This is it!
Be Happy is one of the best films in the filmography of Remo D’Souza. After making some forgettable films this one is his moment of redemption. He has truly made a gem. It is undoubtedly the best film to come out of Hindi Cinema so far this year. It’s a pity that it wasn’t released in theaters. It is a direct to OTT release on Amazon Prime Video.
It is some Hollywood level stuff. Everything is top notch. Finally, a good film from the Hindi Film Industry. A rotting and stagnant industry which is releasing trash after trash in theaters, Be Happy is like a ray of hope that maybe all is not lost. Amidst all the remakes this film comes like a breath of fresh air. I so wish there is a reverse process for good films like Be Happy to be released in theaters after premiering on OTT. Amazon should seriously consider releasing this film in theaters. It has everything meant for a theatrical experience. It is a film that has deeply touched me. The last time it happened; it was after watching 777 Charlie. There are very few Hindi films that genuinely touch you. It is a film that has feel-good vibes. To make it easier, if you have liked Dangal then you are going to love this.
Be Happy is a film that stays with you long after it’s over. It is a film that leaves you teary eyed. It is a gem of a cinematic experience. The treatment, the visuals, the storytelling; Perfect! After a long time, I have watched such an impactful visual storytelling in Hindi Cinema. The production design, cinematography, VFX effortlessly come together to bring the beautiful visuals to life. Colourful, vibrant visuals blended with realism is the highlight. It is a very magical kind of realism. Realistic treatment is so rare in Hindi Cinema these days that when you actually get to watch it, you are completely engaged. Finding the beauty in realism is something that this film excels at. The choreography is superb. The dance sequences are powerful. Along with the music it is bound to give you goosebumps.
The direction, writing, editing is brilliant. The script is the hero here. I love the emotions. After a very long time, I have watched a film that made me so emotional. Be Happy is a heartwarming film. Remo D’Souza take a bow. His love and passion for dance is infectious. He deserves all the accolades. I hope this film gets recognition at the award functions. Good cinema needs appreciation and encouragement. I wonder why it wasn’t sent for film festivals. It would’ve done well. The writing and direction leave a mark. The father-daughter relationship at the core is well developed. Even the son in-law-father in-law relationship is interesting. The characters, the relationship between them, the emotions, the dialogues everything is well written. The dialogues give a realistic touch to the characters. The characters are relatable. Nothing is over exaggerated or overdone. It is a great relief to see a Hindi film not being over dramatic and unnecessarily stretched. The credit goes to the director and the editor for staying true to the story rather than the melodrama. Editing is one of the striking features of the film that silently does the job of keeping the audience engaged throughout. It is kept point to point. It holds your attention right from the first frame to the last frame. Everything is done at the right place, at the right time and in the right amount that makes the narrative very balanced. The film has a nice pace. I loved the climax and the ending. It ends perfectly, in time.
The casting and the performances are flawless. The actors have portrayed the characters in a subtle and realistic way. They fit into the characters to a T. Abhishek Bachchan is a star who has the knowledge of picking good, content driven scripts. With his recent choices of films, it is clear that he wants to be a part of niche films irrespective of the budget or the scale, where he is challenged as an actor and where there is a scope for him to perform. He is choosing to play age-appropriate characters which is another plus point. When it comes to the dance sequences he has killed it. This is the film where you notice Abhishek Bachchan the superstar. I like the transformation of his character in the film. Inayat Verma is super cute and impressive. Her dance is the highlight of the film. She is a very talented child actor. She has given more expressions than many of the current lot of actors in the Hindi Film Industry. She has delivered her dialogues with a lot of conviction. She has performed confidently. Nassar has put up an effortless performance. He shines while portraying the different shades of the character. Many a times he completely owns the scene. He is a veteran for a reason. Nora Fatehi was the surprise element for me. I hadn’t seen much of her acting before. I knew her for her dance. After watching the film, I realised she is a very good actor. She has played the character well.
The background music and the sound design is fantastic. The sound design is creatively used to give a sense of time through the ambience like establishing Ganesh Chaturthi only through the sound in one of the scenes which then visually connects us to the visarjan shown later in the film. This kind of detailing really works instead of spoon-feeding the audience. Even the time lapses or you can say the compression of time through the change in the costumes is used as an effective storytelling tool. The songs are very impactful. They are well shot. They are used as per the situation and take the cinematic experience to the next level. The songs with a devotional touch really enhance the narrative. After a very long time we get a good Ganpati visarjan song which is pure goosebumps. I love the devotion with which Remo D’Souza pays homage to Ganpati Bappa in his films. Where have these songs been in Hindi Cinema? The lyrics are well written. It feels like a proper Hollywood style musical. Another praiseworthy thing is that none of the songs is a remake. It is one of the best music albums of this year to come out of Hindi Cinema.
Be Happy is for everyone with a dream. As they say, “Dreams are Hopes with Wings.” It is a perfect musical family entertainer. If it was released in the theater it would’ve been a staple for all the schools taking their students for a film. It is a film with a repeat value. A dance film with a heart. I would highly recommend it.
