Vivah

Vivah is an Indian romantic drama film that was directed and written by Sooraj R. Barjatya and released in 2006. The film's leading roles are played by Shahid Kapoor and Amrita Rao, along with Anupam Kher, Alok Nath, and Seema Biswas among others in supporting roles.

Vivah is essentially a touching journey of two individuals, Prem (Shahid Kapoor) and Poonam (Amrita Rao), who are thrown in to an arranged marriage set-up by the families and how their relationship evolves from engagement until marriage. This movie takes the audience on a journey of their innocence and discovery of marital life, and steers through the transformative stages of their love story.

Shahid Kapoor, in the role of Prem, a caring and understanding young man hailing from a close-knit joint family, impresses with an exceptional performance. He's a diligent undergraduate student who's preparing to take over his father's business. Despite the wealth and affluence, Prem retains an admirable humility and exhibits respectfulness.

On the other hand, Amrita Rao plays the role of Poonam, an orphan brought up by her uncle and aunt, portrayed beautifully by Alok Nath and Seema Biswas respectively. Despite her shyness and quiet demeanor, Poonam is a strong and resilient woman, having grown-up amidst hardships. Poonam's beauty isn't limited to her physical features; her pure heart and nurturing nature mesmerize everyone she encounters, especially Prem.

The chemistry between Kapoor and Rao is undeniably enchanting, skilfully portraying their characters’ feelings and dilemmas along the narrative. The supporting cast – Alok Nath, Seema Biswas, Samir Soni, and Anupam Kher – too contribute substantially to the storyline in their varied roles, adding depth to the narrative through their stellar performances.

The film provides a nostalgic return to Indian traditions, emphasizing the sanctity of marriage as a crucial institution in Indian societal setup. Vivah can be deemed as an old wine in a new bottle, following Sooraj R. Barjatya's niche of film making revolving around familial ties and Indian customs and traditions. The movie successfully reintroduces the beautiful concept of arranged marriages to the young generation, becoming, in fact, one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Moreover, the soundtrack composed by Ravindra Jain, adds to the allure of the film. The songs are thematically integrated into the plot and resonate beautifully with the storyline, thereby making for a heartwarming and engaging cinematic experience. The costumes and set design also deserve a mention, being true to the characters and their environment, and replicating the grandeur of Indian marriages with perfection.

Nonetheless, Vivah may seem a tad too idealistic and traditional to appeal to everyone’s taste. The characters in the film have an uncanny perfection and innocence about them which is rare to experience in today's time. The movie is undeniably a moral tale told in an unapologetically melodramatic vein. However, if you can tune into its slow and gentle rhythm, Vivah is an emotional family drama, sprinkled with culture-centric humour, and filled with poignant moments that will pull at your heartstrings.

Undeniably, Vivah successfully makes a case for revisiting Indian traditions and virtues while providing an engaging romantic plot that evolves gradually but beautifully, capturing both the charm and challenges that come with arranged marriage.

Whether you're a fan of romantic movies or just looking for a film that beautifully portrays Indian customs and traditions, Vivah is a must-watch for its tender love story, impressive performances, and culturally immersive narrative.