returns”, have had it with each other. Four years into their marriage they are embittered and disillusioned.

A sequel to a popular film raises expectations but often fails to live up to them. However “Tanu Weds Manu Returns” turns out to be a refreshing exception. The film is well worth a watch for its zany humour, pathos and easy to relate to characters.   

Kangana Ranaut of “Queen” fame outstrips herself as Tanu who buries the pain of separation from Tanu with her wild ways. Then there's Manu (R.Madhavan) the restrained foil to Tanu. Coming to grips with his parting from Tanu, he determinedly woos and is on the verge of marrying a tough, independent Tanu lookalike, also brilliantly played by Kangana.

What follows is a roller coaster of fun, confusion and ultimate healing. So you laugh along when the lovely Tanu gets into the wild girl act, with every man around her little finger, including her old beau (Jimmy Shergill). And yet you can't help but empathise with her when she engages in a showdown with Tanu's would be bride, or dances with abandon as Manu heads for his wedding.  Till the last moment you are left wondering if he will go through with the “pheras”.

“Tanu Weds Manu Returns” comes soon after recent releases “Piku” and “Bombay Velvet”,both of which turned out to be stellar disappointments. “Piku” had too much “motion” (read a supposedly humorous but cringe worthy account of lead character Amitabh Bachchan's prolonged battle with constipation) and in “Bombay Velvet” we had Ranbir Kapoor playing an unconvincing gangster in the murky Bombay 
underworld.

“Tanu Weds Manu” is well worth a watch.