Cast: Deepika Padukone, Imran Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Shahana Goswami,Yudishtir Urs, Lilette Dubey, Naveen Nischol
Director: Danish Aslam
Check out 'Break ke Baad' if you want to spend 2 plus hours watching a romantic comedy flick, for its better than the rest out there. A simple story but sometimes convoluted. Aaliya (Deepika Padukone) is an ambitious babe which by Bollywood definition is one who could care less for romance. Aaliya is also the shrieking kind. And, in contrast, her boyfriend of 10 years, Abhay (Imran Khan), is sober and wants to sort of proverbially tame the shrew he loves. There's the other side to Abhay - he hates his father's business but has no choice. Maybe this is what happens in real life with a lot of couples, but on screen it seems intangible.
Then there are the single women in the story - mother (Sharmila Tagore) and thrice-divorced aunt (Lillette Dubey), who push the couple to come to some conclusion on their relationship. While riddled with the ambition of becoming an actor, Aaliya gets through to a prestigious university in Australia but lies that she's joining a mass-communications course for a short period. The poor but outraged boyfriend wonders about the future of the perennially dwindling relationship and resorts to emotional blackmail. True to her character, Aaliya opts out and they break up.
Then there are the single women in the story - mother (Sharmila Tagore) and thrice-divorced aunt (Lillette Dubey), who push the couple to come to some conclusion on their relationship. While riddled with the ambition of becoming an actor, Aaliya gets through to a prestigious university in Australia but lies that she's joining a mass-communications course for a short period. The poor but outraged boyfriend wonders about the future of the perennially dwindling relationship and resorts to emotional blackmail. True to her character, Aaliya opts out and they break up.
Now the Bollywood scripting comes into play as the clingy Abhay follows her to Australia only to find his girl having a good time at the university. Saying she wants space, she dismantles the last fragments of their relationship. Again, as expected of Hindi cinema, we find the two living as neighbors in a sea-facing apartment that's too good to be true. There are two side characters (Shahana Goswami, Yudishtir Urs) - the owners of the apartment - who play side characters to the Boy and Girl. The story moves to a point where Aaliya is finally ready to get a breakthrough following an audition, but her mother strongly dissents as that's not what the daughter promised of staying in Australia for a bit. Ultimately, somehow, the story transcends into one where everyone achieves their dream and go on to happy lives!
Clearly, the screenplay lacks depth in terms of character definition and build-up. Dialogue is generally dull. Deepika Padukone is her spunky self as she has come to be seen on screen. Imran Khan comes across with his typical lover boy image, charming and dignified. Director Danish Aslam seems to have tried to please a cross-section of audiences. But, in fact, he ends up directing a film that alright to pass time, but does not stand out. The film ends with the moral teaching with the girl realizing that relationships are more valuable than else.
Through the movie, one does not really grasp what the problem between the couple is and then lo and behold they just resolve it. The film therefore has a weak foundation and makes for a cumbersome watch. Well, if the scriptwriter and director tried to create a cool new film, it ain't one! 'Break ke Baad' makes you feel you've had enough of rom-coms!