Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya Review

Though 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya' isn't a quintessential romantic entertainer where the leading man and the lady fall in love in the first 15 minutes of the film itself, there are good enough reasons for audience to root for the coming together of Riteish and Genelia. Of course a lot of it is also due to the fact that they are a much adored real life couple which means there is a definite connect which is formed between the reel life characters and the audience.

What also catches one's attention from the very beginning of 'Tere Naa Love Ho Gaya' is the fact that there is a definite attempt to present Riteish Deshmukh as the male lead who would be expected to carry the film on his shoulders. Forever a man who is a perfect fit when it comes to making his place in the multistarrer, Riteish opens the film with a feel-good 'Jeene De' song that pretty much sets the right expectations for the audience. With Genelia D'Souza coming into picture immediately as well, the plot is established quite clearly.

Riteish wants his money back from his employer Tinnu Anand who has cheated him while his daughter (Genelia) too wants to run away from a forced marriage. It is a relationship of convenience for the duo as they join hands for a fake kidnap affair. This sets the ground for immense possibilities when it comes to bringing on the fun quotient.

Having said that one must acknowledge that not every scene really manages to become a highlight of the film. The one that tops the charts is the car wash sequence followed by Genelia posing as Katrina Kaur and the 'ring' episode. It is done well though same can't be said about the numerous instances when she asks Riteish to dance for him. Though the presence of a mysterious 'daaku' kind of character does hint of what is pretty much on the anvil, it is the twist in the tale which is revealed just after the interval point that turns out to be the biggest highlight of 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya'.

However there is a problem soon after because while one would have expected a real rib tickling sequences to follow, courtesy a bubby Genelia D'Souza trying to make way into the heart of a strict Om Puri, it is just the reverse that follows with the film beginning to meander. The focus shifts entirely on Genelia's attempts to woo the family members of Om Puri due to which quite a few sequences come across as unnecessary baggage.

The biggest culprit is the very long drawn scene where Genelia educated Om Ouri on mobile phone features. Even her interaction with Smita Jayakar and Chitrashi Rawat (as Puri's wife and daughter respectively) don't quite cut ice while sequences like the one where Genelia is trying to train wrestlers just fall flat.

By the time Veena Malik's item song comes, you tend to get a tad impatient but thankfully sequences after this change the route for 'Tere Naa Love Ho Gaya'. A couple of dramatic/heart-warming sequences later, the film takes a full-on Bollywood course hence peaking at just the right time. The sequences leading to the climax only add further value to the film's storyline and the finale is also just apt, also considering the real life status of Riteish and Genelia.

One has to admit here that love songs, especially 'Piya Re Piya' which is excellently tuned, end up slowing the film's pace and are better off being heard as standalone tracks. What does work as a combination though are performances by Riteish and Genelia. Supremely comfortable with each other and showing those sparks despite the film not being a traditional romantic tale, Riteish and Genelia play to their strengths and deliver well.

Celebrate their love; you would come back with a smile!

Rating: ***