The title is based on a song of Anil Kapoor in 1942 a love story where he is besotted by the beautiful heroine. Ironically here his daughter Sonam feels that way towards another girl. Yes this movie is an attempt to deal with same gender love though in a perfunctory manner. A simple film which is quite entertaining.
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EK LADKI KO DEKHA TO AISA LAGA REVIEW :-
"The Secret" this is what they told us in trailer, right? But it was quite easy for movie buffs to predict the Secret. As expected, the secret is exactly what we were thinking, its about true love crossing the barrier of gender. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga tries to showcase the Brave Script of taboo subject, but somewhere the Screenplay falters, if not fully. Nevertheless, it was a "Well Tried" by the entire team.
ELKDTAL is not a complete fictional story, it is a mirror image of some real incidents happened in our society. Although, it is presented with some filmy and dramtic elements, one can easily accept it. Problems appears in multiple fields like Acting, Screenplay, Execution, Direction etc. which doesn't let Strong script overcome. Sonam Kapoor portrays a sweet girl but that's not enough when some important scenes like tackling as brave a Girl and emotional flavoured moments arrives. Rajkumar Rao doesn't explore an actor in him Fully and that's unacceptable. Juhi Chawla goes unnoticed due to overacting, so does the supporting cast. Anil Kapoor remains the one only saving grace here. Music is a let down, moreover it's irritating where the screenplay is already faltered. Execution is Strictly average and the reason for that is filmy vision of Director. The script didn't really need any dramatic portion then why Director went through that path? The full focus should have remained on content other than Feature film ingredients, especially when you are attempting a Taboo breaking subject.
As a whole, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga is an Important film for the society but the problem is, it is not made for everyone. The appeal and impact is limited to some people only, unlike Padman which was a Universal Appealing Subject. It may bring change in some people's life who have undergone such torture, but the question is, apart from those sone people will an entire society accept it? Unfortunately, the answer could be No. Because our country is not ready to accept such things, at least for now. After some years we might see some changes and that time people might recall this Film. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga deserves the one time watch from you just because they have tried some different subject, otherwise it does not surpaas the Expectations after raising the bar with the strong Script.
RATING- 6/10* -
annmarysajan13 June 2019I liked how they put together features of traditional Bollywood films and a modern sensitive topic that remains a taboo across India. Definitely a brave attempt from the cast and crew. The climax was however very typical and predictable. I hoped for a more realistic climax. It seemed very rushed although the movie wasn't that long compared to a lot of Bollywood films. However the acting was great from its cast. The film was quite heartwarming and inspiring. It definitely send the message it intended to. The romantic arc was beautiful. The song was fantastic. Overall an interesting romantic comedy drama film.
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3.5 Star (Spoiler Free) A unique refreshing film which tells us that LOVE come in many forms and cant be judged on gender base or debated on being Western or Traditional . This film is a bit slow in its pace but has its heart and emotions right in place , a heart touching film with a elite narration and is refreshing and fresh . Go for it without any second thought only in the cinemas
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR
>Performances have been top notch startig from Anil Kapoor ji , Rajkumar Rao, Juhi Chawla Ji and the complete ensemble caste has delivered amazing performance >The theme of this film is fresh bold and heart touching and is sure to win your hearts by its end >Music if the film is great and at an soothing point >Screenplay is besutifully written and stitched, though its a bit slow at points but is a delight to watch >The way emotions have been presented is simply amazing
NEGATIVES
>The pace of this film could be one negative that you feel while watching >Climax could have been simplified then being way too dramatic
FINAL VERDICT
Definetly a unique film and has a very beautiful message to the society who judge love as per their prespective . Walk in to the cinemas and watch this tale of love with all your heart -
erisedwitch453 February 2019I was excited to watch this film since it deals with a same-sex love story- something I haven't seen in a mainstream bollywood movie. But I was disappointed. The concept, though good, fails in execution.
The main problem was Sonam Kapoor. She CANNOT act. A role which could've pulled you in, made you feel for her, for her struggles just feels... meh. She doesn't understand the nuances of the character, there is no honesty in her performance. It feels like she did the role just to do something "different." And that's a loss since she doesn't have the acting capability to shoulder a character like Sweety. I could easily name a dozen actresses who could have played Sweety with conviction. The film is also slow and the climax was a bit too dramatic.
The best part of the movie is the supporting cast. Be it Anil, the brother, the helpers, Regina, Juhi and the best- Rajkumar. Everyone puts their best foot forward to delve in their characters. But since the limelight is on Sonam, only having a good supporting cast doesn't solve the problem.
I am very disappointed with the film. At the hand of a better actress, it could've been so much worth it. -
beevenkat6 February 2019If u r a parent n ur daughter falls in love with a girl, please ensure that she gets ur wholehearted love n support. Dont let her isolate herself. Dont let her diary become her best companion. Dont let her marry a man just to make u happy. Dont ask 'samaj kya kahega'. The makers of #EkLadkiKoDekhaToAisaLaga need to be applauded for making an unconventional film. But the entire first half is wasted in trying to narrate a regular love story. A bolder script wouldve worked wonders. Music is bad. Rating 3/5.
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muskanverma-298603 February 2019If you want to see how a single actor can completely bring a movie down then go for it. She just can't act. While watching the movie not even once does the audience feel what a girl who just came out of the closet would feel. It's really bad.
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sparsh-hardik20 August 2019So lovely, so innocent, feelgood and fresh! Often homosexual stories are depressed in nature, but this one is exception, it has a joyful vibes. Kudos to the makers. Music is also pleasuring, especially the title song. I really love all the roles Sonam played on screen with her high-school girl like cuteness! Sonam's lover played by Regina Cassandra has a very limited appearances but she still could steal Sonam's thunder, such a lovely face she has!
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bleepnik6 November 2021So it's not the greatest film ever made. It doesn't matter. It's important for queer films to come out of mainstream Bollywood. I'm grateful to the iconic actors for signing on to play these parts.
It's something. It's a start. -
Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, a film by Shelly Chopra Dhar, comes up with a progressive topic. It is a love story with difference. It is very important to make films on such plots, tell the stories to create more awareness in our society, but Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga fails to do justice to the plot.
The title of the film does generate the beautiful moments of the film 1942: Love Story, in which this song turned out to be a superhit, and it still sounds so fresh even after 25 years. This song as well as the film had wonderful chemistry of Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala on screen. Somewhere, the film's title generated curiosity to see how and what kind of love story this film projects. But it turns out to be a disappointing affair. The challenge with the film is its screenplay and acting. The screenplay does not explore the plot in depth. Indeed, such an issue is picked up, which needs to be heard by the society, but the treatment is so dampening. Love is an intense emotion and it does not deserve a meek and non-assertive form of narration. This is what happens in the film. It is not that such a subject has never been dealt earlier in Indian films, rather dealt with very much finesse and depth. The execution of the film is dull.
Sweety (Sonam Kapoor) is a girl from Punjab, daughter of Balbir Chaudhary, the Ambani of Punjab (Anil Kapoor). She is shown to be a timid girl. Rajkummar Rao plays the role of a playwright Sahil Mirza. Although he is the son of a famous movie producer, he chooses to be away from family and work on his own terms. Sweety is shown to be scared of her brother (Abhishek Duhan) who keeps an eye on her movements. Sahil and Sweety happen to meet by chance in Delhi. Juhi Chawla plays the role of Chatro, a Chef and wannabe actress, with Sahil's team. Sahil travels to Sweety's place to explore love and write about the same for his play. Is Sahil in love with Sweety ? Is Sweety in love with Sahil or somebody else ? The story unfolds further but in absolutely disengaging and dispassionate manner.
The only grace of the film is Anil Kapoor. Rajkummar Rao is such a wonderful actor, who generally puts so much life into the character he plays, but in this film, his role is very much understated. He does not have much to do. It is strange that real father-daughter chemistry is also missing on screen. Seema Pahwa, Brijendra Kala, Kanwaljeet Singh have very less screentime. Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla have a few scenes on screen and supposed to generate humour, but it does not happen so.
Ek Ladki ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga fails to do justice to the love story it wants to narrate, rather adopts a very apologetic, meek and non-assertive tone. -
naturepark12 May 2019Kudos to the director and the cast for doing this movie. I am hoping this will set the stage for future LGBT movies in Indian cinema. An important message well conveyed in a light hearted manner with a good mix of emotions and comedy. I am glad they made this about love and kept it classy. They introduced a sense of normalcy to this very taboo topic in India. Hopefully the hearts and minds of people will change after watching this very important movie. Juhi Chawla was a delight to watch and she added the much needed lightness and humor to a very heavy subject.
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i_odin4 April 2019ELKDTAL is one of the rare breed of films which tries to challlenge the societal stereotypes. This film targets one too many issues. Lesbian and inter-religion love being some of them. But apart from the concept nothing really works for the film. The film's melodramatic tone is a unique touch to this LGBTQ film, but is inconsistent none the less. The writers by writing such authentic characters proves their intent to make a memorable experience, but with the cliched screenplay, the affect is not that strong. The film dealt every subject matter which it touched upon very sincerely. Hence credit should be given to the writers and director. There are some serious issues with editing and screenplay. The overt camera work is sometimes doesn't suit the scenes and distract the audience. Music is average but fresh.
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indraveer4 February 2019The movie tries to handle the taboo subject of lesbianism in a conservative Indian society and throws in Hindu/Muslim issue as a bonus but does so in a very puerile manner. Just a small talk by a potential lover of father makes him change his mind about his serious objections to letting his daughter marry a Muslim and also the same talk gives him courage to go against his mother who literally molded his life away from being a chef (wow!). And then a play which was just a replay of what had already transpired without any revelations makes him go along with a major tweaking of his values. If all this was not a nonchalant dealing of the serious subject matter on hand, the father says to daughter "I thought you were like your Mom but now I know you are more like me - you like women"!!! How weird is that? The flow of the movie was uneven & patchy which reveals lack of experience on the part of the film crew. Overall the movie had no artistic or redeeming value except the acting of Juhi Chawla. Some of the audience were actually angry that they were not cautioned about not bringing their little daughters to the movie. This movie tarnishes the image of VC Films.
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haideralibeg3 February 2019Ahead of its time, a great platform for give ppl a view into life of lgbt ppl.
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fillerruth1 February 2019Shelly Chopra Dhar's Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga poses a challenge to both critics and viewers. How much can the reviewer reveal about the plot, which unveils its big twist at the exact point at which you are encouraged to shuffle out of the auditorium to the popcorn counter? And what does the average moviegoer make of the subversion of the soppy romance in which boy falls for girl and gets the prize after leaping over a series of obstacles?
More importantly, it can't get more delightfully subversive, for a movie which promises to upend the 'ladka-ladki' binary that Bollywood has coasted on for decades. Here 'ek ladki's heart beats for another 'ladki'. The problem is that there's more subversion in the one-line title than in the entire film, because having stated its purpose, it doesn't quite know just how to broach it and expand on it, and spends far too much stuttering time in getting to the point.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekhi Toh Aisa Laga concedes the unlikelihood of entertainment to change bigoted minds. When Sweety performs in Sahil's play, we see disgusted and intolerant audiences get up and leave. Yet I was struck by the image of an old man, sobbing as he leans on the empty bench in front of him, reserved for VIPs who have left. There will be plenty who leave their seats unconvinced, but this film will make some wonder - many of whom may never have considered it.
This one may not achieve what 3 Idiots did for parents of engineering students with non-technical passions. But it has the recipe for a light-hearted comedy. Also, it subliminally yet successfully sensitises audiences to the challenges endured by same-sex couples when surrounded by those who refuse to understand or accept them. -
If is a good movie which is a one time watch it is not those who don't like the concept of LGBTQ concept.
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aakash-031 February 2019I wish IMDB gets an option to rate 0 for movies...as this movie deserves that. In the league of Happy New Year, Hello Brother, Tashan & Thugs of Hindostan. Biased reviews by celebrities. Genuinely, it was a big pain. Bad Screenplay, Poor Direction & even Rajkumar Rao acted bad. Highly Disappointed. Total waste of Time & Money. Anil Kapoor & Rajkumar Rao seems to be a sure-shot flop combo guarantee. Of course, Sonam is still suffering from Bad Acting Disorder.👎👎
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With gay rights on its front steps, it is amazing to see A list cast of Bollywood step up to its responsibilities n this extremely believable story. Must watch
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nnk-399908 April 2019Movie was good , first time such a topic has been portrayed in Bollywood but I wish insyead of Sonam someone else would have been there , her role couldn't be justified .
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dabeerdocuments1 February 2019Being a big fan of Rajkumar Rao, anil kapoor and vidhu chopra, expected a lot from the movie. Disappointed that he is only in a guest appearance role. The movie is slow and lies on the shoulders of sonam kapoor who cannot act and it doesnt keep u hooked to the movie. Do not waste 2 hours of ur time. The 2h feels like 3h. Nothing special. Skip it
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Tejas_Vinda_AITS1 February 2019Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is primarily a simple love story.....!!
The story is about Sweety Chaudhury (Sonam Kapoor), who hails from an influential family in Moga, Punjab. Her father (Anil Kapoor) is a rich garment businessman. One day while on the run from her brother, she meets playwright Sahil Mirza (Rajkummar Rao). While Sahil instantly falls in love with her, Sweety has a secret of her own.
The basic premise is about two people, who meet, fall in love, face opposition from the family and society, but by the end, everything falls into place. Only this time, the lovebirds are of the same gender.
Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga has a fair amount of humour, a similar amount of emotions and a lot of entertainment.
It is a film about hope. Hope for a world where one is free to love, and to be loved by whoever they want. Whether you love a man or a woman, it doesn't matter, it shouldn't because love is...love. Let love be, set love free.
The whole initial sequence involving Rajkummar and Anil Kapoor is hilarious. The cute romance between Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla will instantly win your heart. Even after all these years, their chemistry is on point.
The editing is fine, the music is good too. The cinematography is beautiful as it is shot in real locations.
The movie wasn't just about same-sex relationships, it also delved into communalism and even about the freedom to choose your profession. Shelly Chopra Dhar has done a good job handling each subject delicately.
Indian audience is still immature for this type of movie. Movie base : Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) LoveStory . -
vallahvallah2 February 2019The acting is pathetic at best, you'd expect some talent but they are brought down by the weak script. The dialogue is linear and bland and doesn't really focus on the issues this movie is based upon.
Skip it, it's a time waste at best. -
samfox-956-5197115 February 2019We are living in times where it is getting increasingly possible (and necessary) to make movies on erstwhile unimaginable topics.
A young girl with conflicting thoughts about love grows up in a confused state of mind and ends up blaming herself for her feelings for the same sex. Needless to say that once the skeletons fall out of the closet, friends and family lose no time in expressing their displeasure and passing judgement.
SONAM KAPOOR is the perfect embodiment of 'much ado about hardly anything'. In the lead role here, she doesn't bring anything interesting to the table. It is sad because the role had enough scope to showcase one's talent (of course, provided one has it). The lack of depth in her emoting skills fails to move the audience and her dialogue delivery continues to remain flat.
RAJKUMAR RAO is so natural as the young man in whom SONAM unwittingly finds a true friend that you will probably not notice that he is acting. Given his talent, the role is hardly a challenge and as always, he makes good use of his inherent malleability to fit into his character perfectly.
ANIL KAPOOR effortlessly plays the rich businessman father who continues to nurture his dream of making it big as a chef. The role gives him ample opportunity to exhibit his versatility. Watch out for the scene where he is engrossed in cooking and RAJKUMAR (who mistakes him for a cook) asks him to sneak in a letter to SONAM. Sans dialogues, ANIL's expressions (more than) do the job as they swing from curiosity (for a stranger giving him a note for his daughter) to joy (when RAJKUMAR praises the aroma of his cooking) and back to curiosity/concern.
JUHI CHAWLA revels in her comic avatar and fits the bill as a Punjabi lady in the catering business who has her heart in acting. MADHUMALTI KAPOOR as SONAM's grandmother is great and some of her banter with ANIL (her son) begs for an encore.
SEEMA PAHWA (Badki from Hum Log) puts her comic skills to fantastic use without ever going overboard. BRIJENDRA KALA continues to excel with his signature style of subtly creating humour through unique expressions. REGINA CASSANDRA (from the Southern film industry) makes an impressive Bollywood debut as SONAM's love interest. She exudes sheer confidence and shines in her small part.
The first half is masterfully woven and peppered with funny lines. Sample this - ANIL's mom (who is always against him indulging in cooking) has this to say about men in the kitchen...."Banda tabhi kitchen mein jata hai, jab usay gas ka cylinder change karna hota hai!"
The soundtrack is pretty average. The title track is not bad but the Kumar Sanu original is so magical that you just can't concentrate on this new version. Also, the effervescent, pure beauty of MANISHA KOIRALA keeps popping up in the subconcious mind there by adding to the distraction.
Edited smartly, the movie is delightfully short at 120 minutes and there is no cheap/stale humour at any juncture. The part where SONAM shares her secret with RAJKUMAR is nicely done without any superfluous offshoots. In fact, till the interval, the light hearted flow of the narrative is smooth like a breeze.
Alas, as the movie progresses towards the end, it starts to go astray. The method adopted to break SONAM's news to the world is so simplistic.....it feels amateurish. It really is a pity because otherwise, the topic has been maturely handled and the message that children going through such confusion (of why they feel differently from others) need to be understood and accepted (as they are) by family and friends is apt and genuine.
If only films had an option of paying for pre and post interval separately, I would have asked you all to definitely see the first half. As for SONAM, she needs to quickly get her act together or when we see her we will be compelled to say - "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga.....ki iski aur ABHISHEK (Bachchan) ki kahaani kitni milti julti hai!" Ouch! Did I hear someone say 'Galat Jawab, Sameer ji'. 😉😁- Sameer
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RPrasaad2 February 2019I don't know why Bollywood movies quality, content and originality going down movie after movie. Most Bollywood movies are cheap imitations of Hollywood or ideas from west. (URI the surgical strike, Manikarnika are exceptions).
This movie is also such boring one. Don't waste your time and money on this.