Happy, if you insist
In a father-daughter story at heart, a dance reality show forms the backdrop of Remo D’Souza’s directorial ‘Be Happy’. A single father, Shiv Rustogi is raising eight-year-old Dhara along with his father-in-law Nadar in scenic Ooty. The born-to-dance Dhara lands an opportunity to train under a famous choreographer, Maggie, in Mumbai. The only roadblock between Dhara and her dream to be on India’s biggest dance reality show is her father’s reluctance. He would rather have his daughter follow her passion but study real well to have a ‘proper’ career.
Overcoming the initial hesitation, the father and daughter move to Mumbai and all seems smooth till another roadblock hits Dhara’s dream run. The film opens with the spunky Inayat Verma leading the story. Picturesque Ooty and the unconventional living arrangement draw you in. Stock situations and standard dialogues, however, make the film feel a tad bit slow soon after. It is only half-way through that the film picks up pace.
The premise is wonderful, and to set the story in the current times a win. Art mirrors society and ‘Be Happy’ does a fine job of reflecting the contemporary reality — reels and dreams, TED talks in a fast-moving world and acceptance for Papa 2.0 (euphemism for stepfather).
Abhishek Bachchan, who impressed with ‘I Want to Talk’ recently, gets a similar role and does justice to his character of a gloomy man not ready to move on. Inayat, seen in ‘Ludo’, ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’ and ‘Shabaash Mithu’, impresses with her screen presence and dialogue delivery. Nora’s role is largely limited to dance scenes and that she is an agile dancer comes in handy. Nassar is a fun addition to the plot and performs the doting granddad’s role well.
On the downside, despite being a dance film in Remo’s hands, choreography doesn’t leave you enthralled. There is an average, staple Ganesh Chaturthi montage among the many dance sequences. One surely values realistic portrayal, and Abhishek fits the bill of a grieving banker with a stout body. But he’s not cut out for three full-fledged dance numbers. That leaves the film neither here nor there.
If sticking to formula films, one has got to take an actor to fit the genre too. Also, cameos by Salman Yusuf Khan, Elli AvRam and Punit Pathak, rather than lifting, give it a TV-show feel. The story is half-baked, and an actor like Johnny Lever rather misspent.
Yet, regardless of sticking to the formula and being predictable, ‘Be Happy’ manages to choke you at the finale, the father-daughter bond being the strength of it.
A simple family story that bats for living in the present and valuing bonds, it makes for a one-time watch.
Movie Review