The film Ru-Ba-Ru’s publicity describes it as a romantic thriller which revolves around the relationship between a live-in couple caught amidst their busy professional careers. Rubaru is shot extensively in the beautiful Krabi Beach area in Bangkok, Thailand.
The movie is an adaptation of Gil Junger’s Hollywood hit If Only (2004). Randeep Hooda and Sahana Goswami share some steamy and passionate lip locking scenes in debutant director Arjun Baali’s Ru-Ba-Ru.
Sahana Goswami, who recently played Arjun Rampal’s wife in Rock On! plays a lead role here as Tara, who is a professional theater actress. Randeep Hooda is an advertising executive.
Other films show budding love, the initial problems faced by the couple, which are overcome and they lived happily ever after. Ru-Ba-Ru deals about the life that comes after being in a relationship for two years. Living with each other for so long and then boredom seeps in. The couple takes each other for granted and stops paying attention to the small things that matter.
Tara (Shahana Goswami) and Nikhil (Randeep Hooda) are in love. Tara wants to cement the relationship by seeking commitment in marriage. But Nikhil, a workaholic, is always pre-occupied with work. The two are in a relationship for two years until a rift threatens to tear them apart.
The trouble starts with Nikhil frequently forgetting small little things that make a relationship work. He starts taking his girlfriend for granted. The day comes when Tara cannot take it anymore.
She walks out on him, but something drastic happens. That’s when a strange magical, mystical force intervenes, and what happens next forms the rest of the story.
Like the usual bollywood films, Ru-ba-Ru proceeds at a lethargic pace especially in the second half which could have been shorter. Music by Satyadev Burman and Sameeruddin is just okay, though Andre Menezes’ cinematography skillfully captures the beauty of Thailand.
The man and woman are shown to have reached their destination in life and what else is there to actually think of. This couple too gets so much in life but one incident changes their entire outlook towards life. Unlike those light hearted frothy romantic comedies the central characters of this film get thinking that whether it is always so important to run behind something rather than catching hold of what’s right there in front of you. Life may not give you a second chance. Thankfully, the director has avoided taking a preachy route in the film.
Randeep Hooda is a fine actor and he plays his part without overdoing it one bit. Shahana Goswami is incredible. Rati Agnihotri and Jayant Kripalani performances are worth noting. Kubhushan Kharbanda in the role of the cab driver is the most pivotal character as the story takes a crucial turn due to him. Ru-Ba-Ru is an above average film.
Cast of Ru-Ba-Ru:
Nikhil – Randeep Hooda
Tara – Shahana Goswami
Meera – Rati Agnihotri
Dilip – Jayant Kripalani
Taxi Driver – Kulbhushan Kharbanda
CREDITS of Ru-Ba-Ru:
Produced by Percept Picture Company
Directed by Arjun Bali
Cinematography by Andre Menezes
Music by Satyadev Burman, Sameeruddin
Film Editing by Sanjib Datta
Line Producers – Kulthep Narula, Rachvin Narula
Ru-Ba-Ru, movie review