‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ Review: A Trans Love Story In Bollywood’s Own Right, But Welcome Nonetheless
Bollywood has a massive fixation with the hero. Well, so do all stories, because what are stories without their heroes, right? No, see, the problem with Bollywood is that its hero is more often than not, male, and heroism, therefore, is often a lot about machismo and male prowess, than anything else. While there has been a tactile shift in this idea, and we do write better female heroes, it’s still a tug-of-war to shift that importance. I see that tussle a lot in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, which is a story between a Punjabi bodybuilder and a transwoman, but it chooses a weird way of normalising this by focusing more on the bodybuilder than the woman who deserves the attention. The film is directed by Abhishek Kapoor and stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor.
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Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is the story of Manu Munjal, a bodybuilder with a tight stick up his derriere, so to speak. He does intermittent fasting, believes that anything other than weights and proper gym training is a ridiculous exercise. And he is so strung up trying to beat a rival member of his akhaada in a competition called G.O.A.T (something Gabru), that he doesn’t have time for anything else, not even girls. He meets the beautiful and incredibly sexy Maanvi, who joins his gym to teach Zumba, which of course, Manu does not take seriously.
The two, pushed together by injuries and a very pushy family on Manu’s side (his two interfering sisters who just want to get their Mota Lala married), the two start dating. As indicated in the trailer, Manu soon finds out that Maanvi is a transwoman, and as most straight men would react, so does he, with revolting disgust because of his ignorance. However, thanks to Maanvi’s love and even her Zumba training, Manu begins loosening up a little. On a parallel track, Maanvi, who was a Manu before, has her own issues with her family to deal with. And the rest, as they say, is predictable.
Also Read: 5 Thoughts That Popped Into My Head While Watching Ayushmann Khurrana’s Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui Trailer
I don’t exactly have complaints with Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. The USP of an Ayushmann Khurrana movie is that it tackles difficult subjects that don’t normally get a seat at the family dinner table with relative ease. Now in the process of doing this, the films often have to give up on some basic tact and political correctness, even depth. There’s a deliberate insertion of Bollywood clichés too. And I would criticise all of that except that it actually works in normalising these taboo subjects for our desh ki aam janta.
So you’ll see words like ‘chhakka’ and ‘kinnar’ used in the dialogues when Manu’s family or friends refer to Maanvi. And there are some crass questions and remarks also weaved in. And there was audible disdain in the theatre when this happened, but the fact of the matter is, this is how actual, real people talk about transpersons. So do we criticise it for having a shallow understanding of the subject? Or do we appreciate them for keeping it real?
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is a film that doesn’t try too hard, go too deep, or get very philosophical in its handling of this love story between a straight man and a transwoman. Because its intended audience is more likely to grasp its message of acceptance and education if it keeps things this surface-level. Any more pushing and it could turn away the uncles and aunties or people like Manu and his sisters, who do not understand and therefore do not accept. I do appreciate that it introduces elements like gender reassignment surgery and doctors explaining things to laypeople as opposed to some emotional monologue because god knows we do need education.
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But this is an Ayushmann Khurrana film, and this is where the hero problem strikes. The focus is a bit too much on him and less on Vaani Kapoor as Maanvi, and it is the most evident when the climax arrives. I am trying to justify it, and it could make sense that his Manu is finally able to accomplish what he wants when he embraces the very things that he was very anal and rigid about. However, I still feel that Maanvi’s experiences were a little too sidetracked. Was it an effort to normalise her experience by not making a big deal of it? Could be. But I just think it could’ve been presented better.
As for performances, Ayushmann Khurrana was quintessential Ayushmann; sincere and earnest and playing the Punjabi Gabru that he is as well as you can expect. Also, he looks ripped But I think it was Vaani Kapoor as Maanvi, with her very measured performance, that lent heart to the film. And she looks stunning, which goes without saying!
And a final note, yaar too much music. Every emotion is coloured with a tune, and at one point, I think around the Holi sequence, there were like three songs back-to-back!
Also Read: 5 Times ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’ Girl Vaani Kapoor Rekindled The Love For Evening Gowns
Verdict
There’s no denying that as ever, Ayushmann Khurrana has successfully normalised a topic that most of our population does not understand and therefore fears talking about. Ab to what extent it has been true and inclusive of the trans experience, and respectful of it, that is something that a transperson would be more apt to tell us.
But as someone on the outside looking in, I thought the film was mildly entertaining, and definitely, a small step for Bollywood to be more inclusive in its romances. And that can only happen if the audience is educated and aware and therefore understands and accepts. So to go explore the farthest extents of this subject, we must begin with bare minimum, surface-level stories, and this film does that quite well.
Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui releases in cinemas on December 10, 2021.
