Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romantic Bollywood comedy-drama about marriage and family.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Dil Dhadakne Do
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DIL DHADAKNE DO, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary, Kamal (Anil Kapoor) and Neelam Mehra (Shefali Shah), along with their children, Kabir (Ranveer Singh) and Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), organize a lavish cruise, inviting their friends and family. Once aboard, however, the dysfunctional family must come to terms with the consequences of their secrets from one another. Will the Mehras be able to overcome their differences?
Is It Any Good?
This romantic drama, directed by Zoya Akhtar, is an interesting satirical critique of the upper class in modern Indian society. Dil Dhadakne Do accurately portrays the hollowness of relationships that only function on the basis of social prestige and financial benefit. However, after a strong start, the climactic ending feels a little cheesy and corny, as is so often seen in many typical Bollywood films. That aside, where it truly falls short of its potential is in the treatment of Ayesha's character. She is constantly silenced by others, and by the end, she barely has a voice at all and is reduced to a romantic happily ever after all too quickly. Despite these shortcomings, Dil Dhadakne Do does a good job of initiating crucial conversations on the nature of family relationships and marriages in modern-day India.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Dil Dhadakne Do was trying to say about upper-class society. Did you think Kamal and Neelam cared too much about what others thought of them? Were any lessons learned by the characters?
Talk about how Ayesha was treated by other characters. Did you find her representation problematic? If so, why? How can we find positive gender representations in movies and on TV?
Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the film?
How were sex and relationships portrayed? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How did the film represent drinking? Did you think any of the characters drank too much? What are some of the real-life consequences of drinking?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 5, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: November 30, 2016
- Cast: Ranveer Singh , Priyanka Chopra , Anil Kapoor
- Director: Zoya Akhtar
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Indian/South Asian actors, Female writers
- Studio: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Character Strengths: Communication , Compassion , Empathy
- Run time: 170 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: September 12, 2023
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