It's raining romcoms for Gujarati films

They are cheesy, with generous dollops of mush and even an overdose of emotional moments, but romcoms have their own special place in every moviegoer’s heart. These heartwarming, toe-curlingly romantic movies with their share of cute and adorable sequences that make you weak-kneed and smile through your tears, are now the current flavor of the local film industry.Ahmedabad Times finds out what has caused this veritable deluge of Gujarati rom-coms this year...
immediate connect with youngsters
After a stressful day-to-day existence, a feel-good bubblegum romance on screen is just what audiences across ages root for. Parth Oza, who will be seen in the upcoming romcom Pela Adhi Akshar, says, “Romance is a universal emotion, and we all love to see those mushy moments on screen, which might not transpire as is in our lives. And when romance is coupled with humour, the package becomes more entertaining and acceptable. That’s why romcoms are an evergreen concept.”
Comedy+romance = hit package
With Gujarati movies becoming more urban in approach and content, selecting a subject that strikes an instant connect with the audience is the smart choice. Most filmmakers feel, romance and comedy clubbed together make the perfect combo and can translate into BO success. Filmmaker Sidharth Trivedi who directed Romeo & Radhika, says, “Gujarati movies are targeting the young audience and romantic comedies strike an instant chord with that audience. Romance and fun are a part of daily college life, so the target audience can identify with such stories.”
Playing the tried & tested game
For an industry which is still seeking audience acceptance and trying to break even commercially, making films that viewers will appreciate is one of the toughest challenges for all filmmakers. To ensure that the film touches viewers, filmmakers feel that the tried and tested formula is the safe way to go. Says actress Bhakti Kubavat, who’s going to star in three upcoming romcoms soon, “Collegians simply love watching romantic comedies. And for an industry that’s finally striking a connect with the audience, we have to be careful of the kind of films we make. Romcoms are safe bets commercially.”
Executing it right
While making a romantic film might be a safe option for filmmakers, it’s not devoid of its set of challenges. Co-director of the upcoming romcom Mad For Each Other, Jignesh Soni feels that romance shown in regional films should be handled responsibly as the audience expects a sane portrayal of love. He says, “While the audience is accostomed to seeing bold love scenes in Bollywood and Hollywood films, when it comes to regional films, the audience is surprisingly orthodox. We ensure sure that the romantic scenes shown in our film doesn’t offend anyoneand are shot sensitively. Having said that, romcoms will never go out of popular demand.”
While romcoms seem to have caught the fancy of filmmakers and audiences at the moment, here’s hoping that amid the bagful of laughter and sumptious dose of mush moments, the film industry also gets some hefty returns at the BO.