Rahul Desai
A failed start-up bro reaches the destination wedding of the woman who cheated on him years ago. It’s in Thailand; he becomes a rampant sex tourist. When he’s not wasted, he hooks up with the groom’s best friend’s ex.
A guest dies, a hotel is burnt, a sex tape goes viral, but the two become sordid soulmates. She convinces him to join her rehabilitation center, and they live crappily ever after.
But it is – at least spiritually – a Rajshri Productions version of that film. The directorial debut of Avnish S. Barjatya (son of Sooraj Barjatya) is as ‘modern’ as a Barjatya title can be.
It uses the old-school Barjatya setup – a big fat (arranged) wedding, traditional families, respectful kids, songs and songs, silly cricket matches, endless ceremonies and lehengas – to deliver new-gen statements.
Even with context, however, Dono lacks the narrative maturity to be an adult. Heritage intact, the movie believes it’s progressive and grown-up. But its conflicts are derived from stories, not life.