Finally got a chance to watch this. This movie is available on Netflix and has four stories.
- The one by Anurag Kashyap
The first story stars Radhika Apte and Akash Thosar. Akash was in Sairat, which I watched recently. In this movie, he looked much cuter.
Imagine a life where you get commitment from a husband who loves you “selflessly”. Yet, you get to “explore” with other guys. Separate the two. After all, you can’t find everything in one guy – stability, commitment, sexual compatibility. The husband has no objections rather encourages the wife to have fun. Sounds like some fantasy!
Well No! Human nature is complicated. Jealousy, possessiveness, mood swings, longing for love in a hook-up! Fantasy does not really turn into reality and who better to show us this than Radhika Apte as Kalindi.
Kalindi is initially relatable. Then she becomes too crazy for me to accept as a real person. But she is definitely fun to watch. The beauty of this movie is that they are not trying to show her as good or bad. She just is! Confused! Flawed! Selfish! Moody! She wants to explore but has no idea how to deal with the consequences. In fact, she has no idea how she will feel the next moment.
- The one by Zoya Akhtar
We see a couple going at it. Within few seconds the girl squats on the floor, lifts her salwar to her knees and starts mopping the floor. She is the maid sleeping with the employer.
I admire Bhumi since her first movie. But I feel with every movie she just gets better and better. In this movie, she hardly has any dialogues. We see her going about her daily routine, scrubbing the floor, preparing tea, serving snacks all the while emoting with her eyes.
In one scene, the employer’s mother tells the maid (Sudha) , ‘Bhaiya ki shadi pakki ho gayi hai tumko bhi bahut badhai.” It made me smile.
Bhaiya. Bhabhi. This is how we address people in this country. The society has created the most appropriate way to clarify that it is a ‘clean’ relationship.
People still do what they have to do…
- The one by Dibakar Banerjee
This one was slow-paced and a bit boring in the beginning. It was a delight to watch Manisha Koirala, though after such a long time. She has grace!
Reena is having an affair with her husband’s friend. Why? “Main tumse chidh jati hoon yaar,” She tells her husband honestly.
She is not afraid of divorcing her husband. What about her children?
“Jaise baki divorce ke baad bachhe palte hain, mere bhi pal jayenge.”
The best part of this story is that Reena never considers herself a victim. In fact, I felt both the men did not match up to her.
- The one by Karan Johar
The story has a different tone from the rest of the movie. It is loud and cliched. What can we expect from Karan Johar!
Rekha (Neha Dhupia) is a character made only for entertainment, entertainment, entertainment with zero credibility. Her clothes are too flamboyant for a school librarian. Or for anywhere. In fact, her character is the most thoughtless character in this otherwise refreshing movie. She uses a vibrator in the school library, and then refers to it as a “pati” because it satisfies her. This was right after she declares that men are useless when it comes to satisfying women!!
But she is not the central character in the story. It is her friend, Megha who has an arranged marriage with Paras. Paras is none other than Vicky Kaushal from Raazi. I had liked him a lot in that movie, and this is a completely different role which he has carried out very well.
Megha is not sure if she should marry Paras. She tells her mother that she never studied in a co-ed school. She was never even allowed to go out with a boy and have ice-cream.
“Isliye to kehti hoon kar lo shadi. Fir jitna man ice-cream khate rehna.” Her mother replies.
But what if this ice-cream which you were forbidden to have all your life, for which you waited so desperately, the one which you have to have for the rest of your life leaves a lot to be desired?
Paras plays the average husband very well. Loving, sweet, and hopeless in bed. He is so clueless that he happily tells his wife in one scene, “Tum bhi to bahut maze leti ho. Maine dekha hai!”
Kab? The wife wanted to ask, and do did I.
Overall, it is an interesting mix. Pretty good for a Netflix watch!
Netflix original ‘Lust Stories’, Instagram (karanjohar)