This Romcom Gets the Beat but Lacks the Heart

Making the remake of a film in a different cultural milieu is always tricky.

- SHREYAS PANDE

Making the remake of a film in a different cultural milieu is always tricky. What seemed to have worked there may not work here. What did not work there needs to be re-looked here. Even if a certain universality pervades stories, there is still some rootedness that is brought through language, music and storytelling devices that ensure emotional connection. Advait Chandan attempted it just three years ago in 2022 with Laal Singh Chaddha, as he tried to localize the American aesthetics of Forrest Gump (1994). As Advait returns with Loveyapa, this time a straightforward remake of Pradeep Ranganathan's Tamil film Love Today, there is a lack of restraint in his handling. He seems to focus on the bigger picture while appearing to let go of the moments that make it whole.