Despite Its Flaws, 9 Reasons Why 'Tanu Weds Manu' Is A Film That A True Movie-Buff Cannot Hate!

There are some movies that have the potential to strike a chord with the audience and leave a long lasting impression in their mind. In the world where our collective attention spans have taken a massive hit, it’s quite difficult to impress the viewers, let alone stay in their memory for a long time.?

Amidst it all, the movies that do manage to make the cut deserve all the praise in the world, and then some.?

It won’t be wrong to say that Tanu Weds Manu falls right in this very league. Nothing short of a cult, this movie was released 9 years ago today and still remains a big favourite of many.?

Now, we are not endorsing the film for it did have various flaws. Despite that, it did manage to form a connection with us due to its interesting plot and brilliant performances. Without wasting any more time, let’s take a look at 9 reasons why Tanu Weds Manu still holds a special place in our hearts.

1. Kangana Ranaut - Naam Hi Kaafi Hai

First things first, let’s accept that she might be someone that is loved and hated in equal measures off screen, but when she does come on the silver screen, she spins magic! It won’t be wrong to say that this movie in particular, turned out to be a turning point in her career.?

With an intriguing script and potential to make it her own completely, she did fairly well. Tanuja Trivedi was a woman who was twisted according to societal norms. Not that we are endorsing her way of life or anything. Despite that, she managed to win our hearts fair and square.?

Indecisive and arrogant, her character trajectory was beautifully portrayed. The curly-haired girl full of mischief, pranks and tricks up her sleeve, she made her position rock solid in the industry with this very film.

2. Without Madhavan aka Manu, Tanu and the film, both are incomplete

While there’s no contesting the fact that Kangana dominated the franchise with her quirks and meaty lines, Manu played by Madhavan supported and complimented her equally. Playing the calm and composed guy-next-door, his power lied in the way he exuded patience and determination when it came to wooing his ladylove Tanu.

In the beginning he did come off as a bland and boring doctor, however, Manu’s track changed directions soon after, when he sacrificed his love and still managed to get his beau in the end. Maddy, who is a charmer off-screen, often breaks the internet with his pictures, opinions and buckets full of charm. It was with this film that he played the male lead in an out-and-out commercial Hindi film which not only won hearts but raked in a lot of numbers at the box office as well.

3. Apart from the leading couple, characters like Pappi, Jassi, Raja Awasthi and Payal kept us hooked

If you consider yourself a true-blue movie lover, you would know that a film becomes a bigger hit when not just the leads but even the characters manage to make a place for themselves in the hearts of the audiences. It won’t be wrong to say that this film did just that and some more. How else do you think that its sequel did 10 times better than the original??

From Manu’s best friend and comic Pappi ji(Who had the best one liners, mind you), Tanu’s blunt best friend Payal to the very dashing and pyaar-mein-haara aashiq Raja Awasthi played by none other than Jimmy Shergill, this film had so many good characters!?

While Pappi provided a regular dose of laughter, Raja Awasthi played the villain who was hard to hate! On the other hand, Jassi played by Eijaz Khan was a friend who wouldn’t bat an eyelash before taking a bullet for his jigri yaar. Special mention for Ravi Kisan who played Awasthi’s friend. Each and every character artist left a great impression on us, didn’t they?

4. Aashiqan Nu Darshan Dikhaya Karo..Ni Kadi Sadi Gali Bhul Ke Vi Aaya Karo Ji Kadi Sadi Gali Bhul Ke Vi

Come on, don’t call yourself a Bollywood freak if you didn’t break into a dance on this song in parties, clubs and every other random place for months at end! The music of this film was so beautiful that even today, they make for a great listen.?

From the party popper Sadi Gali to the soulful track Yun Hi, Tanu Weds Manu’s OST was short and sweet. On one had it had a romantic track like Piya, sufi song Rangrez by the great Wadali Brothers and on the other, it had Mika’s Naughty Nakhrewali Jugni! While the present is filled with questionable remakes of old classics, this was one film that had such a beautiful and original album.

5. Come to think of it, this fun movie did have some interesting life lessons to offer!

Once you keep the entertainment part of it aside, this film did explain life beautifully. Be it a clever take on the whole arranged marriage norm of the society to endorsing the fact we shouldn’t be ashamed of ourselves and our wishes/desires, it did manage to make a point albeit subtly.?

While Tanu was unapologetic about her own self and what she wanted from life, Manu accepted her for the way she was, without expecting her to ‘mend her ways’. This was one of the major reasons why she had a change of heart in the end and chose Manu as her life partner instead. Don’t we all look for a better half who accepts us the way we are and not try to coax us into becoming someone we are not?!

6. Love triangle, melodrama and full masala film - this was probably one of the last few good paisa wasool entertainers that are hard to find nowadays

Can you think of a movie from the current lot which you would want to watch over and over again without getting bored? Not a lot, right? This is one of the rare ones that make for fun watch even if you have seen it multiple times. The makers these days are running behind unique and out-of-the-box ideas to intrigue the audience.?

In this quest, most of them are overlooking the basics. We don’t need no big names or complex plot lines, we only look for a fun time which leaves us thoroughly entertained. 9 years on and several reruns later, you will still enjoy each and every minute of this film.?

7. In the words of Tanu’s onscreen dad - Ho gaya na Chutiyapa!

While everyone talks about the bigger picture, did you notice that this movie’s little nuances made the most impact? For instance, when Tanu’s father is told by Manu’s dad that they are calling off the marriage - his reaction was epic!

Another great one was when Pappi ji is asked by a girl what his name is and he replies - le kar batayein ya de kar! The dialogues weren’t extra-ordinary but the delivery by all the actors was on point. While we do agree that it had its fair share of regressive elements, but like we all preach - nobody is perfect - this film was more likable because of its beautiful imperfections.

8. Tanu Weds Manu set up a solid premise for a sequel which turned out to be even more successful than the original

Had it not been for this film, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go on yet another laughter ride with Tanu Weds Manu Returns. This movie held on to such a solid fan base that despite the 4-year gap between the original and the sequel, it spoke to the audience like no other sequel ever did. With Tanu Weds Manu Returns, the madness and the fun became ten-fold. This franchise turned out to be a milestone in both Kangana and Madhavan’s film careers.

9. Last but not the least, the climax left us giddy despite being a cliche! Jimmy Shergill’s fan base tripled with that very scene

Yes, the climax was a cliche but we all took guilty pleasure in the fact that Manu finally won his love and had a happily ever after, fair and square. Not only was this a clean film devoid of blood and gore, the way the antagonist played by Jimmy gave up the reigns and spoke the dialogue -?"agar yeh itne bhale insaan na hote, tanu tum inke pyaar mein imandaar na hoti, hum thode se baimaan na hote aur aaj somwaar na hota toh bholenaath ki kasam goli maar dete inko. Hum na kehta the doctor sahab, aapse kuch purana hai - it did make the movie buff inside us want to whistle and dance! No matter how much you deny it, you know it’s true.??

To celebrate Tanu, Manu and their beautiful love story, it’s only vital that we sit through yet another rerun of the film and the sequel Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Let us know your thoughts on this franchise in the comments section below.