Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar are just the common people you find next door in Toilet – Ek Prem Katha

By Joginder Tuteja -

June 11, 2017 - 5:39 PM IST

'When you hear the voice of the common man and then speak their language, there is bound to be good connect'

Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar are just the common people you find next door in Toilet – Ek Prem Katha

Well, this is exactly what happens in case of Toilet - Ek Prem Katha that is as close to being a common man as Akshay Kumar has ever got to play in a career that has seen over 120 odd films. If this year's Hit flick Jolly LLB 2 had him playing a UP based lawyer, he goes further into the interiors for Toilet - Ek Prem Katha. So right from catching his father [Sudhir Pandey] taking a leak in the open to wondering aloud with his friend [Divyendu Sharma] to when would he get married to asking his bride [Bhumi Pednekar] on the first night if she would prefer 'jumping' to taking a resolve that he would set up 'sandaas', he does it all.

Now all of this could well have either become a documentary like affair or a serious drama or below the belt (well, literally) satire or something dry and avoidable. However, Akshay with his director Shree Narayan Singh make sure that what you get to see on screen is not just the right mix of humour and drama but also educative enough without getting into the preachy mode. Yes, there are rallies in action and a social activist kind of character [Anupam Kher] coming on the screen as well. However, ultimately it is about Akshay and his team resolving to knock off corruption [Rajesh Sharma] and also educate neighbours around.

What further sets the stage for the film is an instant connect that it manages to form in those three odd minutes that the promo plays. While the premise is established well, there is also no denying the fact that especially in smaller towns and cities there would be good relatability quotient coming into play. The fact remains that there are many parts of the country where defecation in open is a norm and is not even considered awkward. In its own humourous tone, Toilet - Ek Prem Katha challenges the rationale behind that. Add to that the fact that Akshay's character decides to take matters into his own hands is impressive.

Moreover, the film also boasts of a good presence and contribution of Bhumi into the scheme of things. From the world of Dum Laga Ke Haisha to Toilet - Ek Prem Katha, it is a swift movement for the young woman who has not just shed loads of weight but also gained immense confidence in standing next to a superstar with around 25 years of working experience and still delivering the right expressions and dialogues with correct mannerisms. As a newlywed bride who finds it utterly disgusting to attend a 'lota party' that has been kept by her female neighbours post her first night, she makes you empathise with her.

A film like Toilet - Ek Prem Katha could well have been a risky affair not just at the concept level but also the execution and then promotion. However the makers [Kriaj Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., Abundantia Entertainment, Plan C Studios, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Cape of Good Films] have done the job right to set up the film perfectly right and introduce the right tonality of what it means, carries and intends to convey. Considering the fact that the start has been just correct for the film, it would now be interesting to see how audiences dig into this Toilet - Ek Prem Katha in weeks to come.