Half Girlfriend Movie Review : The movie is rather insipid and shallow.

The film, based on Chetan Bhagat's novel by the same name,  is about a young man, Madhav Jha (Arjun Kapoor) who can't speak English and who gets obsessed by a English speaking girl, Riya (Shraddha Kapoor) who belongs to the 'high society' 

 

Jha is supposedly a bright student and an champ in basketball court, but all he does through most of the movie is stalk, try to possess and seduce Riya. Riya is clearly interested in him, but he is obviously too duh to get the message. He tries bedding her to 'test' her love and that's when things start going downhill, not only in Madhav's emotional status but the movie as a whole. 

 

Mohit Suri's direction is unimaginative and follows the book almost to the tee. So it comes as no surprise that the movie is rather insipid and shallow.

For starters, one doesn't relate to Jha's never ending trauma as he is so obsessed with the idea of having English speaking Riya as his 'full girlfriend', that he willingly throws away opportunities like an in campus interview and an opportunity to work with the UN. He kind of deserves what he gets and so no sympathy gets wasted there. And his single hardworking mother (played by Seema Biswas) definitely doesn't deserve a son like that. 

 

Blame it on weak characterisaton or limited acting skills, but the lead actors don't impress. Arjun is definitely earnest, but Shraddha is disappointing. In fact, actors like Vikrant Massey and Rhea Chakrabrorthy in supporting roles, give far more convincing performances. 

 

One hoped that a supposedly light hearted film of this kind at least came with loads of humour. Unfortunately that was missing too. 

 

Stars : One and half