Striking a delicate balance between lightheartedness and touching earnestness, “Do Aur Do Pyaar” casts a spell of emotional resonance, propelled by the powerhouse performances of its leading pair and a script brimming with insight.
The film, which delves into the eternal question of whether love alone is enough to keep a relationship alive, allows its characters to bicker without emotionally exhausting the audience; and when the credits roll, one is left with a sense of safety in its resolution, courtesy of director Shrisha Guha Thakurta’s deep understanding of contemporary, upper-middle-class romantic dynamics.
A narrative that abstains from judging infidelity, or demonizing the new love interests, “Do Aur Do Pyaar” is impressively nuanced. Inspired by Groucho Marx’s famous remark, it explores the institution of marriage with both a discerning eye and light touch.
Ani Banerjee (Pratik Gandhi) from Bengal and Kavya (Vidya Balan) from Tamil Nadu find themselves navigating the complexities of their love marriage. With their emotional connection waning, they have ceased their quarrels, relegating themselves to the same bed without physical intimacy. Both have new objects of love and lust—Ani is seeing an aspiring actress, Nora (Ileana D’Cruz), while Kavya is the muse for celebrated photographer Vikram (Sendhil Ramamurthy).
The plot unfurls as Ani and Kavya begin to inadvertently rekindle their once vibrant love, threatening to sabotage their new romantic involvements. The writers, Amrita Bagchi, Eisha Chopra, and Suprotim Sengupta, channel Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s cinematic style, using everyday life events—from family to festivals—as metaphors for their story of love, loss, and extramarital affairs.
In a film awash with clever allegories and wit, the dialogue offers fresh perspectives on trite topics. Arguments over Bangladeshi cuisine and stainless steel cutlery humorously illuminate the tensions within their inter-regional marriage.
Fittingly, the new partners, Nora and Vikram, are not portrayed as villains in the protagonists’ story. Ani and Kavya, though secretive about their affairs, are not blatantly immoral; they are complex characters reacting to their evolving circumstances. Ani has lost his once-infectious joie de vivre after his father’s death, leaving Kavya to grapple with feelings of insecurity and neglect. Vikram is in search of the comforting home at the core of Kavya’s warmth, while Nora finds solace in Ani’s supportive presence amid her professional hardships.
It is to the credit of the writing team that the film lingers on these human moments rather than descending into a predictable infidelity narrative.
At the heart of “Do Aur Do Pyaar” are deeply engrossing performances. Vidya Balan and Pratik Gandhi bring their characters to life with nuanced, believable expressions of heartache and humor. Balan, embodying a woman desperate for recognition, delivers a raw, vanity-free portrayal of emotional vulnerability. Pratik Gandhi showcases his versatility as the everyman caught between his relational reticence and personal longing. Together, their chemistry is natural and essential to the film’s success.
Sendhil Ramamurthy and Ileana D’Cruz fill out the quartet with strong performances, with D’Cruz standing out as her character weaves through the complexities of love and desire.
As the storyline advances, there’s a sense that the characters are precariously balancing their dual lives, but just before the viewers can dwell on these contradictions, the filmmakers opt for a graceful and safe resolution.
“Do Aur Do Pyaar” succeeds in reflecting the challenges of marriage and the human condition with charm, wit, and emotional depth, all while being anchored in strong performances and well-crafted writing. The film is now playing in theaters, offering a testament to the enduring power and nuance of Hindi cinema.
