Some movies are just too ahead of their times – they feel like a revolution from the future has hit the cinema screens when you least expect them to do so. Aiyyaa, a 2012 Sachin Kundalkar directorial, is one such film that looked too quirky and campy when it released, but it is years later that I found it in a different light. A film that casually talked about womanhood, its nuances through a female gaze, and explored the protagonist’s desires and emotions in the most shameless ways – and we’re here for it!
Aiyyaa: Plot Overview
The movie has been adapted from Kundalkar’s previous work, a short film in an anthology called ‘Gandh’. While the original movie was more nuanced and ‘serious’, the Hindi adaptation let loose and went all in.
It revolves around the female protagonist Meenakshi, essayed by the talented Rani Mukerji, and her mundane life. Meenakshi hails from a middle-class Pune family who are looking for a suitable groom for their only daughter. However, after many rejections, Meenakshi is almost on the verge of giving up the dream of a ‘perfect, happy marriage’.
Meanwhile, her job as a librarian is not very interesting either. It is here on campus that she comes across an alcoholic student on campus – yes, we’re talking about Prithviraj! What follows forms the rest of the story of the movie. Does Meenakshi start falling for him? Does she confess her feelings to him or are there other ideas in her mind? What does fate hold for their cross-cultural romance? For such and other questions, I’d highly recommend you watch the movie.
Why You Should Watch Aiyyaa: Top 5 Reasons
An Out-Of-The-Box Female Protagonist
It feels like a breath of fresh air to see a well-written female protagonist who doesn’t perfectly fit the ‘Bollywood heroine’ stereotype. Meenakshi is not the ‘perfect’ woman – she has her own flaws, quirks, emotions, and desires, but these qualities are what make her so compelling to watch on screen.
She is raw, real, and loud, unlike the many docile, demure, and emotionally-repressed female characters we see in movies. Plus, she’s oh-so-dramatic – she lives and breathes drama! What sets her apart is how confidently she embraces her individuality, from her wild imagination to her unabashed exploration of desire – especially when her heightened sense of smell leads her into a world of fantasy and sensual obsession.
Rani Mukerji does full justice to the character – it is too difficult to imagine anyone else who’d have nailed this role. She’s quirky, campy, and unfiltered but doesn’t come off as cringe or unbearable. This is how finely Mukerji lends her craft to the character!
Immaculate Cinematography And Gorgeous Locations
Take a look at Sachin Kundalkar’s track record and you’d notice one thing – all his films are visual delights in their own right. Each frame tells a story – a visual poetry that lingers with you long after you’ve watched the movie. While Aiyyaa was one of the more ‘mainstream’ attempts by Kundalkar, he has maintained the essence of his signature cinematography.
The clever use of wide and close-up shots whenever required, the masterful use of soft lighting and wind, and the signature use of ‘blue’ throughout the movie, are the key elements that make Aiyyaa a visual delight for me. The use of blue to denote Meenakshi’s evocative desires is just simply genius – you’ll notice the use of this style in his more recent work, ‘Cobalt Blue’, as well.
Mumbai’s J.J. School of Arts serves as a beautiful canvas for Rani’s infatuation over Prithviraj, while Hyderabad’s Ramoji Film City shines in a fun, quirky dance sequence in the form of ‘Dreamum Wakeupum’. Additionally, the director presents Pune in the most beautiful way, forming a visual imagery that feels nostalgic, calm, and oddly familiar. The ingenious use of lighting, locations, and cinematographic techniques to uplift the story needs to be applauded!
Banger Music By Amit Trivedi
Amit Trivedi hardly misses the assignment when it comes to creating banging soundtracks – and Aiyyaa is proof of his musical prowess. Each song in the film is a refreshing track – from soulful melodies, sensual ballads, to peppy dance numbers, the film has it all. Plus, with Amitabh Bhattacharya penning down the lyrics, each song is a lyrical masterpiece in itself.
After all, who would’ve thought of writing down absurd-sounding lyrics like ‘dreamum wakeup critical conditionum’ and still creating a banger out of them?
The soundtrack has prominent singers like Shreya Ghoshal, Monali Thakur, Shalmali Kholgade, Sneha Khanwalkar, Sunidhi Chauhan, and Amit Trivedi himself lending their voices. A refreshing move to see an original soundtrack dominated by female singers rather than their male counterparts. Overall, the original soundtrack of Aiyyaa is one such album that stays with you long after you’re done watching the movie.
A Solid Ensemble Cast
I think the cast of Aiyyaa makes the movie even better, right from the main female protagonist to all the supporting characters. You have a quirky Rani Mukerji lending her finesse to the character, her immaculate comic timing, accent, body language, and expressions just perfect for the character she’s portraying.
And to be honest, Rani effortlessly steals the show. But along with her, the supporting actors do a brilliant job. Prithviraj, in his Hindi debut, is magnetic, charismatic, and downright mysterious till the very end of the movie. His tall and well-built stature only adds to his character’s intensity.
Plus, Anita Date-Kelkar and Ameya Wagh add a much-appreciated comic relief in the film. Watch out for Anita’s literally wacky costumes throughout the film – we love a campy fashion queen! Nirmiti Sawant, Subodh Bhave, and Jyoti Subhash as Meenakshi’s mother, fiance, and grandmother respectively, play their parts effortlessly well!
In an era when mainstream Hindi movies were dominated mostly by regular Hindi actors, it is refreshing to see a cast that mostly consists of actors hailing from the regional Marathi cinema. Kudos to the entire cast!
Female Agency, Desire, And Self-Exploration At The Center Of The Plot
What I love about this film is that the movie is shot from a female gaze, despite the director being a man! It is not easy to perfectly emulate the female gaze on-screen when you’re a man helming it all, but the director does his job exceptionally well. At the center of the plot lie Meenakshi’s female desires, her urge to explore her own self, and what she expects from her suitor. She handles her own agency without letting anyone else decide on her behalf.
It is not a usual sight that you see such an emotionally turbulent female character who’s going through life’s ups and downs. In one moment, Meenakshi expresses her frustration as her life seemingly goes downhill. In another moment, she’s living her daydreams thinking about Prithviraj’s charming character. And in another emotionally-charged scene, she’s seen expressing her disdain at the marriage system, her beliefs in love, and the need to find a ‘perfect’ husband. While Aiyyaa is largely a funny, lighthearted, and feel-good movie, it does have a fair share of moments where it makes you pause, think, and ponder.
Final Thoughts
Aiyyaa is a film that I highly recommend if you’re craving for a feel-good movie that also tickles your funny bones. With a stunning cast and great music, the movie does an exceptional job of giving Bollywood a quirky, campy, and downright hilarious film about marriage, desires, and everything in between. While I totally love this movie for its high-pitched plot, I recommend that you watch it and see the magic unfold for yourself!
