In a thematic nod to Tolstoy’s timeless “Anna Karenina,” “Love, Sitara” opens with the discerning observation: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” These words, spoken by Sitara (played by Sobhita Dhulipala), set the stage for Vandana Kataria’s latest movie. However, unlike Tolstoy’s literary masterpiece, the dialogue in Kataria’s film doesn’t quite achieve the same quotable depth, despite its best efforts. Abbas and Hussain Dalal’s script delivers a collection of self-help-esque slogans such as “Happiness lies in honesty,” “Dysfunction means they are making an effort,” and “I’ll fix myself, before I can fix my relationships.”
The film pivots around Sitara, or Tara, and her long-term boyfriend, Arjun, portrayed by Rajeev Siddhartha. Both characters are affluent, cosmopolitan, and ambitious—she is a celebrated interior designer, while he is a chef on the cusp of professional success in Singapore. The plot is set into motion when Tara discovers she’s unexpectedly pregnant. She proposes marriage to Arjun, without disclosing her condition, leading to the family gathering in Kerala at the residence of Tara’s whimsical maternal grandmother. This sets the scene for a wedding muhurat, sprinkled with humor akin to what one might find in the film 2 States.
Fortunately, the comedic undertone of the movie is short-lived. Early into the narrative, a friend expresses astonishment at Tara’s sudden enthusiasm for marriage, noting how out of character it seems. The viewer learns that Arjun had proposed three years prior, but Tara had refused. The pregnancy appears to have shifted her perspective, leaving the audience pondering why. As the story unfolds, familial secrets and dishonesty come to light, revealing fragmenting relationships, including a potential rift in Tara’s parents’ marriage.
Sobhita Dhulipala’s portrayal of Tara is fascinating, especially compared to her role as another Tara in the Prime Video series, Made in Heaven. Both characters share a deep understanding of people’s lies and yet are starkly different in their narrative and emotional journeys.
. With Love, Sitara, Kataria shifts from depicting bullying and toxic masculinity in her debut film, Noblemen, to exploring female-centric themes. The screenplay by Sonia Bahl sees strong performances, particularly from Sonali Kulkarni, and veteran theatre actor B. Jayashree as Tara’s quirky grandmother, Amumma. Despite these strong points, the film fails to achieve the same psychological complexity as Kataria’s previous work. It aspires to delve into genuine emotional messiness but ends up holding back.
One of the film’s principal drawbacks lies in its writing, marked by an inconsistent blend of English, Hindi, and occasional Malayalam. The dialogues in the family drama often seem more staged than organic, with aphorisms aplenty like, “A mistake can wreck a thousand lives” and “Hearts, like monuments, should be built of stone.” The narrative’s climax succumbs to melodramatic clichés familiar from television serials, complete with dramatic rainstorms. Additionally, while the film’s setting in the Kerala countryside offers a picturesque backdrop, it feels underutilized, and some character portrayals verge on caricature, such as the talkative housemaid with a drunk husband.
The penultimate scene stands out as one of the film’s more authentic moments, capturing a heated argument between Tara and Arjun that genuinely reflects their long-term relationship dynamics. Dhulipala’s performance would perhaps be more appreciated if viewers could forget her role in Made in Heaven’s Tara Khanna. Ikhlaque Khan shines as Arjun’s father, an ex-army officer consumed with notions of duty and patriotism, presenting one of modern Hindi cinema’s most memorable supporting characters. Still, my personal favorite is Tara’s best friend Anjali, played by Tamara D’Souza, a photojournalist who documents human rights issues. Anjali brings her camera to capture the pre-wedding events, adding a unique twist to the storyline.
Despite its flaws, “Love, Sitara” offers moments of insightful drama and sincere performances. It is currently available for streaming on ZEE5.
Published – September 27, 2024, 12:32 pm IST
Indian cinema / Hindi cinema / reviews
