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How I Felt When I Saw A Girl

Country: India, Language: Hindi, 120 mins

Original Title

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
  • Director: Shelly Chopra Dhar
  • Writer: Shelly Chopra Dhar; Gazal Dhaliwal
  • Producer: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

CGiii Comment

Bollywood goes lesbian...for the first time! Yes, we know all about Deepa Mehta's 1996 film - Fire - but, c'mon it wasn't exactly a Bollywood film nor was it mainstream. And neither was it a comedy...as this film purports to be!

With the [recent] decriminalisation of homosexuality, Bollywood is [potentially] gearing up to produce a whole swathe of LGBT films...or, is it? The Box Office will ultimately dictate...Bollywood is big business...and, like all big businesses, it expects big profits.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is a [small] step in the right direction...sadly, it's not a giant leap. The main problem is the 'comedy' - too much, totally unnecessary. Then, there's the hindu-against-muslim bigotry, a mention about the caste system, the sexism, the importance of reputation and social status...complex issues indeed, all enveloped around slapstick and a [horrendous] metaphor, the father being denied his dream of becoming India's greatest chef because his [horrific] mother forbade it, it's women's work! All this paves the way for the explosive revelation...

The [long-awaited] lesbian storyline pops up halfway through...talk about over-stretching the build-up - and from then on in, Shelly Chopra Dhar's dialogue spoon feeds the audience...obviously addressing the educational diversity within a Bollywood audience...with the [admirable] aim to change hearts and minds...but, alas, she has pitched it too low and the set 'same-sex speeches' do come across as [feeble] preaching to [and for] the [more] feeble minded. Ouch! It's all just a little too simple, too frilly...and, fluffy...to be taken seriously. Little steps.

Still...the [good] intention has to be applauded.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

Some love stories are not simple, Sweety's is one such story. She has to contend with her over-enthusiastic family that wants to get her married, a young writer who is completely smitten by her, a secret that she harbours close to her heart and ultimately the truth that her true love might not find acceptance in her family and society. Resolving these issues proves hilarious, touching and life changing.

Cast & Characters

Anil Kapoor as Balbir Chaudhary
Juhi Chawla as Chatro
Sonam Kapoor as Sweety Chaudhary
Rajkummar Rao as Sahil Mirza
Regina Cassandra as Kuhu
Madhumalti Kapoor as Gifty Chaudhary