The popular idea of the runaway bride made an appearance in the 2017 Bollywood film "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana," which made its debut in Indian theatres. Ratnaa Sinha's romantic drama is the third film in a short while to tackle the theme of an engaged woman who runs away from her upcoming wedding. "Happy Bhag Jayegi" and "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" came before it. Each movie adds its own special twist and cultural context to this beloved cliché, even though the idea may not be wholly original. In-depth discussions of these three films' plots and approaches to the issue of runaway brides will be covered in this piece.
Diana Penty plays the lead role of Harpreet "Happy" Kaur in the Mudassar Aziz-directed film "Happy Bhag Jayegi". On Happy's wedding day, the movie begins, and she is about to wed a politician's son against her will. Happy, however, pulls off a daring escape, making it out of her own wedding and unintentionally arriving in Pakistan rather than India. As Happy makes her way through the difficulties of being a runaway bride in a foreign country, the story takes a touching and humorous turn.
To keep the audience interested, the movie deftly plays with stereotypes, cross-border tensions, and cultural misunderstandings. Happy eventually gets help from the Pakistani Aashiq Ali, played by Abhay Deol, to hide and travel back to India. "Happy Bhag Jayegi" explores Indo-Pak relations, giving the idea of a runaway bride a unique perspective while bringing it to life with humour and a hint of romance.
Featuring Varun Dhawan as Badrinath Bansal and Alia Bhatt as Vaidehi Trivedi, "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" is directed by Shashank Khaitan. The movie tells the tale of Badrinath, a young man from Jhansi who grows up in a small town and falls in love with Vaidehi, an independent woman with a strong sense of self. Vaidehi is hesitant to accept Badrinath's marriage proposal. She makes a daring escape from her own wedding, shocking Badrinath.
The idea of the runaway bride is elevated to a new level in "Badrinath Ki Dulhania". It explores the notion that a woman ought to be allowed to select her own life partner. The movie is a contemporary interpretation of love and relationships that emphasises the value of free will and consent. It goes beyond simply being a conventional romantic comedy by addressing social issues like gender equality and dowries.
In Ratnaa Sinha's film "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana," we meet Aarti Shukla (Kriti Kharbanda) and Satyendra Mishra (Rajkummar Rao), who are slated to wed in an arranged union. But Aarti makes the decision to flee on the day of their wedding, which changes their lives forever. The movie explores the idea of a woman taking charge of her own destiny and highlights the familial and societal pressures that Indian women face.
The way that "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" combines the idea of a runaway bride with a powerful message of women's empowerment distinguishes it from its predecessors. The film focuses on Aarti's challenges as she forges ahead in a world ruled by men, driven by her desire to follow her dreams. She eventually runs into Satyendra once more in the process, which sparks an intricate and intense love tale.
The runaway bride trope appears in all three films, but they take distinct approaches to it and highlight different facets of love, social conventions, and personal empowerment.
By situating the runaway bride in Pakistan, "Happy Bhag Jayegi" offers an intriguing spin on the idea, highlighting cross-border relationships and the comedy that can be found even in trying circumstances. "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" challenges conventional expectations and modernises the concept by highlighting women's rights and choices in relationships. The book "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" addresses gender equality and social pressures while presenting a realistic image of a woman's struggle in a patriarchal society.
Diana Penty, Alia Bhatt, and Kriti Kharbanda are strong performers who show courage in making decisions that affect their own happiness and quality of life. For female viewers, this means that these characters are not just victims; rather, they take charge of their own lives and empower themselves.
The social themes addressed in "Happy Bhag Jayegi" and "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" include stereotypes, gender equality, Indo-Pak relations, and dowry issues. The main theme of "Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" is women's empowerment, showing how they can defy social expectations and follow their aspirations.
"Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana" is the latest movie to tackle the theme of runaway brides, following in the footsteps of "Happy Bhag Jayegi" and "Badrinath Ki Dulhania". Even though the themes may not be entirely original, each film presents a distinctive viewpoint and has elements of romance, humour, and social commentary in common. These films show how Indian cinema is changing and how stories about individual freedom, societal change, and female empowerment are becoming more and more common. Whether it's via contemporary love stories, cross-border adventures, or women escaping traditional bonds, these films represent the varied and forward-thinking stories that can be found in Bollywood today.
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