Roti Kapda Romance Review

Roti Kapda Romance is like a mixed tape of nostalgic hits. It borrows beats from beloved classics, replays them with fresh faces, and tries to deliver a melody of its own. But does it resonate or fall flat? That depends on how much charm you can find in a film that's more of a tribute to old formulas than it is a venture into new territory.

Once upon a time in the sprawling chaos of city life, four young men - Harsha (Harsha Narra), Rahul (Sandeep Saroj), Vicky (Supraj Ranga) and Surya (Tarun Ponugoti) - shared not just a flat but also a philosophy: work hard, party harder.

Their bachelor pad was a heaven of freedom, booze and banter - until the arrival of four women turned their world upside down. Sonia (Kushbhu Chaudhary) entered Harsha's life to bring romance into it; Priya (Sonu Thakur), who believed that love is not synonymous with marriage, entered Rahul's life; career-oriented Shweta (Megha Lekha) entered Vicky's life; and Divya (Nuveksha), who idolized Surya, entered his life. However, all the relationships ended bitterly - some with open breakups, and others with silent abandonments, leaving the other unaware. What began as whirlwind romances soon unravelled into a chaotic knot of heartbreaks and misunderstandings.

Fast forward four years, and fate brings the quartet and their ex-lovers back together - this time with spouses in tow. What caused their once-promising love stories to collapse? Was it betrayal, selfishness, or just the cruel hand of time? The film keeps you guessing, finally unravelling the truth in a bittersweet finale.

From the opening frames, Roti Kapda Romance wears its influences unabashedly. The camaraderie of Dil Chahta Hai and the biting humour of Pyaar Ka Punchnama loom large over its narrative, making it feel less like an original work and more like a greatest-hits compilation of romantic comedies.

The first half teeters between quirky introductions and predictable setups, while the second half treads water with recycled tropes. The film finds a semblance of freshness only in its final act, when it delves into the emotional aftermath of its characters' fractured relationships. Here, it beautifully explains that sometimes, love stories fall apart not due to betrayal but because of impatience, miscommunication and the relentless march of life's unpredictability.

However, the decision to add explicit content - a make-out scene and bold language such as the "deng**" word - feels like an unnecessary gamble (it's an A certified movie). Instead of enhancing the narrative, these elements risk alienating a broader audience without contributing much to the story.

The story of Sonia and Harsha in the movie is quirky and perhaps the first of its kind in Indian cinema. It unfolds like this: Sonia is a CA student who keeps failing her exams due to distractions from her studies, caused by her constant preoccupation with sex and her high libido. She just wants to have sex once with a random good guy and then focus on her studies. However, that one-time encounter with Harsha leads to regular trysts, an unwanted pregnancy, relocation to an unknown area, and eventual estrangement from her lover.

Also, visually some sequences lack logical consistency. A group photo in front of a cinema screening a Silk Smitha movie places a flashback squarely in the pre-1995 era, yet subsequent scenes of the same time frame feature LED TVs and MacBooks. These missteps, while small, are hard to ignore.

While the script falters, the cast shines. Supraj Ranga's portrayal of Vicky steals the show with his effortless humour and charisma. He captures the essence of a character who is both larger than life and deeply relatable, earning laughs and empathy in equal measure. Khushboo Chaudhary is another standout, delivering a performance that is both layered and compelling. Her depiction of Sonia's emotional complexity - particularly in a tense, intimate scene with Harsha - is riveting.

Harsha Narra brings a quiet intensity to his role, while Sandeep Saroj's portrayal of Rahul's confusion is painfully relatable. Tarun Ponugoti's easygoing charm as Surya rounds out the quartet, making their camaraderie the heart of the film. For a cast filled with debutantes, their performances are surprisingly polished, hinting at promising careers ahead.

One area where Roti Kapda Romance truly excels is in its technical finesse. The soundtrack, composed by Sunny M R, Harsha Vardhan Rameshwar and R R Dhruvan, is a vibrant blend of youthful beats and soulful melodies. Each song complements the narrative, amplifying its emotional beats. The background score, too, is used effectively, adding energy to comedic moments and poignancy to emotional scenes.

Santosh Reddy's cinematography is a visual delight. Despite the film's modest budget, his work brings a polished, cinematic quality to the storytelling. From the colorful chaos of the cityscape to intimate, character-driven frames, the visuals are rich and evocative, often elevating the material.

Roti Kapda Romance may not be groundbreaking, but it's not entirely without charm. The film's exploration of friendship and love - despite its reliance on well-trodden paths - strikes a chord with anyone who's lived through the highs and lows of youth. If you can overlook the clichés, the anachronisms and the occasional tonal misstep, the movie offers a relatable, if slightly uneven, portrayal of life's messiness. It's a one-time watch, best enjoyed with friends who can share a knowing laugh at the familiarity of it all. It may not be perfect, but it has moments of warmth and nostalgia that make it worth the ride.