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| Shuddh Desi Romance | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Maneesh Sharma |
| Written by | Jaideep Sahni |
| Produced by | Aditya Chopra |
| Starring | Sushant Singh Rajput Parineeti Chopra Vaani Kapoor |
| Cinematography | Manu Anand |
| Edited by | Namrata Rao |
| Music by | Sachin–Jigar |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 141 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | est.₹22crore[1][2] |
| Box office | est.₹76 crore[3] |
Shuddh Desi Romance, released internationally asA Pure Desi Romance, is a 2013 IndianHindi-languageromanticcomedy-drama film directed byManeesh Sharma and produced byAditya Chopra under theYash Raj Films banner. It starsSushant Singh Rajput,Parineeti Chopra, andVaani Kapoor, withRishi Kapoor in a supporting role. Set inJaipur,Rajasthan, the film explores contemporary themes of commitment,live-in relationships, and the contrast betweenarranged andlove marriages in small-town India. The film marked Kapoor's acting debut.
The film premiered in the Gala Presentation section of the2013 Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically on 6 September 2013.[4] It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the lead cast and the film's treatment of unconventional themes. Made on a budget of ₹22 crore (US$2.7 million), it earned approximately ₹76 crore (US$9.1 million) worldwide during its theatrical run and was declared a hit byBox Office India.[5]
At the59th Filmfare Awards,Shuddh Desi Romance received five nominations, includingBest Actress (Chopra) andBest Story (Sahni), and wonBest Female Debut (Vaani Kapoor).
Raghu Ram, atourist guide inJaipur, supplements his income by working as a rentedbaraati for Goyal, a localwedding planner. Nervous about his impendingarranged marriage, Raghu travels to the venue accompanied by a hired wedding procession, which includes Gayatri, a spirited and independent woman. During the journey, Raghu and Gayatri share a spontaneous kiss, prompting Raghu to flee his wedding before the ceremony.
Weeks later, Raghu and Gayatri reconnect, begin dating, and eventually start living together. Due tosocietal stigma aroundlive-in relationships in small-town India, they pretend to be siblings to avoid suspicion. Their relationship faces interference from a nosy neighbor, but they overcome the misunderstanding and decide to get married. However, on the day of the wedding, Gayatri abandons Raghu, leaving him heartbroken.
Later, Raghu reconnects with Tara, the woman he was originally supposed to marry. They begin spending time together, and Raghu plans to propose. However, at a wedding they attend, he unexpectedly reunites with Gayatri. Assigned to pick up the wedding priest together, they share a tense car ride during which Gayatri attempts to reconcile. That evening, Tara and Gayatri meet at dinner, where Tara reveals she has invited Gayatri. When Tara discovers Raghu and Gayatri embracing, she quietly exits, realizing she no longer harbors feelings for him.
Encouraged by Goyal, Raghu and Gayatri decide to marry once more. On their wedding night, however, they both attempt to escape. Encountering each other at the gate, they realize that while they love each other, they are not ready for marriage. The film ends with the couple resuming their live-in relationship on mutual terms.
The screenplay forShuddh Desi Romance was written byJaideep Sahni, known for his work on films such asCompany (2002),Bunty Aur Babli (2005),Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006) andChak De! India (2007). Set inJaipur,Rajasthan, the film aimed to contrast traditional values with emerging modern perspectives in smaller Indian cities. The location was chosen to highlight how conservative social norms coexist with evolving attitudes toward love, relationships, and marriage in semi-urban India.[6]
Principal photography took place largely in and around Jaipur. The song "Shuddh Desi Romance" was filmed atMehrangarh Fort and in the streets and palaces ofJodhpur, Rajasthan.[7] Choreography for the musical sequences was handled byGanesh Acharya.[8]
| Shuddh Desi Romance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 19 August 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack,Rajasthani folk,bossa,techno | |||
| Length | 23:56 | |||
| Label | YRF Music | |||
| Producer | Aditya Chopra | |||
| Sachin–Jigar chronology | ||||
| ||||
The film's soundtrack was composed by Sachin–Jigar, with lyrics written byJaideep Sahni. Released on 19 August 2013 by YRF Music, the album features four vocal tracks alongside several instrumental pieces. The music is noted for its incorporation ofRajasthani folk elements blended withbossa nova andtechno influences.
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tere Mere Beech Mein" | Sunidhi Chauhan,Mohit Chauhan | 4:12 |
| 2. | "Gulabi" | Jigar Saraiya, Priya Saraiya | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Chanchal Mann Ati Random" | Divya Kumar | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Shuddh Desi Romance" | Benny Dayal,Shalmali Kholgade | 3:06 |
| 5. | "Mujhe Kiss Kar Sakte Ho" | Sachin–Jigar | 2:21 |
| 6. | "Love in Jaipur" | Sachin–Jigar | 2:04 |
| 7. | "Tez Waala Attraction" | Sachin–Jigar | 1:31 |
| 8. | "Boyfriend Banogey" | Sachin–Jigar | 1:40 |
| 9. | "So Remember" | Sachin–Jigar | 1:16 |
| Total length: | 23:56 | ||
Yash Raj Films began promotions forShuddh Desi Romance with the unveiling of its poster and digital motion poster on 17 June 2013.[9] Thetheatrical trailer was launched atJaipur'sRaj Mandir Cinema to reflect the film's setting and themes.[10] On 1 August 2013, the song "Gulabi" was launched at a media event, whereSushant Singh Rajput formally introduced debutanteVaani Kapoor.[11] The title track "Shuddh Desi Romance" was released on 18 August 2013.[12]
The cast—Rajput,Parineeti Chopra, and Kapoor—promoted the film through appearances on television shows such asComedy Nights with Kapil,DID Super Moms, andJhalak Dikhhla Jaa, where Rajput performed withMadhuri Dixit. Additionally, the core team, including directorManeesh Sharma and writerJaideep Sahni, participated in a discussion hosted byThe Indian Express as part of aScreen Preview session to explore the film's themes and development.[13]
Shuddh Desi Romance was released on 6 September 2013. It was mainly a multiplex release on approximately 1100 screens.[14] Ateaser trailer ofDhoom 3 was attached to the prints.[15] It has an investment of₹250 million (US$3.0 million) including marketing and release costs.[1][2][16]
In India,Shuddh Desi Romance opened to strong numbers, grossing ₹295 million (US$3.5 million) in its first five days.[17] It netted ₹362.7 million by the end of its first week.[1][18] The second weekend saw a drop, with a ten-day total of ₹420 million.[19] The film earned ₹85.8 million in its second week, bringing the two-week total to ₹450 million.[20][21] By the end of its third week, the film's domestic net total stood at approximately ₹463 million (US$5.5 million).[1]
Internationally, the film earned US$1.08 million (₹70.4 million) during its opening weekend.[22][23] It collected US$1.7 million in its first ten days and surpassed US$2 million by the end of its third week.[24][25][26]
Shuddh Desi Romance received generally positive reviews, particularly for the performances ofParineeti Chopra,Sushant Singh Rajput, andVaani Kapoor.
In India,Taran Adarsh ofBollywood Hungama rated the film 3.5 out of 5 and noted that it "caters to and reflects the mindset of a lot of youth in modern society."[27]Rajeev Masand ofCNN-IBN also gave 3.5 stars, writing that it "reinvents the wheel as far as Bollywood rom-coms go" and praising its non-formulaic characters.[28]DNA's Tushar Joshi described it as "refreshing, breezy, and engaging."[29] Mohar Basu ofKoimoi gave it 3.5 stars, calling it "a heartfelt, true take on real contemporary relationships."[30]Sukanya Verma ofRediff.com echoed that sentiment and praised its pacing.[31]
Khalid Mohamed ofDeccan Chronicle rated it 3 stars, complimenting Chopra's performance and the film’s first half.[32]Anupama Chopra ofHindustan Times awarded 4 stars, stating it "is a dose of adrenaline," though she noted it loses steam in the second half.[33]The Times of India gave it 3 stars, calling it "engaging" but critiquing the plot as "confused."[34] Rachit Gupta ofFilmfare called the film "crazy, witty, and soulful."[35]
Not all reviews were entirely favorable. Reshma Sengar ofZee News gave it 2.5 stars, stating it was vibrant but "a onetime watch."[36]
Overseas, Mohammad Kamran Jawaid ofDawn praised the film's innovation and technical aspects but critiqued its portrayal of relationships as lacking alignment with South Asian family values.[37]
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