Ankita Naskar
A Sweet Story That Leaves You Wanting More
Satyaprem Ki Katha is a light-hearted romantic comedy that provides a refreshing break from the usual action-packed Bollywood films. Starring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, this film shows promise to be an entertaining watch based on its trailer and promotions.
The film follows Satyaprem, aka Sattu (Kartik Aaryan), an unemployed and failed law student with few friends who falls instantly and hopelessly in love with Katha (Kiara Advani), an ambitious singer from a wealthy Gujarati family. Though Sattu envisioned a simple and straightforward love story, reality soon threatens to complicate matters. Sattu’s life may not be ideal, but his ever-present smile and optimistic attitude help him navigate through difficulties. His lone friend and supporter is his father (Gajraj Rao), who urges him to pursue Katha despite learning that she has a wealthy lover.
When Sattu learns that Katha’s relationship has ended, he confesses his love to her. This opens a new chapter in his one-sided love story, as Katha is hiding a big secret. The plot takes an unexpected turn, as the film aims to deliver a strong message rather than just comedic entertainment. While the screenplay drags at times with repetitive conflicts and scenes that do not utilise the talents well, the narrative is poignant and thought-provoking.
At just under 2 and a half hours, Satyaprem Ki Katha tells a simple yet heartwarming love story with wit and charm. The writer, Karan Shrikant Sharma, has crafted a script that does not bamboozle the audience with convoluted dialogue or overstated Gujarati phrases. Although the characters employ a generous amount of Gujarati vocabulary and accent, it seamlessly injects humour and cleverness into the repartees. Ayananka Bose’s cinematography compliments the storyline, while neat editing keeps the plot moving at a decent pace.
Kartik Aaryan delivers a sweet and vulnerable performance as Sattu, effortlessly blending comedy and drama. The emotional scenes show his range, and he cleverly inserts a reference to his iconic Punchnama monologue. But it is Kiara Ali Advani who truly steals the show, portraying a character with layers, from a confident dreamer to a vulnerable lover. Together, Kartik and Kiara have a pleasing onscreen chemistry.
Gajraj Rao, who plays Sattu’s father, successfully portrays an intriguing and multi-layered character in the supporting cast. Supriya Pathak, who plays Sattu’s mother, doesn’t get much screen time for the majority of the movie, but she and her son share a touching moment in which they discuss how to preserve a marriage. However, Shikha Talsania and Rajpal Yadav are largely wasted in underwritten roles.
There are some scenes in Satyaprem Ki Katha that evoke nostalgia for the simple love stories of the 80s and 90s. Within the first 20 minutes, the mood is set with Kartik’s powerful hero entry and a peppy song, followed by Kiara’s gorgeous dance in another upbeat number. The music and lively song sequences set the perfect tone from the beginning, providing much-needed levity, and the director infuses enough depth into the simple story to keep it engaging.
Final Verdict
Overall, Satyaprem Ki Katha is a sweet romantic film with a message that aims to make you think. Kartik and Kiara’s charming lead performances, coupled with well-written humour and emotional scenes, make it a worthwhile watch for romance seekers and families alike.
