Half Girlfriend (2017)

From my favorite movies..

Excellent adaptation.

Brilliant and touching

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

To be honest, it's my first IMDB review. And I know it doesn't deserve 8 out of 10, probably a 6, but I am giving 8 to makeup on low ones.I think it's very entertaining, has great music, acting, cast, story. I felt it's moderately realistic unlike most Yush Chopra/ Karan Johar kind movies. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end except for few over the top scenes like the one at the end when Madhav runs to the bar.

I watched this movie twice and enjoyed it each time. I have watched Arjun Kapoor from the beginning of his Bollywood career till now, and can honestly say he has grown as an actor. He played the role of Madhav Jha with passion and intensity; indeed he was much better portraying his part than Shraddha Kapoor was in playing hers (Riya Somani). Her performance lacked conviction and was flat at times. To be honest, the screenplay was thin and the boy meets the girl of his dreams story line has seen its day in Bollywood films. Despite this, the music was good and helped the audience to understand Madhav's intense passion for Riya as well as hers for him. I advise you to ignore the negative ratings and watch the film with an open mind before drawing negative opinions about it.

Half Girlfriend – Film Review A boy – Madhav - gets his entry in a famous Delhi college due to Sports quota. He is from a small district of Bihar and is the Prince of the District. He was from a Hindi medium school. During his interview he was told that the classes will be held in English and he will really have to improvise on his English. He nods but speaks in Hindi during the interview. Next, he was to give his sports examination – prove how good was he in basket ball. While he waited to the team to finish their game, he saw a girl...as sweet as can be – well according to him! She was very fair and had sportswear on – which amply showed her fair and waxed sexy legs – she was half-clad...no 1/4th clad actually (see image below)...so the name could also have been quarter girlfriend! Well not his fault actually, he was from a rural area where girls were not even educated ( The girls were not allowed in school in his village because of poor toilet facilities for girls...although they probably went to the fields early in the morning to answer nature's call...but midday school time...where will they run to if they wanted to pee? – so? NO education for girls!). They probably all wore salwar kameez and sarees ...so he had never seen such a semi- nude bombshell in his entire life! He was also shown as a shy character (will tell you later why or how). While standing as a spectator he gives her some hints on the moves she should make to win a goal. The girl – Riya – follows them and manages to win a goal. They become friends. Madhav was totally enamoured by her – her looks, skin, English speaking skills...but Riya was just okay with a guy who was good at basketball and she wanted to learn some moves from him. Riya was very rich and already had an equally rich boyfriend. Riya's parents were not very happy couple and often fought – screamed and shouted at each other that left Riya sad and lonesome. She took out her depression by playing the guitar and singing alone. Madhav and Riya begin to spend more time with each other. She invites him to her house at about midnight and sneaks outta her house for a long bike ride...wow! such a cute and innocent girl! Wow! Sneaking out of the house with a boy at midnight is such a sweet and innocent thing to do! When he drops her back – she kisses him on his mouth! Well – she had a steady boyfriend – may have kissed, smooched and even slept with him...so kissing a random friend did not matter to her much! But for Madhav it was a very big deal – he had never kissed before in his life (remember he lived in a rural area where girls might not have been educated but they must have had the modesty to keep to themselves - maryadas....which Riya lacked – broken family kids na – they can get away with anything – they can take to drugs, sleep around, party till 4am – everything! Children nowadays pray to God for a broken family so that they can indulge in all sorts of lifestyles that films show I guess! Madhav thinks that he is in love and so is she in love with him! A village simpleton could not imagine that females in cities kiss around and do much more with many guys...but his friend from the same village - Shailesh – was more worldly wise – he knew that Riya was just using Madhav for learning basketball and go around with for long bike rides...and entertain her basically. Shailesh warns Madhav that she was just using him and not at all in love with him. When Madhav does not agree, then Shailesh asks him to test her. How? Ask her to come to your room...he suggests. And? And get into a physical relationship with her..if she agrees that means maybe she does love you!....poor males – they are so innocent! After all even Sahilesh was from a rural Indian village – he actually thought that females still think that virginity is a big deal – to be kept only for husband! Little did they realize that Riya could actually have had a physical relationship with Madhav and yet not make him her steady boyfriend – or marry him! There are many kinds of girls in this world you see – Riya could have just used his macho-ness and had fun with him....just like males have fun with random girls without any intention to marry them at all! We all know how some dumb females follow dull and loser males blindly...so even they sleep around with whoever catches their fancy! Anyway, Madhav manages to get Riya in his room...but before he could do anything, Riya goes out of the room...but all the boys outside the room start catcalling and whistling at Riya.....yuk! what a humiliation..esp. when you haven't even done anything! Amazing that girls are allowed in boys hostel!! What kinda education Institution is that!? Of course you cannot stop consenting adults to copulate with anyone they want ... but definitely not in school or college premises! If you are so sex-starved & desperate, then you may hire a sleazy 1 star hotel room for the needful...but not malign a place where people go for knowledge. This way other studious students get derailed from the right track! Riya breaks off with Madhav ......and later invites him for her marriage. She shifts to London with her husband. Madhav could not get over sexy Riya....he goes back to his rural village but sulked all day long. dislike for Riya --read the rest in kalyugbriefs.com

Half Girlfriend, a film by Mohit Suri, is based on the novel by the same name written by Chetan Bhagat. Chetan had not received great reviews for his novel, he was criticized for bringing forced twists and turns. This review of the film is not done on the basis of Chetan's book versus its adaptation by Mohit into the film. The review is done purely on the basis of what is shown on screen. Certainly, some minor changes have been done in the screenplay but overall it remains the same. The concept of half girlfriend was to focus on non-committal relationships, where the boy and the girl have the chemistry of being in a relationship but not clear about the same. They might love to hang-out even during odd hours, they need one another in their lives, but not ready to accept that they have a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. They are not ready to take their relationship to the next level. This film also showcases the story of a boy who is in love with a girl and wants to move ahead with her in life, but the girl feels that she could be more than a friend to him, but less than a girlfriend. So, the terminology used by her to define such a relationship is that of Half Girlfriend. They are not clear about their relationship status with each other. It is true that such relationships do exist, but somehow, the treatment of the subject is done in a very average manner. The film also deals with the linguistic challenges faced by Bhojpuri-laced Hindi speaking boy from Bihar who finds himself misfit amongst people speaking fluent English. Many would be able to relate with it, but somehow, it is not very convincing. It is true that our pronunciation does have regional influences. People from eastern, western, southern and northern parts of our country might pronounce the same word differently. Similarly Bihar is no exception, but what is so big deal about it. It is natural, we all have our own pronunciation, enunciation and diction. Here is a film, where the lead protagonist is from Bihar, gets into one of the most prestigious college of Delhi University, still unable to get over his challenges of speaking English even after spending three years in the campus is beyond comprehension. He does not find it difficult to adjust to the cosmopolitan culture of the campus, but finds it difficult to pick up English. It is also not understandable that why the names of the place Dumrao and the college St. Stephen's college were changed to Simrao and St. Steven's College respectively. The very plot has loopholes, and so is the film. The film begins with Madhav Jha (Arjun Kapoor) rushing to a house to find that Riya Somani (Shraddha Kapoor) has left the house writing a letter to him. He travels to Delhi to hand over the letter to her mom and the story unveils as flashback during this train journey of Madhav. He is the prince of Simrao, whose mother Seema Biswas runs a school there for the underprivileged boys. He comes to Delhi to take admission in St. Steven's College in Delhi University under sports quota (a basketball player) for BA Sociology. Riya also gets admission in sports quota. It is love at first sight for Madhav. He starts becoming friendly with Riya. Riya does take tips from Madhav in regard to the game, and also practices with him. They started hanging out together apart from game too. Madhav's bunch of friends, especially Shailesh (Vikrant Massey) warns Madhav that he may not be a proper match to Riya who is from an affluent business family. Madhav does try to know Riya's mind, for which her response was that she is his half girlfriend, more than a friend but less than a girlfriend. Madhav gets confused with her response. On his friends' insisting, he does try to test her love which results in the fall out. Later the situations happen so that she chooses a different path in her life and moves away geographically. Madhav, unable to get over Riya, comes back to village after completing graduation. As it is quite predictable, Madhav and Riya's paths cross once again. What happens to their relationship? How the story moves further? Does she become more than a half girlfriend to him ? Does their relationship status evolve? If yes, how? The film does try to connect with the social mission of sanitation facilities and also 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' etc. This is a good effort, but does not blend naturally with the screenplay.One of the most unconvincing scenes is when Riya chooses to unwind at the top of India Gate. It is simply impossible to get away from the eyes of the security guards and climb to the top of this monument.Arjun and Shraddha are both mediocre in the film. In his previous films viz. Ishaqzaade, Gunday, 2 States, Finding Fanny, Tevar, Ki and Ka etc. he could bring many elements into his characters which made his screen presence very much noticeable and he did gather many positive feedbacks. But in this film, Arjun has not come out completely. It appeared as if he was not excited for this role. Shraddha looked pretty in some outfits and that is all about her. She needs to evolve a lot as far as acting is concerned. Vikrant Massey as Shailesh is good. He did deliver dialogues well. His expressions are also very good. Seema Biswas has very less of screen time and so does not have much to do. Rhea Chakraborty as Anshika (Shailesh' wife) has a small role, but good.Half Girlfriend is actually half-cooked, be it its romance, passion, friendship, acting, dialogues, screenplay. The very plot has loopholes, and so is the film. The songs 'Baarish', 'Thodi Der', 'Phir bhi Tumko Chaahunga' are certainly a great relief in the film.