Ardaas Karaan Movie Review: Punjabi Mania presents before you full review of recently released Punjabi movie titled 'Ardaas Karaan'.

Cast: Gippy Grewal, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Japji Khaira, Meher Vij, Sardar Sohi, Yograj Singh, Sapna Pabbi, Malkeet Rauni, Rana Jung Bahadur, Seema Kaushal, Shinda Grewal, Seerat Rana and others.

Director: Gippy Grewal.

Producers: Gippy Grewal.

Music: Jatinder Shah.

Genre: Drama.

Running Time: 140 minutes (U certified).

Ardaas Karaan Movie Review

While 'Ardaas Karaan' primarily highlights generation gaps affecting contemporary families, it also talks about the fundamental human trait of not living in the present and hampering it by either of past or future.

Ardaas Karaan portrays a story of two friends across three time periods of their life. Amar Singh (played by Sameep Singh, Babbal Rai and Malkeet Rauni) and Rattan Sharma (played by Aryan Randhawa, Raghveer Boli and Sardar Sohi) migrate to Canada from Punjab in the late 1970s.

In Daan Lahoria (Rana Jung Bahadur), they meet another friend in Canada. The trio often discuss differences with their children with each other. Fed up with daily arguments at home, Amar Singh gives up on life thinking that suicide might end his woes.

It is at this point in time that they come across Sehaj Singh (Gippy Grewal) and Magic (Gurpreet Ghuggi). Albeit selfishly, Sehaj convinces everyone to go on a trip which changes things altogether for each one of them.

Direction and Writing

Gippy Grewal, who has co-written the script and screenplay with Rana Ranbir, excels without a doubt. Much more than just another movie, Ardaas Karaan encompasses life-lessons holding value for viewers of all ages. The manner in which the movie teaches the worth of relations is second to none.

In what will go down as a consecutive serious-minded attempt at film-making for Grewal, Ardaas Karaan unequivocally delivers what it was meant to deliver in the first place. Given the number of actors and stories involved, Grewal and Ranbir make sure that things don't go haywire during the 140-minute run-time of the movie.

With perspective at the helm, Grewal more or less justifies why his characters behave in a certain way. Coming on the back of a super-hit first part, he adds enough variation in the second part. There is no exaggeration in stating that the director gives you enough moments to fall short of words to praise his command on the subject.

Having said that, Grewal also falls prey to the contagious knack of forcefully adding songs in a Punjabi movie. While Ranbir reigns supreme with his dialogues, both him and Grewal falter as far as screenplay in the second half is considered but that's okay in the bigger picture. Furthermore, there are sequences where the movie promotes equality among religions but the same happening by forceful instincts is both questionable and illogical.

A special mention needs to be made of Baljit Singh Deo. While the cinematographer in him was responsible for making the movie as visually attractive as it is, one feels the editor in him could have done better by shortening the length of the movie by at least 8-10 minutes in the second half.

Actors

For a movie such as this, it was the story which played the role of the lead actor. Among the people who were visible on the screen, Gurpreet Ghuggi portrayed the name of his character (Magic) on-screen. Having done bountiful roles across genres, Magic will doubtlessly go down as one of his best roles ever.

The triad of Malkeet Rauni, Sardar Sohi and Rana Jung Bahadur registered remarkable performances to better the graph of the movie. Rauni, who saw the story rotating around him, exceptionally put on display the annoyance caused from his family.

Amidst a middling chemistry between them on paper, both Gippy Grewal and Sapna Pabbi (who plays Sehaj's wife Sukhdeep) were laudable as actors. Having said that about Pabbi, her character seemed raw. Other than just the length, one believes a lot more could have been done with her role.

A majority of actors (Yograj Singh, Seema Kaushal, Meher Vij, Japji Khaira, Kuljinder Sidhu, Aman Khatkar, Raja Dhillon, Babbal Rai and Sameep Singh) who were roped in for brief roles made sure that they leave an impact irrespective the length of their appearance on the screen.

A special mention in the acting department needs to be made of debutant actors in Seerat Rana (Shabnam) and Shinda Grewal (Agamjot Singh aka Jhanda). Given the prominence of their characters, both Rana and Grewal were utterly successful in making people emotional with their roles.

Music

There are some movies which are difficult to believe without their music. Ardaas Karaan is surely one of them. It is another department where the whole team joined hands to create a sound equivalent of magic.

Led by illustrious music director Jatinder Shah, Ardaas Karaan's songs were sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Nachhatar Gill, Gippy Grewal, Sharry Mann, Ranjit Bawa and Devenderpal Singh. As far as writing those songs are concerned, Happy Raikoti, Rana Ranbir and Ricky Khan.

Final verdict

A self-help Ardaas Karaan teaches one on various fronts. Don't be surprised if a poignant story built around an ensemble cast brings you into tears on not one but many occasions in the movie.

And given the truthfulness with which the movie is made, even the strongest will have no option than to weep in such situations. Much like a delicacy, Ardaas Karaan will serve best when watched by family members together.

Ratings - 4/5