The Hindi film Satyaprem Ki Katha is directed by Sameer Vidwans and stars Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak, Sidharth Randeria, Shikha Talsania and Anooradha Patel
Where can you watch Satyaprem Ki Katha in the UAE?
Satyaprem Ki Katha is currently showing in cinemas across the UAE, such as VOX Cinema and Novo Cinemas. It will probably be a while before the film hits streaming services in the UAE.
Satyaprem Ki Katha review
- The acting of the lead pair
- Not preachy
- Enjoyable songs and dances
- Takes time to come to the central idea
- Overwrought plot
Conveying a good idea in the right manner is an art. Sometimes socially relevant ideas must be purveyed to the audience sandwiched inside some agreeable metaphorical sweet bread. For example, beneath the layers of songs and food in Hum Saath Saath Hain lies the idea that physical disability need not be a deterrent to marriage.
In Satyaprem Ki Katha, the central idea is even more noble and appreciation-worthy. But in the interest of presenting the same in a palatable mainstream cinematic form, it is hidden around songs, dances, fun and drama that you end up looking past it. The point is there are too many strands in the story that the main theme gets sidetracked.
Yet, the film is salvaged largely due to the strong performance of the lead pair of Kartik Aarya and Kiara Advani. The duo, which made a fine impact in Bhool Bhulaiya 2, also continues its good form here.
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The film starts off as a typical love story that we are so used to in Bollywood. A good-for-nothing guy falls head over heels for a girl from a rich family. Before you roll your eyes with a helpless ‘Oh! Not again’, this film takes a turn for the better.
Satyaprem aka Sattu (Kartik Aaryan), is an aimless dreamer. He has high hopes for his wedding without actually doing anything in life. His dad (Gajraj Rao), who is no better, is the only one who has some understanding of him. His mom and sister (Supriya Pathak and Shikha Talsania) run the house. Sattu runs into Katha (Kiara Advani) in a dandiya raas. He falls for her beauty and charm. But she rebuffs him by saying she is in a relationship with another man.
A year later, Sattu is still stuck in a rut, but Katha is now single. And she even wants to take her own life. But Sattu saves her. Seeing his love for Katha, her parents emotionally corner her to marry him. But things run into heavy weather after marriage as Sattu never gets the chance to consummate the marriage. And despite his best efforts, he is thrown out of the bedroom under some pretext daily.
Why? Well, Sathu has a past. An emotional and troubling one, at that. It is left to Sattu to figure out the problem and find a solution. Basically, he has to play the knight for the damsel in distress that his wife is.
It is a laudable message, but it is delivered slightly over-wrought. Plus, the songs and dance (including the remake of Pasoori) take our minds off the larger point. But in the end, the acting led by Aaryan and Kiara prove to be the bulwark. Aaryan does his lover boy image no harm with his earnest approach in a character that could have been written better. Kiara is more spirited and spunky in her performance. She gives Katha dignity and respect. Gajraj Rao is as ever dependable.
The director Sameer Vidwans from Marathi, has tried to present a serious idea with a Bollywoodian flavour. Some parts of it work. Some parts make us feel distracted. But it is not a total disaster.
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