“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.” ~ Albert Einstein

I swear Sooraj Barjatya was brainwashed with this Einstein-ism as a kid… Why else would he churn out family saga after family saga, even in an age when most offspring are expected to fly the nest and mostly fend for themselves?

I’ll tell you why. Because no matter how modern India becomes as a nation, the Utopian view of families sticking together in a home that makes ‘laddoos’, sings songs and where obedient daughter-in-laws abide by every old world cliché in the book is one that still results in box office gold among other things. And what better way to that add to that mountain of profit than to add the undisputed King Midas in not one, but two roles, mouthing cringe worthy dialogues about 'sanskar' and undisputed familial bonds and values?

Putting my cynicism aside though, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is still a film I’m keen to catch, purely because Barjatya knows how to sell the perfect Indian family to even the most stone hearted among us. Hum Aapke Hain Koun, for example, is still right up there with my favourites, but whether that was a film that worked solely on Madhuri Dixit’s charisma and Salman Khan’s impishness is a fact that’s open to debate. That he followed that money spinning bonanza with a stinker called Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon is something I’m willing to forget too and try and watch Prem Ratan Dhan Payo with an open mind. Why? Because in an age of mostly depressing, hard hitting films, we all need something that will remind us of an era gone by!

The plot which seems to be a direct lift from an 80's Manmohan Desai yarn seemingly revolves around a well-to-do royal family heir and his romance with a demure (an impeccably dressed and resplendent looking Sonam Kapoor), and how a family feud brings a moustached Salman into the picture, to somehow save the day.

The visuals look undeniably rich and the whole set up looks perfect to play on your sympathies in true Barjatya style. Besides, Rajshri's brand of cinema seems like a perfect offering during Diwali, irrespective of the fact that this fodder is unlikely to do anything to stimulate our intellect.

Still for all its implausibilities, if a double whammy of Salman, some eye popping visuals, an easy on the eye Sonam and a reminder of your 'gharelu' values and 'sanskar' is your kinda thing, then Prem Ratan Dhan Payo looks like its for you.

The film also stars Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anupam Kher, Swara Bhaskar, Sanjai Mishra and Armaan Kohli and hits the marquee 12 November.

Are you looking forward to Prem Ratan Dhan Payo?

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