Review: Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari – A Reasonably Entertaining Criss-Cross Love Story

Writer-director #ShashankKhaitan seems to have a fondness for criss-cross love stories. After Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, he now brings Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, which once again follows the same narrative trend. This film is reasonably entertaining and attempts to deliver a social message: no one should be forced to sacrifice love due to family pressure.

The story revolves around Sunny (#VarunDhawan), who is all set to propose to his girlfriend Ananya (#SanyaMalhotra). However, Ananya breaks up with him because her parents want her to marry Vikram (#RohitSaraf), a wealthy suitor. Vikram, in turn, walks away from his 12-year-long relationship with Tulsi (#JanhviKapoor) since his parents disapprove of her as their daughter-in-law. Heartbroken, Sunny and Tulsi join forces to gatecrash Vikram and Ananya’s wedding in an attempt to stop it. What follows forms the crux of the story.

The narrative and screenplay often defy logic, with reason seemingly drowned somewhere in the lakes of Udaipur but the director has used flasbacks effectively. While a few witty one-liners land well, the film could have used more of them. The production values are lavish, giving the film a glossy appeal, and the cinematography is excellent. However, tighter editing could have made the film crisper and more impactful. The first half is engaging, but the second half gets tangled in too many subplots, diluting the impact.

Varun Dhawan delivers a delightful performance, infusing energy into his scenes with his impeccable comic timing, witty one-liners, and shayari. Janhvi Kapoor looks stunning and sensuous while offering a nuanced performance. Sanya Malhotra shines despite having a half-baked role, and Rohit Saraf lends solid support while also looking charming on screen. Maniesh Paul entertains with his sharp wisecracks, while the rest of the cast also performs well.

Overall, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is a glossy rom-com with its share of highs and lows. It’s a reasonably entertaining one-time watch.

Rating: ***

By Keerti Kadam