Top 7 romance movies if you loved The Idea of You

The Prime Video original rom-com The Idea of You starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine has caught the internet in its mesh of complicated romance. Despite its familiar territory, the film’s exploration of love and age gaps adds layers of both challenge and delight. It's a refreshing reminder that cinema has long been a platform for navigating the intricacies of relationships. So why not give it a chance? With plenty of insights to glean, there's something for everyone to take away from this engaging tale of coming-of-age and love. And with this, we present to you a list of more such films that will help refresh your memory and even take it up a notch.

Lost in Translation

Did you know that Sofia Coppola's 2003 film Lost in Translation is inspired by her own marital struggles with Spike Jonze? The film portrays Scarlett Johansson's character, Charlotte forming a unique bond with Bill Murray's Bob Harris, a fading middle-aged movie star in Tokyo, while her photographer boyfriend indulges in flirtations with a Hollywood actress. Against the backdrop of cultural displacement, the characters form a unique bond, defying conventional romance. Coppola's direction captures the essence of alienation and connection amidst Tokyo's vibrant chaos. With a modest budget and improvised filming, the film garnered critical acclaim, earning Coppola an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Streaming on JioCinema.  

Carol

Carol is a 2015 romance film directed by Todd Haynes, based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Price of Salt. Set in 1950s New York City, it follows the forbidden love affair between an aspiring female photographer and an older woman going through a tough divorce. Despite facing challenges in development, including financing and scheduling conflicts, the film was shot on Super 16 mm film in Cincinnati, Ohio. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, Carol received critical acclaim for Haynes's direction and the performances by lead stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. It garnered numerous awards and nominations, becoming one of the best-reviewed films of the year and earning praise for its portrayal of queer themes. Streaming on Lionsgate

The Lunchbox

The Lunchbox is a 2013 drama by Ritesh Batra, featuring Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur. Produced internationally, it garnered critical acclaim and won the Grand Rail d'Or at Cannes. The story revolves around a mistaken lunch delivery connecting a lonely widower played by Khan and a neglected young housewife played by Kaur, leading to an unexpected friendship. The film's success marked it as one of Khan's highest-grossing Hindi films and earned it a nomination at the British Academy Film Awards. Premiering at Cannes and later at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Lunchbox captivated audiences with its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances. Available for rentals - Amazon Prime Video

Nishabd

Nishabd is a 2007 Indian drama directed by Ram Gopal Varma, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jiah Khan. Inspired by American Beauty and Anokha Rishta, it follows Vijay Anand, a man in his sixties played by Bachchan, a photographer, whose life takes a tumultuous turn when he develops feelings for his daughter's friend, Jia played by Khan. Their innocent interactions escalate, leading to a shattering revelation witnessed by Vijay's family. The film challenges traditional views and successfully unravels the complexities of love and romance. Kusum Punjabi's screenplay and Amrik Gill's dialogues are crafted with precision and care, steering clear of any discomfort or voyeurism, and ensuring a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the film’s themes. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

Cheeni Kum

Cheeni Kum, a rom-com directed by R. Balki, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Zohra Sehgal, and Swini Khara, follows Buddhadev Gupta, a 64-year-old chef and owner of London's Spice 6 restaurant, who falls in love with Nina Verma, a 34-year-old independent woman, but faces opposition from her Gandhian father due to their age gap. It Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and Leicester Square in May 2007, and hit theatres on May 25, 2007. Critics praised its direction, story, screenplay, dialogues, soundtrack, and performances, not to mention that Tabu’s award-winning for her role. Streaming on ZEE5

Dil Chahta Hai

Dil Chahta Hai is a 2001 Indian comedy-drama marking Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut. It revolves around the romantic endeavours of three college-graduate friends portrayed by Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai and New York City, the film explores their transition into adulthood and the complexities of their relationships with three women played by Preity Zinta, Sonali Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia. One of the romantic subplots involves a relationship between a young man and an older woman. Despite moderate initial box office performance, it gained widespread acclaim for its fresh storyline, direction, soundtrack, and realistic portrayal of modern Indian youth. It received numerous awards, including Best Feature Film in Hindi at the National Film Awards. Streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

The Reader

The Reader is a 2008 German-American romantic drama directed by Stephen Daldry and based on Bernhard Schlink's novel. Starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, and David Kross, it follows Michael Berg, who, as a teenager in 1958, has an affair with an older woman, Hanna Schmitz. Years later, Hanna faces trial for war crimes as a Nazi guard, and Michael discovers her darkest secret. Despite the film courting controversy for its alleged glorification of a Nazi war criminal, Winslet won numerous awards for her portrayal of Hanna, while the film received mixed reviews for its handling of sensitive themes. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

That's all for this episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

Written by Apurva Dutta

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