Marriage is often the culmination of a perfect romance. An arranged marriage however, is the beginning of an anticipated romance.
Two individuals: Abhay Sachdeva and Ritika Khanna. Strangers, but for a sole meeting. On the fringes of familiarity but with their destinies firmly entwined forever. Married to each other yet outsiders together on their honeymoon.
Far away in Ooty, 290 kms from home in Bangalore, Abhay and Ritika begin their journey as husband and wife on their 5 day honeymoon. Along the way they chance upon several people—some couples, some individuals, some believers in the institution of marriage and the romance of togetherness, some non-believers. Abhay and Ritika have never held hands, never walked together in the rain, never romanced each other and yet, as per ritual, they have to spend 5 days together in one room, with one bed, as husband and wife, in a situation where they are expected to love each other and become lovers.
Just Married is a movie that starts where most others end. It is a film set amidst middle class India where romance and love start at the ultimate commitment-marriage.
Never has a love story been so unlike any other!
Getting into this film was much like an arranged marriage. This was my first time with PNC, my first time with all the actors in the film and we were off to Ooty for a non-stop start-to-finish schedule! I was a nervous bride. One day at a time, one step at a time was the only way…
An ensemble cast was like meeting the in-laws for the first time… but they all stepped up to their tasks, which really helped me do mine.
Sachin, our Director of Photography was like sight for me–even enhancing my imagination several times. Pritam’s unique sense of music has given the soundtrack a distinct attitude and energy. Gulzar saab has yet again been an extremely patient father and lyricist and has penned adorable songs, matching word for beat.
The climax of Just Married was a creative and logistical challenge but our Action Director, Allan Amin, kept it together and yet made it look like everything was collapsing!
Team PNC, my anchor and foundation–standing rock-solid to realize my vision and this film, exactly the way we had decided to make it. And what a roller-coaster ride it was! Full of moments, big and small–of uncertainty, of intense anger, tremendous patience and joy–and most importantly, of co-operation and teamwork.
Just Married too, is a kaleidoscope of tender, intimate moments that occur in most people’s lives–some so simple that we rarely even notice them–but they weave an unforgettable love story.
I hope you live these moments as they play out before you. Maybe this could be your beginning?
Meghna Gulzar
And they lived happily ever after….
I love happy endings. In fact, I insist on them. And when that’s not possible, I spend days fretting about how to make them happen. Yes, life may not always offer happy endings. But cinema must. Otherwise, why will we ever escape life to go watch a movie?
The nicest thing about this movie by Meghna Gulzar, one of my favourite film makers, is that it challenges my theory. It actually begins with a happy ending. Two people—clever, young, happy and otherwise successful—get married. But the problem is: They don’t even know each other. Thousands of such arranged marriages still take place every year, no, not just in rural or small town India but all over modern metropolitan India where hip, young, today’s people celebrate their independence from archaic traditions and old fashioned values. Yet they succumb to the pressures of an arranged marriage. And now these two people have to learn how to live with each other. They have to set aside their own identities and discover each other, emotionally, intellectually, sexually.
And thus begins a new journey…
That’s what this film is about. A magic, week long honeymoon in the picturesque Ooty hills where two young people are thrown together, both trying desperately hard to make their marriage, their relationship work. Will they succeed? Will the other couples in the hotel show them the way or will they too go through their own relationship traumas, further confounding the newly weds? What happens when a terrible crisis hits them all?
Yes, Just Married is the ultimate relationship film. If you are young or not so young but still somewhat confused about where your relationship is going or could go, watch this movie… You will love it. Who knows? You may even identify with it.
Pritish Nandy
flying cursor