First Look: Raanjhanaa

Is it possible to be excited about a film you know nothing about? Absolutely! — at least in my case. And at times, I prefer it that way. With every new project, my initial interest is usually based on the actors involved or the story of origin. Therefore, Anand Rai’s new film, Raanjhanaa, has always been on my “watch” list. For it stars three actors that I must see as often as I possibly can: Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush, withAbhay Deol in a short cameo role.

However, it was neither that dropped this project on my immediate radar nearly a month before its release. It was the magical poster of its leads drenched in a powdered smoke of color, hazing the city in the horizon.

Something about this poster drew me to the film, in a way that I rarely experience, for I feel it represents the playful loveliness and laughter that accompanies the Holi festival but also has a beat of a romantic pulse behind it. Using the faint comic look, softens the sultry intensity of Dhanush’s stance and subtlety highlights Sonam’s oblivious but bright character. As of now, the film is still rather hush-hush about the premise of the film, but as the preview dropped just a week ago, there’s no doubt this is quirky love story is set to give nerds and lovesick underdogs some lessons in tapping into their gumption and persistence reservoirs.

Raanjhanaa opens June 21. The preview can be seen on erosnow.