𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐣𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐔𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬, 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝

Cast: Rakul Preet Singh, Pavail Gulati, Akshay Oberoi, Kiran Kumar

Director: Nikhil Mahajan

Language: Hindi

Spoilers Ahead

Have you ever wondered who the first stalker in Hindi cinema was? Or which film showcased the first one-sided love story? Films like "Darr," "Tere Naam," "Raanjhanaa," and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" come to mind. The recent release on JioCinema, "I Love You," draws inspiration from the essence of these films. The very declaration of love in three words carries the weight of unrequited feelings, as no one ever exclaims, "You Love Me." Pavail Gulati portrays the one-sided lover, a love-struck and naive employee named Rakesh Oberoi, who has fallen for his colleague Satya (Rakul Preet Singh).

The film takes us on a flashback journey, revealing how Rakesh Oberoi transforms into "RO" for the woman he pines for. Yes, the water purifier joke has already been addressed. Notice his T-shirts—one labeled "Protagonist" and the other "Palat." He is a die-hard filmy character who even quotes the infamous dialogue "Ek Tarfa Pyaar" from "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil." The site where he stalks Satya is aptly called "Friendzone." It's difficult to decide whether we should laugh at the lameness of the writing or if the film itself acknowledges its own absurdity by making the hero realize his unrequited love. Furthermore, there are shades of "Jaan-E-Mann" as Oberoi watches Satya from his home on a projector while having food. Quite astonishing!

Somehow, writers and directors still believe that creating such stories today makes them edgy and different. Despite the box-office success of similar narratives in the past, these perplexing characters continue to be written. Since "I Love You" directly released on a digital platform, any debate seems futile. Psychotic characters do provide actors with exciting opportunities to explore different emotions, but it's the narrative that should take precedence, not the other way around. Writer-director Nikhil Mahajan chooses an office space as the backdrop for this story of a psychotic and problematic protagonist and the woman he passionately loves, who finds herself trapped. It's an intriguing concept, considering she has very little room to escape.

The twist arrives even before we expect it, stemming from Gulati's excessive sweetness and discomforting body language. When Satya inquires about her fiancé, he responds with a subtle suggestion that he might be "a little tied up"—a literal indication of his intentions. Akshay Oberoi, who plays Singh's fiancé, is unfortunately wasted in the film, undergoing multiple rounds of bench press, all bloodied. What follows is a sequence that is both nonsensical and reminiscent of "Anjaam." Talented actors should refrain from wasting their time on scripts that do nothing but harm their reputation. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Gulati's fish named Anjali, which almost loses its life. He reveals that it's named after his former girlfriend who turned out to be far too intelligent. If only Anjali from "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" had taken any cues; oh yes, that's another tale of unrequited love.

In conclusion, "I Love You" takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the realms of one-sided love in Hindi cinema. It attempts to capture the essence of past films while weaving its own narrative within the confines of an office space. However, the excessive sweetness and questionable choices of the protagonist, coupled with a flawed script, hinder the film from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it serves as a reminder of the intriguing yet tumultuous world of unrequited love on the silver screen.