The only thing I like about Satyaprem Ki Katha is the title of the film which means “a true love story.” The title also means ‘Satyaprem’s Katha’ as the lead couple are named as “Satyaprem” (played by Kartik Aaryan) and his “Katha”(played by Kiara Advani.
“Sattu,” in his thirties, is a jobless, unsuccessful law student who often faces taunts from his mother and sister while being assigned household chores. He is an eager individual when it comes to marriage, even urged by his own mother to find a bride for himself. His father, played by Gajraj Rao, is his only friend who truly understands him. He provides encouragement to Sattu when he becomes infatuated with Katha, a stunningly beautiful woman who is not only out of his league but also in a committed relationship with a wealthy boyfriend named Tapan.
However, Sattu’s hopes are rekindled when his chatty father, popularly known as ‘Panchayati Kaka,’ shares the news that Katha’s broken up with her boyfriend. Fueled, with a beaming smile and unwavering love for Katha, Sattu takes a courageous step to confess his feelings, without delving into the reasons behind her recent breakup. This bold move unveils a new chapter in his ill-fated, unrequited love story, as the girl he adores harbors a significant secret.
Unlike other filmmakers who solely focus on romance, director Sameer Vidwans delves into his creation with a social issue angle that unfolds and becomes a prominent theme in the latter half of the film. His previous filmography includes Marathi films like “Double Seat” (2015) and the national award-winning “Anandi Gopal” (2021), which was based on the life of India’s first female doctor, Anandi Gopal Joshi. Vidwans skillfully incorporates feminist and other social issues into his work.
However, writer Karan Shrikant Sharma falters in balancing the love story and the social themes within the loosely structured screenplay, resulting in a disjointed narrative. Although the initial parts of the film adhere to the beats of the trailer, the rest of the film fails to maintain its grip.
Sattu often comes across as creepy, especially when he repeatedly mentions “#SatyapremKiKatha” every time he meets Katha, despite her being in a committed relationship. He even declares that he will wait for her. Similarly, Katha lacks ambition or purpose in life. All she possesses is wealth, beauty, and secrets. She is introduced as a singer at a Navratri event where she dances to her own rhythm while Sattu is merely an enthusiast. However, little else is revealed about her professional life, if the makers had intended to explore it further. Both characters are poorly developed, leaving only social issues and some comedic moments to render relief.
The entire plot is set in the city of Ahmedabad, which remains largely unexplored, except for showcasing some typical Gujarati family moments and the mention of “Methi Na Gota” (a popular snack). The Gujarati lovers and their household setup reminded me of an updated version of “Loveyatri” (2018), starring Ayush Sharma and Warina Hussain, where the boy came from a middle-class background while the girl belonged to an elite family. The main difference here is that in “Loveyatri,” both characters had ambitions, with Ayush wanting to start his Garba academy and Warina aiming to fulfill her mother’s dream after completing her post-graduation.
Supriya Pathak portraying Sattu’s mother, frequently criticizes her son but doesn’t have much impact on the plot, despite having potential. Although Sattu shares a close bond with his father, their relationship is rarely elevated in on-screen scenes. Rajpal Yadav’s role as a milkman is wasted and trivial.
The music in the film is as underwhelming as the plot. I personally desired more authentic Gujarati dandiya songs, especially during the Navratri events depicted in the movie. The songs that were included felt overly Bollywoodized. For romantics, the songs might be momentarily memorable but mainly serve as interruptions to the narrative flow. Ali Sethi’s remake of “Pasoori,” titled “Pasoori Nu,” is the worst addition to the film’s playlist. While the lyrics and tone have been changed for the most part, the song doesn’t contribute anything substantial to the film.
Satyaprem Ki Katha is now available at your nearby theaters.
