Ranbir and Shraddha Kapoor’s movie Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar (TJMM), which opened in India last weekend, reportedly did very well. The Luv Ranjan-directed film was expected to make between INR 12 and INR 13 crore on its opening day.
It was released on Holi. The reviews have been terrible. Both The Indian Express (TIE) and the Indian News Service (IANS) panned it, with TIE calling it “boring” and IANS saying, “Ranbir tries hard to rescue a thin script.” It was deemed an “endless drag” by The Print and a “montage of monologues”.
In the film, Mickey (Ranbir) is a break-up specialist. According to Gupta, he does this as a “dhanda,” for which he charges a hefty sum in exchange for the ability to untie knots without breaking hearts. Feel free to scoff at that thought. It’s Luv Ranjan’s world, where professional couple-breaker Mickey has serious feelings for Tinny (Shraddha). Who’s really just out for a good time? Ouch. According to Gupta, a man who plays the role of Casanova but has genuine feelings for a girl. Who doesn’t care is beginning to develop feelings for her.
The writers of TJMM, she argues, failed to heed the warning that “brevity is the soul of wit,” which is why the movie drags for two hours before it starts to pick up steam.
Monika Rawal Kukreja of HT says of TJMM, “The film plays with the extremes. It’s hilarious in places and unbearably dull in others. She says that in his most recent film, Ranjan really capitalizes on the actors’ attractiveness by using close-ups and other techniques. The movie is a mash-up of previous Ranbir Kapoor movies, including elements from Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Cameos from other actors add a crossover flavor, but “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar never comes together as a wholesome script.”
“The 164-minute film has nothing concrete in terms of story development, and the first half is spent entirely on Micke. Displaying his charm and trying every trick in the book to impress Tinny,” IANS says of Ranjan’s latest film, which is a departure from his otherwise “misogynistic” rom-com.
“Luv Ranjan seems to be on a remedial course; for this time, his female lead is all-independent, modern, and carefree but with a solid sense of commitment,” the publication said. In a refreshing turn, the male protagonist is the spoilt brat and slightly nefarious one this time around. The plot took a surprising turn! The film, however, defies reason. Even so, “Not that one is looking for any — and is too focused on absurdities,” was said. It’s difficult to maintain a firm stance in your chair when you consider how tiring all the drama must be.
