Raabta (2017)
4/10
Raabta means 'Connection', but ironically the film fails to connect with the audience.
12 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Raabta, a film by producer turned director Dinesh Vijan, attempts the same old formulae of reincarnation. But films with reincarnation concept are very much made in the past as well viz. Mehbooba, Om Shanti Om, Karan Arjun, Karz, Ek Paheli Leela etc., a few of them being successful films and a few others did not do so well. According to Dr. Brian Weiss, a Past-Life Regression Therapist and author of many books, the souls move in families. Certain inputs from him convey that destiny will place us in a particular circumstance, which will encounter with a particular person at appointed time and place. This will happen with every person we have chosen to bring into this lifetime. The film Raabta has such protagonists, coincidences bring them together, but somehow the treatment given to the idea is not at all new and not different. The whole concept of reincarnation is dealt in a very lousy manner. The very meaning of Raabta is 'Connection' and unfortunately audience may hardly be able to connect with the film.

Shiv (Sushant Singh Rajput) travels (or moves) to Budapest along with his best friend Varun. Shiv is supposed to be a banker, but one hardly sees him beyond chasing / flirting with girls, partying etc. He meets Saira (Kriti Sanon) who runs a Chocolate store. Both of them feel instant connect with one another. Saira does get nightmare of getting drowned. She often wonders why she gets these dreams. Saira's character is developed as the one who is confused, although apparently cool. Zakir (Jim Sarbh) , a liquor baron, enters into the scene and events take a different turn altogether. And as it is predictable, the lives of Shiv, Saira and Zakir are intertwined from the past life itself. A love comet is also scheduled to fly across the skies for the first time in 800 years. The film takes us to their past lives. And there we get to see Rajkummar Rao in a very much unrecognizable get up. In fact, certain elements in the past life story is not very well developed. The story weaving is very poor.

How Shiv, Saira and Zakir were connected in the past life? What purpose was left behind that the paths of three of them cross ?

Sushant has certainly evolved a great actor but in Raabta he goes overboard at times, his acting looks a bit superficial. Kriti Sanon is beautiful and her character is almost consistent in her nature, be it in past life or present life. But could not find her character getting developed. The on-screen chemistry between Sushant and Kriti might have looked great, but this is not explored appropriately. Jim Sarbh (Neerja fame) is OK. Overall the actors are trapped in a confused plot.

The cameo by Deepika Padukone shaking her legs on the title song Raabta does not do any good to the film.

Raabta means 'Connection', but ironically the film fails to connect with the audience. The same old concept of reincarnation is dealt in a very lousy manner. The actors are trapped in a confused lot.
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