Turning 30!!! Movie Review

B-town transporter of desi political and crime exotica Prakash Jha goes urban as a producer to explore the feelings of a thirty year old hottie in this Bollywood explanation of its sex and the city. Helmed by first timer writer director Alankrita Shrivastava, this urban comedy about a nearing thirty urban career girl whose fondness for a whole host of unattractive addictions has gone a long way in putting the screws to her romantic life - and her self-esteem is more style than substance. The nearly 2 hour flick is padded with those trendy garments in which we see our colleagues and friends roaming around us and the movie feels exceedingly familiar too, so much so that most of the plot turns can be guessed well before they happen. The scarcity of clever quips makes the movie lengthy but still, there is still something satisfying about the effort. The movie is nice and naughty for the older teens who get identified with Naina (Gul Panag), her casting comes as a good news as she effortlessly grapples with heartbreak and a crisis in the film where she plays an advertising executive who had just broken from a relationship, has a prestigious project to handle at work, she is about to enter into her 30’s and she is still waiting. She is confused about love and doesn’t know what is right for her. As Naina fights her anxiety and fears about being 30 years old with her friends nicely played by Tillotama and Jeneva Talwar, enters Purab Kohli her ex-flame who along with Naina’s friends make her realize that there's a lot of growing up to be done. Naina broken relationship keeps haunting her, she gets cheated in office and couldn’t decide between her broken boyfriend who keeps haunting or the ex-flame Purab who has comeback. Suddenly the same Naina gets the strength to fight a case against her bosses and even write a novel… Agreed one of her friend who plays a lesbian in the movie finds her writing skills but we needed some explanation on that. Needless to guess, the movie ends up at a bookstore where Naina signs her autographed copy to her once haunting lover and moving on in the arms of her comeback vehicle Purab. Gul Panag and Purab shine in this urban comedy which has the routine ups and downs but sadly they are not emotional. It’s stylish, sassy, even naughty at a time but doesn’t connect emotionally overall as most of the part are in English. First timer writer director Alankrita Shrivastava comes up with an idea but not a proper script, it’s like planning a house with all the amenities but alas the house wife is missing. Technical and production values are first rate, dialogues are appropriate and costumes by Poornamrata Singh deserve special mention. Music by Siddharth and Suhas is just passable. Cinematography by Akshay Singh is sharp. Conclusion: Indulge At Your Own Risk Rating: **