Loveyatri Movie Review: Aayush Sharma & Warina Hussain's yatra is a bumpy ride we didn't sign up for
Loveyatri Movie Review: With Loveyatri, Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain tried to recreate an entire film to match up to the standards that Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan set with the iconic Bollywood Garba track - Dholi Taro. The yatris' ended up with two left feet instead.
Bollywood's most loved critic Karan Johar exclaimed in his review tweet for Loveyatri that Aayush Sharma was a 'FAB DANCER' and when you walk out of the theatre after watching the film; that's the only good thing you take back! Aayush makes his hero-wala entry with a peppy number which reels you in with false pretences of a romantic comedy just as vibrant as the festival of garba. However, it is anything but a joyous yatra. Loveyatri uses the typical love story formula of a Roadside Romeo Susu (Yes, you read that right!), who dreams of owning a Garba Academy and the London-based MBA scholar Michelle (played by Warina Hussain), who fall in love, with the setting of the 9-day festival of Navratri. However, trouble arises because of their status quo and a villainous father (Ronit Roy), who uses his power to separate the two. Eventually, Sushrut travels to London to win the heart of his dream girl.
The first buzzkill in Loveyatri is the predictable screenplay by Niren Bhatt that has no rhyme or reason. In the second half, you won't even realise when you reached the climax and the twists and turns were almost too painful to bear witness to. There is a cringe-worthy scene on how Susu convinced the immigration officer to grant him a visa by performing garba or there is also the major plot point where a fight occurs because one put too much ketchup on a pizza. At one point, it almost felt like absurd theatre. With such a weak script and shoddy editing to accompany it, director Abhiraj Minawala is almost left handicapped.
Aayush Sharma has the 6-pack abs, the fake tan that changes with each festival, blow-dried hair and superb dancing skills; ingredients required for the typical commercial hero. But what he lacks is basic acting skills. When Sushrut meets the potential love of his life for the first time, what we get is Aayush's stalkerish eyes which remain throughout the movie. Warina, who pours her heart and soul into acing the Garba style fails when it comes to her acting performance, just like Aayush. Her indifference for any situation, happy or sad, is just too painful to watch.
The one positive point of Loveyatri was a character who was ironically named Negative (played by Pratik Gandhi). It was Pratik as well as Ram Kapoor who brought some zest into this dull movie with their sometimes funny one-liners. Pratik deserves better Bollywood films than a Mitron and Loveyatri. Even a Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan, who were hilarious additions to Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, are mere comedy props and unwanted like 'too much ketchup'.
The gorgeous costumes adorned by both Warina and Aayush during the Navratri sequences were a visual delight and a sure hit this Garba season while the production design brought in the right flavours and masala of the Gujarati festival. A special shout out has to go to the vibrant soundtrack of Loveyatri as the tunes are extremely addictive specifically Chogada.
With Loveyatri, Aayush Sharma and Warina Hussain tried to recreate an entire film to match up to the standards that Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan set with the iconic Bollywood Garba track - Dholi Taro. The yatris' ended up with two left feet instead.
At the end of the day, whether it is a Loveratri or a Loveyatri, Aayush and Warina's film is the flight you wish you would miss!
We rate it a 35% on the movie meter.