PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO (2015) Looks Like Every Other Barjatya Movie Ever Made

The Sooraj Barjatya directed, Rajshri Films produced, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ releases it’s first official song from the movie. Not surprisingly, it’s a very familiar setting as Salman Khan charms and impresses the pants out of everyone, on and off the screen. You know, the thing he’s paid so much money to do. And the thing we love him for, despite his age inappropriate displays of cute-ness.

Check out the song Prem Leela, from ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, and be sure to let me know which other song this reminds you of.

In an industry of cliches and formulaic films, Sooraj R. Barjatya redefines unoriginality, by re-using the exact same story in every single one of his films since 1989. With some tweaks to the main plot, Barjatya features similar character archetypes, followed by the same sequences of events, culminating in the same happy ending. Indulge me if you will in a typical Barjatya movie summary.

Movie opens with an introduction of a large close knit family of well to do Indians. (number of siblings may vary depending on star power needed) Now introduce extended family and friends of this unrealistically cultural family, all squeezing into an oversized mansion for an everyday meeting that is treated like a high school reunion, where everyone is facing the camera, in a line. The main family is perfect. Some occassion (birthday, wedding, religious festival, saving 15% off of car insurance) demands a party with a 17 minute song by the lead superficially appealing actors, while the other unimportant uggos sit back and watch, smiling and nodding for the reaction shots (see above). Main couple(s) (depending on how many love stories the budget can afford) fall in love. Then literally in the next scene, the rich family goes to visit one of the extended family’s unrealistically large mansion in another village or city, what have you. Repeat the aforementioned song and falling in love. More parties and singing and family fun times happens until intermission, where no one seems to work, except to point out in 1 or 2 scenes that ‘hey, I have returned exhausted from that work I do’. Halfway through, one of these friends, turns out to be a total A-hole, (begging the question why this amazingly clean cut family even associates with obvious villains like these) and starts some drama. There’s crying, conflict, confusion for the audience, possibly another 23 minute sad song pointing out all the obvious plot points. Happy Ending, possibly with everyone in a line, again.

While the trailer of ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ seemed a little different, at least in the last shot of a mustachio’d Salman Khan, everything up until that could be easily categorized in the above. The release of this song, that looks exactly like a song in every Barjatya movie thus far, further confirms my assumptions of this movie being another rehash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m—G8NJnMc

 remind you of anything?

Let’s not fool ourselves, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ is a paycheque for everyone involved. And their investment should definitely turn in some returns, as the movie is on its way to being the most hyped of this year. And despite this knowledge of the movie being a complete crap fest, majority of us will watch, if for nothing but the nostalgia of movies like ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’ or ‘Hum Apke Hai Kaun’, but only time will tell if the actual story will be worth it. My gut says it won’t. 

What did you think about the song from ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, and the movie in general?

Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @theshahshahid