Biye Bibhrat review: Parambrata Chatterjee and Abir Chatterjee’s sizzling bromance spices up the rom-com

3/5

Story: Investment banker-YouTube sensation Shakyajit Som (Abir Chatterjee) agrees to an arranged marriage after his mother’s (Sudipa Basu) persuasion. After visiting a number of probable brides’, he likes Mohor (Lahoma Bhattacharya) – an interior decorator. As soon as they and their families get ready for the wedding, Shakya receives a cryptic letter blaming Mohor to be a witch. Mohor’s past relationship with her music teacher Chandramouli Hajra (Parambrata Chatterjee) surfaces. Shakyajit – a smart and confident young man from Kolkata, meets Chandramouli – a coy boy from Burdwan, and ends up in a mess. In the process, Raja Chanda’s film gives us enough reasons to laugh.

Review: The film is an outright comedy that banks on the old Bengali adage: Lakh kotha chara biye hoye na (A marriage isn’t complete without one million conversations). The film is light-hearted and does not remotely try to teach any social or moral lessons. That brings a whiff of fresh air to the genre. Meanwhile, the film steadily progresses on the sizzling chemistry between two seasoned actors – Abir and Parambrata.

It is their brimance that you will want to savour theorughout the film. The charm begins with the entry of Chandamouli. More than Abir and Parambrata’s romance with the heroine, it is the interpersonal on-screen dynamics of these two actors that entertain us the most. Both Abir and Parambrata look dishy in the film. They plot, practice, try, fail, and fight, and leave the audience in splits.

Abir’s character is smart and eloquent and the actor fits perfectly well to the character. Shakya wears his street smartness lightly and secretly savours his celebrityhood. He knows it all and does not shy away from flaunting it. Chandramouli, on the other hand, suffers from an inferiority complex. He hails from a small town and has raw memories of difficult dynamics with his father. And as a result, he has turned into an introverted man who constantly suffers from a lack of confidence. Parambrata brings life to this unsmart character. Chandramouli’s life is sad but it is the script and the actor’s prowess that makes this simpleton music teacher humorous.

This is Lahoma’s second film and she looks striking and convincing as Mohor in most parts. However, there is still room for improvement. Sudipa Basu is fantastic as a typical South Kolkata mother of a Bangali boy. Her character is also very nicely written. She understands but doesn’t usually impose. Two more characters -- Rohit Mukherjee as Mohor's father and Chandramouli's rommate -- steal the show steal the show despite their limited presence.

The problem with the film is it is cliched. The characters and their problems are well-explored in popular culture. It doesn’t offer any striking newness in its plot or execution and as a result, it ends up being predictable. Also, the film has a handful of characters and locations, and hence, the crisis doesn’t engage the audience leaving the film just a one-time watch.

Meanwhile, The film is dotted with beautiful songs. Ranajoy Bhattacharjee has created a soothing album. Arijit Singh’s Jiya Tui Chara is already a hit. Besides, Ghono Megher Elokeshe and other songs are also beautiful.

Verdict: Biye Bibhrat captures the archetypical middle-class Bangaliana to the fullest and lightly seasons it with modern sensibilities. It delivers what it promises – an unapologetic light-hearted romantic comedy with a simple plotline and unputdownable chemistry between two leading actors – Abir and Parambrata. Watch it for them.