Ti Sadhya Kay Karte review: Don't miss this light, breezy film

Film: Ti Saddhya Kay Karte

He is scared of a dog in the housing colony, she coolly walks up to him and pets him. She tells him you can be friends with dogs quickly, and that there’s no need to be scared. This scene in Ti Saddhya Kay Karte is just another defining moment in young Anurag’s mind, as he falls in love for the first time. He has been stealing glances at Tanvi since she moved into the neighbourhood. Anurag’s idea of love is inspired by Maine Pyar Kiya and Phool Aur Kaante, just like it was the case with several kids in the '90s. 

Ti Saddhya Kay Karte is a coming of age film which tracks the friendship of Anurag and Tanvi as school children, as adolescents and now as adults. As the narrator, Anurag makes his love life a deeply personal experience for those watching him on screen. You root for him and his innocence. Director Satish Rajwade manages to keep the interest alive throughout as he juggles the three important phases of Anurag’s life. 

Using some smart editing (not flawless), Rajwade’s story comes to life as a breezy romance drama, tempered with a pinch of humour and many, many heart-warming moments. Among those is one where a young Anurag, while watching Maine Pyar Kiya on their newly-bought colour TV, asks his mother, “Why didn’t you name me Prem?” At another time Anurag is caught riding pillion on his friend’s bicycle, standing at the back, arms stretched out. When an angry neighbour reprimands them, the group of boys’ excuse is: Anurag was showing us how Ajay Devgn does the split in Phool Aur Kaante. 

Actors Hruditya Rajwade and Nirmohi Agnihotri as young Anurag and Tanvi are adorable with their expressions, silly smiles and natural acting. Abhinay Berde and playback singer Aarya Ambekar make their acting debut with Ti Saddhya Kay Karte as teenage Anurag and Tanvi. Both have a good screen presence, and feed off each other’s restrained energies to give a respectable performance. We’d like to see them in more challenging roles soon. Ankush Chaudhari and Tejashri Pradhan play guarded adults convincingly — awkward silences, uncomfortable smiles, unexpressed feelings and general adult issues of vulnerability. Urmila Kanitkar-Kothare as Anurag’s wife has a small but memorable role. She lights up the screen every time she appears.

The makers keep the essence of the '90s intact — hopscotch, cycling, playing in the building compound, dance practices for building functions, landline phone locks. Screenplay and dialogue writer Manaswini Lata Ravindra has managed to weave these memories effortlessly into the script, while Rajwade executes them nicely, taking you on a trip down memory lane. The editing could have been tighter, as the film feels like a drag towards the end. Even though the music is pleasant, some songs could be done away it. Avinash-Vishwjeet’s background score ranges from peppy to haunting, especially in the emotional scenes. The duo manage to keep up with the varied moods of Anurag as he goes through the grind.

Rajwade aptly shows Anurag’s fickle nature and mind, without ever trivialising his feelings. Making peace with the past to save precious friendships is among the many lessons Rajwade gives out in a mature climax. The humour is a nice touch for a story which could, in today’s times, be considered as a one-sided, chauvinistic tale of a man who doesn’t care if his romantic feelings will be reciprocated. With the ongoing debate about consent, parts of TSKK seem like those '90s movies that propagated stalking at a time the term wasn’t tossed around as much as it is now. The good girl vs high maintenance girl distinctions are also a bit unfair, and sometimes offensive.

Also, the narrator gives away too many details, not leaving anything to the audience’s imagination. It’s like watching CID, where we see Daya breaking down a door and ACP Pradyuman announcing: “Daya ne darwaza todd diya, chalo andar jaate hai.”

All said and done, these negatives don’t take away from this gem of a film as an enjoyable, breezy ride. Don’t miss it.

Reviewed by Blessy Chettiar