Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri features Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, and Jackie Shroff, directed by Sameer Vidwans, with a rating of 2 stars.
Shakespeare allowed Romeo and Juliet just five days to explore 'eternal love' amidst a family conflict. In contrast, Rumi and Ray enjoy a ten-day vacation in Croatia in the story Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. ( Calling it T4M4 here on....)
Despite having twice the duration and reduced stakes, the main romance is as lackluster as a pre-packaged airline salad.
Sameer Vidwans' most recent film as a director was SatyaPrem Ki Katha in 2023, featuring Kartik Aaryan once more alongside writer Karan Shrikant Sharma, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The movie explored a heartfelt story of two individuals discovering love while dealing with unforeseen situations.
What is the plot of T4M4 ?
T4M4 by Sameer starts with the clichéd encounter of the main characters, Ray (Kartik) and Rumi (Ananya). Rumi is a published author struggling to attract readers, while Ray works as a wedding planner. Their paths cross on a journey to Croatia, and the visually captivating first hour focuses on their blossoming romance. However, a dilemma arises: Rumi is reluctant to leave her elderly father (Jackie Shroff), a former Army officer, alone in Agra to move to the US with Ray after their marriage. The rest of the film unfolds from this point.
Initially, things seem awkward due to the lack of convincing chemistry between the main couple.
The initial hour is brisk, yet it lacks significant plot development. Rumi's aspiration to discover love in the modern 'hookup' culture seems superficial, as it's unclear when love actually develops between the pair. Kartik is charming, showcasing his playful side to endear his character to the audience. However, a love story needs two people, not just one. Ananya appears to have difficulty with both emotional and romantic scenes.
With the main characters offering limited engagement, attention shifts to the periphery of the story for vitality. The latter part of the film gains momentum through humor and engaging performances, thanks to seasoned actors like Jackie Shroff (playing Rumi's father) and Neena Gupta (portraying Ray’s mother), who add depth to the narrative. Sapna Sand as Renu also plays a role in enhancing a notably humorous scene. In fact, it could be argued that Kartik has a stronger on-screen rapport with Jackie than with Ananya.
What problem was faced?
The main theme of T4M4, aside from emphasizing the importance of loving your family, is encapsulated in Ray's repeated line: 'A man who doesn't make sacrifices for the woman he loves isn't truly a man.' However, the resolution, Ray agreeing to live in his wife's home after marriage is hastily addressed in the last fifteen minutes. The latter part of the story would have been more engaging if it had concentrated on Ray adapting to this new lifestyle, instead of treating the conclusion as an afterthought. Additionally, the idea of 'ghar jamaais' has been around forever.
Unfortunately, we need to evaluate a movie based on its actual content rather than its potential. From a technical perspective, the score by Vishal-Sheykhar fails to deliver the required energy. For example, Lucky Ali's song leaves no impression and merely slows down an already lethargic first half when the story urgently requires liveliness.
In essence, T4M4 is like a picturesque postcard that lacks any inscription on the reverse side. While the presence of seasoned actors may entice you to linger, you'll depart still yearning for the affection that the title suggested.