Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya Review: Half-Baked Romance

Movie: Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya
Rating: 1.5/5
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Dharmendra, Dimple Kapadia, Rakesh Bedi, Anubha Fatehpuria, Rajesh Kumar and Raashul Tandon
Produced By: Jio Studios
Directors: Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah
Release Date: 9th Feb, 2024

A science fiction love story foiled by a faulty battery, "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" is an unfortunately half-baked offering. Not a single word uttered by the Shahid Kapoor-Kriti Sanon starrer resonates with meaningful conversation, let alone comprehension. If it ever elicits laughter, it does so unintentionally.

Penned and helmed by Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sah for Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films and Jio Studios, "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" masquerades as a rom-com but fails to deliver on either front.

The film draws shades from Maria Schrader's "I Am Your Man," a German sci-fi drama released in 2021. The female protagonist, an archaeologist seeking funds for a research project, agrees to spend three weeks with a humanoid robot designed to be her ideal partner, attuned to her every need, feeling, and impulse.

This isn't to suggest that "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" is a rip-off of "I Am Your Man." It can't be. The German film was a serious-minded, philosophy-tinged romance, whereas the film under scrutiny is a lightweight, insubstantial affair that quickly unravels.

Once the novelty of the concept wears off — and that occurs rather swiftly — there's little left to offer besides the fact that this marks the first collaboration between Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.

More than anything, it's a misogynistic fantasy run amok. It reduces the 'perfect woman' to a super-robot programmed to cater to its maker or owner's whims, an obedient machine designed to obey commands and be switched on or off at will. This is far from humorous.

The film's underlying message becomes abundantly clear when the male lead tells his married friend that the robotic woman who has entered his life is superior to a nagging wife. Neither bats an eyelid upon hearing this line, implying they believe women should be engineered to conform. If anything, the two men may be self-absorbed, but they're not outright toxic.

The film in which these characters reside is a casually, shamelessly sexist comedy of manners, a haphazard blend of an obnoxious "Kabir Singh" and an incoherent "Pyaar Ka Punchnama."

The male protagonist, Delhiite Aryan Agnihotri (Shahid Kapoor), is a robotics engineer who, during a trip to the US, falls for Sifra (Kriti Sanon) without knowing her true identity until it's too late.

Sifra is the brainchild of Aryan's maternal aunt Urmila Shukla (Dimple Kapadia), owner of a thriving robotics firm in the US. She insists that the robot is designed to be a companion for the lonely but fails to justify why this 'humanoid' must be female and subservient to her master.

Aryan, though lonely by choice, finds himself drawn to Sifra, who efficiently manages his workaholic aunt's household. Life takes an unexpected turn for Aryan after spending time with her.

"Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" starts off on a frivolous note and descends into further absurdity with each passing scene. A besotted yet perplexed Aryan can't shake Sifra from his thoughts. He persuades his aunt to send the robot to Mumbai, where he works, and passes her off as an orphan.

The premise of a robot wreaking havoc in a conservative Delhi household promises comedic potential. Unfortunately, the film fails to deliver laughs. The jokes fall flat, and the performers struggle to salvage anything from the sloppy script, leading to a losing battle.

Aryan refers to his family as "a classic Indian family," and he may be correct because they are as orthodox and obstinate as they come. His grandfather (Dharmendra), ironically, seems to be the most open-minded of the lot. Aryan's parents (Rakesh Bedi and Anubha Fatehpuria), paternal aunt and uncle (Grusha Kapoor and Brij Bhushan Shukla), and a single uncle (Rajesh Kumar) all exert influence over Aryan's personal decisions.

Predictable complications arise when Sifra enters Aryan's Delhi home. She is far superior to his family's expectations: fair, beautiful, with flawless skin, exceptional cooking skills, and the ability to sing and dance, all while being American and culturally adept.

What more could a "classic Indian family" — particularly the kind portrayed in Bollywood films — desire in a prospective bride? They collectively fall in love with Sifra, who can do no wrong.

However, Sifra lacks autonomy. She's merely a machine programmed to obey commands and needs regular charging. Nonetheless, the family is overjoyed to have her until her true identity is revealed.

Despite attempts at humor and the chemistry between Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, the film falters. Progressing like a substandard automaton, "Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya" runs on empty and fails to entertain.

It's all superficial chatter with no substance. An experiment gone wrong, it's two and a half hours of cinematic extravagance. Best to avoid.