Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Here’s a laugh for you: Imagine a ballerina pirouetting through a calculus exam. That’s how hilariously mismatched our lead pair is – a math-loving dad and his footloose daughter, in this Bollywood saga of dreams and dance numbers. Welcome to the world of ‘Be Happy’, where logic does the tango with melodrama, while reality quietly does the moonwalk out of the script. This is Review Rani, your sarcastic guide to Bollywood’s love affair with reality dance shows and the resulting emotional rodeos.
Meet Mr. Shiv, played by Abhishek Bachchan. A widower, he’s a stickler for academics and has a daughter, Dhara, who dances like she’s got springs for feet and rhythm in her DNA. This daddy-dearest would rather see her crunching numbers than pirouetting on stage. Yet, love conquers all and the duo find themselves in the city of dreams, Mumbai, to fulfil Dhara’s starry-eyed ambition of winning ‘India’s Superstar Dancer’.
Now, let’s talk about the plot. It’s as predictable as a Bollywood dance number – you can see the twists coming from a mile away. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up in the ‘aww’ factor. The sweet and sour relationship between a doting father and his sassy daughter is the heart of this film – right from their playful banter to the emotional upheaval when reality strikes a discordant note in their dreamy symphony.
Adding to the fun quotient is Dhara’s sprightly grandfather, Mr. Nadar, who makes it his mission to add fuel to the father-daughter fire. Dhara’s sharp wit keeps the film from becoming a sob fest, like when she wonders aloud who hires such inefficient employees like her father, after he misses her dance competition for the third time.
The real treat is watching the transformation of the stern, serious father into a reluctant dance partner, holding his daughter’s hand through the rollercoaster ride of reality show drama. The dance sequences are the emotional heartbeat of this film, beautifully choreographed and executed.
Now, let’s not forget the length of this film. It’s as long as a ‘saas-bahu’ daily soap episode marathon, clocking over three hours. However, the second half somewhat redeems itself by warming the cockles of your heart with its emotional depth.
The music is the icing on this ‘desi’ drama cake. Harsh Upadhyay’s ‘Devi Aayi’ and ‘Mere Papa’ are the show-stealers, with Bachchan junior putting up an endearing performance. His portrayal of a devoted father is commendable, and his awkward dance moves are amusingly heartwarming. Inayat Verma as Dhara is a powerhouse, delivering a stellar performance and setting the stage on fire with her dance moves. Nora Fatehi, as always, is a vision on the dance floor and Nasser is a delight as the flamboyant grandpa.
Rani’s Wrap-Up: ‘Be Happy’ is a Bollywood-style emotional rollercoaster, a family entertainer that will make you laugh, cry and cringe at the same time. So brace yourself for a ‘rainbow of emotions’, as Dhara puts it, and don’t forget to keep your dancing shoes handy!
