Edited by Nidhi Munot
The perfect antidote to a bad day and the perfect way to celebrate a good one, romantic comedies are the answer to everything. Rom-coms transport one into a world away from their worries. It’s true that we rarely come across the scenarios presented in rom-coms in real life; they definitely set unrealistic expectations of romance and can be full of cliches, but just for some time, even if it’s only 90 minutes, it’s nice to feel joyful. Each character in a romcom is iconic and likeable, we either fall in love with them or aspire to be them.
According to documentary maker Elizabeth Sankey, the main focus of rom-coms is personal relationships and human connections, especially in dealing with romantic situations. In my opinion, most romantic movies made by the Indian film industry aren’t actually “romantic” movies, in the sense. These movies aren’t centred around romance; ‘love’, be it in the platonic or the romantic form, is shadowed as the plot focuses on serious conflicts like war, oppression and rival families, and even conflicts created by villains or gangsters. This is a common pattern in several romantic movies like Bombay, Roja, Dil Se by Mani Ratnam and even in Telugu movies like Race Gurram and Mirchi to name a few.
Romantic comedies made by Hollywood are simpler that way and have less serious conflicts. The plots focus solely on defining the concept of love and exploring how each character experiences and perceives love and romance. By portraying the relationships between characters and journeys of emotional development that go beyond infatuation and affection, like anger, jealousy, envy, remorse, sadness and yearning, these movies allow us to be emotionally invested in the lives of the characters. Apart from romance, another obvious essential is comedy. The comedic elements can take the form of humorous obstacles or interruptions to the romantic relationships, or quirky supporting characters like friends of the protagonists. The comedy side of the movies is what makes them lighthearted and gives the audience a reason to laugh.
That being said, Indian cinema, across its diverse languages, actually has quite a few films that uphold the true essence of romantic comedies. Here is a list of 3 Indian movies that are definitely worth a watch (and then maybe multiple rewatches too?)
- OK Kanmani: If I was told that I could watch only one rom-com for the rest of my life, without an iota of doubt, I would pick this Tamil film, which stars Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen. Unlike Mani Ratnam’s other works, OK Kanmani stands out because of its simplicity and charm. Instead of making the concept of love work in the typical Indian context of marriage, OK Kanmani is an enlivening take on contemporary romances. It’s one of those films that will leave a smile on your face for days.
- Om Shanthi Oshana: What I like most about this wholesome film is that it’s centred around the girl, who attempts to win over her love interest. Rarely do we get to see stories told from the perspective of the girl, and director Jude Anthony Joseph does it brilliantly. Starring Nazriya Nazim and Nivin Pauly, this movie is a simple tale of love that oozes warmth, undeniable charm and playful humour.
- Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani: While the IMDB ratings may be discouraging, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is a light-hearted and enjoyable film. The film is filled with iconic jokes that many people find hard to appreciate, but some parts of it are bound to leave you in peals of laughter! Some aspects of the film might make absolutely no sense, but isn’t that what the purpose of a rom-com is? To make us laugh and feel hopeful?