Our society has been witnessing ‘#honourkillings’ for the longest time. Despite strict laws and stern court rulings nothing seems to have changed. The mind set around the upper caste and lower caste has been the reason. Then there are interfaith marriages which too are threatened by these ‘honour killers’. ‘#LoveHostel’ is a film which has a similar premise and is set in #NorthIndianHaryana. The politics and the social stigma prevalent in that region has been highlighted through a story which revolves around Hindu-Muslim marriage.
Ahmed (Vikrant Massey) and Jyoti (Sanya Malhotra) are in love and as there parents are against it they decide to elope and get married. Jyoti’s grandmother is an MLA, Kamala Dilawar (Swaroopa Ghosh), and a traditionalist. The lurking fear of they being separated by family force Jyoti records a video message announcing their marriage and also pointing out that if any untoward thing happens to them, then her grandmother should be held responsible. The uncompromising MLA hires a menacing contract killer Dagar (Bobby Deol) as she wants her granddaughter buried in their yard. This gun toting Dagar kills anybody passing his path and starts hunting for Ahmed-Jyoti. In the meanwhile the married couple has been given protection by the court and are sent to a government safe house called ‘Love Hostel’. What transpires next and in between is the crux of the storyline.
The story written by Shanker Raman, Mehak Jamal, and Yogi Singha has similarities, with No Country for Old Men, in parts. Though the runtime of the film is limited to 90 minutes, the story seems unbaked. The screenplay of this thin plot doesn’t indulge in developing each character suitably which harms the outcome of the movie. The bodies falling down as the bullets fly unreasonably seems unnecessary. Despite this the action scenes are well choreographed. Director Shanker Raman who has shown promise with his earlier Gurgaon looks out of place here in Love Hostel. Vivek Shah’s cinematography makes the film watchable. Vikrant Massey shows his regular finesse in portraying Ahmed. Sanya Malhotra has done a good job and doesn’t go overboard. Bobby Deol’s job is to look menacing which he does with the help of make up and plays the emotionless killer adequately.
Love Hostel tries to open eyes of the society which flourishes on prejudices.
Rating : **1/2
