Rom-com nostalgia set to light up Kolkata screens again

Kolkata’s theatres are preparing for a familiar wave of laughter and romance as Hasee Toh Phasee returns to the big screen on March 6, giving audiences a chance to revisit one of the more offbeat love stories of 2010s Bollywood. The re-release, mounted in association with Dharma Productions, taps into a growing appetite for nostalgia cinema that has been steadily building across urban centres, including Kolkata.

In the city, where filmgoing remains as much a cultural ritual as a leisure activity, the return of a familiar romantic comedy is expected to resonate strongly with audiences who first discovered the film on television or streaming platforms. “There’s a comfort in revisiting films from that era,” said Anirban Dutta, programming head at a central Kolkata multiplex. “People remember the songs, the humour, and the feeling they had when they first watched it. That emotional recall is powerful.”

Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra, the film earned a devoted following over time for its quirky tone, unconventional heroine and music that continues to circulate widely online. Today, many younger viewers know it through memes, reels and playlist nostalgia rather than its original theatrical run. “I never saw it in theatres when it released,” said Ritwika Sen, a media student from Salt Lake. “But I’ve watched it so many times on my laptop that seeing it in a hall feels like a full-circle moment.”

Exhibitors in Kolkata also view such revival screenings as a reflection of changing audience behaviour. With release calendars often uneven, bringing back well-loved films offers theatres a way to reconnect viewers with the big-screen experience. “When the film has recall value, people are curious,” noted Soumyajit Chatterjee, manager of a south Kolkata cinema. “Rom-coms especially work because they’re easy to return to — you don’t need the pressure of novelty.”

For many in the city’s film circles, the return of such titles also highlights how theatrical viewing is evolving rather than fading. “Kolkata audiences are deeply sentimental about cinema,” observed Madhurima Bose, curator of a city film society. “If a film carries memory, music and mood, people will still choose to watch it together in a hall. That shared experience is what keeps theatres alive.”

As March begins, the re-release offers Kolkata a chance to revisit a softer, funnier chapter of Bollywood romance , one where awkwardness, melody and charm carried the story, and where the pleasure of watching together mattered as much as the film itself.

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