Why I Wasn’t Impressed With The BEFIKRE (2016) Trailer

After months of a less than subtle marketing campaign of all lips, Aditya Chopra finally released a teaser trailer for his upcoming directorial return, 'Befikre'.

Check out the Teaser Trailer of 'Befikre' below & stick around find out my issue with the movie.

As per standard operating procedure, the teaser trailer gives us no indication or clue as to what 'Befikre' is actually about, or what the conflict will be. However, the impression that one takes away from the premtise is that it looks to be a love story that starts off as a no strings attached hook up. And Bollywood doesn't have the best track record when it comes to movies with this premise.

The teaser introduces the main leads and then provides us with steamy scenes of fun adventurous tomfoolery and, dare I say it, shenanigins! But that's kind of the point. 'Befikre' ('Care-free') seems to almost showcase how much more fun a love story can be when emotions aren't involved. I'm sure the story isn't intentionally saying that, but it definitely is coming off that way.

Don't get me wrong. I'm over analyzing the Teaser, because, well that's my job. 'Befikre' definitely looks amazingly well shot, (all in Paris by the way) well acted, exciting and an over all fun movie with awesome songs. However, the lofty idea that the movie seems to be based on it what's dampening my excitement. Slightly.

Now the full trailer may reveal more about the story, but at this point, it all seems kind of like a foregone conclusion. With a story about a couple who refuse to bring emotions into a purely physical and adventurous relationship, the conflict seems very predictible. Usually emotions creep in, one of the character's fall in love, (most likely Ranveer's character) and the tumultuous journey that reveals each characters' back story, previous emotional trauma and other heart breaking things leading to the eventual happy ending is what the story ends up being about.

I don't want to be overly negative about 'Befikre', given that it does mark the return of influential filmmaker Aditya Chopra behind the Director's chair after years. While I wasn't a fan of his last film, 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', Chopra's contribution to the Indian Industry is undeniable; with his own films like 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' & 'Mohabbatein', and the countless others that he's produced through Yash Raj Films, arguably the largest production house of the Indian Film Industry.

But despite all that, it's hard to take 'Befikre' seriously given it's marketing campaign that seemed to pander to audience with shock and awe tactics. It's difficult to try to find the substance in a story about emotionless antics, not even taking into account the questionable morals that it conveys to younger audiences. Especially when you take into account that Chopra's flims have thus far been family friendly affairs.

Ranveer Singh is one of the most talented actors of his generation and a genuine force to be reckoned with on and off camera. His character in 'Befikre' however doesn't seem to stray too far from his previous depictions in 'Band Bajaa Baaraat' or 'Dil Dhadakne Do'. The most impressive thing about the trailer is how Vaani Kapoor is able to take focus away from Singh to herself, in only her second film in Bollywood.

The actress having made her debut in the lukewarm 'Shuddh Desi Romance', returns in a more high profile film. The actress comes off very likeable, care-free and utterly badass in her depiction of a girl that's progressive, while not being a stereotype of what Bollywood thinks a liberal woman should be like. One thing that's undeniable about the teaser, is that 'Befikre' is the debut that Vaani Kapoor deserved.

We will have to wait for the full Trailer to find out exactly what kind of story 'Befikre' will feature, and hope that it is more layered than the traditional hook-up-goes-wrong trope that we've already seen many times.

'Befikre' releases December 9th, 2016.

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