12 years of Raanjhanaa: 5 films capturing same chaos of love and obsession

Twelve years ago, on June 21, 2013, Raanjhanaa was released to the public, telling an emotional story of naiveté, obsession, and loss that many could relate to. The film examines the various shades of unrequited love and teenage passion, with Dhanush's explosive Hindi cinema debut, a haunting score by A.R. Rahman, and Aanand L. Rai's grounded directing serving as its anchors. In honour of the film's 12th anniversary, we take a look back at five more films that share the same Raanjhanaa vibe—an intense emotional journey marked by untidy longing and honest vulnerability. Raanjhanaa
Stream Bareilly Ki Barfi, Highway, and Piku now on OTTplay Premium— heartwarming journeys filled with charm, self-discovery, and unforgettable characters.
As a modern-day adaptation of Great Expectations, Fitoor explores issues of social class and the psychological wounds caused by unrequited love. The film stars Katrina Kaif as the icy, otherworldly Firdaus, and Aditya Roy Kapur plays the role of an artist whose obsession with the eerie Kashmir backdrop and artistic images leads him to fall in love. It tackles the same themes as Raanjhanaa—the way love can turn into an obsession and the trauma that people carry with them into adulthood. Tamasha
How can we cope when the pressures of conforming to society stifle our true selves? Two individuals, Ved (Ranbir Kapoor) and Tara (Deepika Padukone), who meet in Corsica and develop feelings for each other's unrestrained selves, are the means through which this is examined in Tamasha by Imtiaz Ali. Similar to Kundan in Raanjhanaa, Ved also grapples with the conflict between conforming and fully embracing life. Romance is depicted in both films as a path to self-discovery rather than merely a romantic pursuit. Cocktail
At its heart, Cocktail is about friendship, love, and the hazy space in between. Relationships are unpredictable, as shown in the stories of Meera, Veronica, and Gautam, portrayed by Diana Penty, Deepika Padukone, and Saif Ali Khan, respectively. Similar to Raanjhanaa, it explores the complexities of love and asks if it is ever sufficient on its own. Love is depicted as unpredictable, fragile, and chaotic at times. Manmarziyaan
One of the most direct spiritual descendants of Raanjhanaa is Manmarziyaan by Anurag Kashyap. Rumi, played by Taapsee Pannu, is conflicted between Robbie's (Abhishek Bachchan) level-headed wisdom and Vicky's (Vicky Kaushal) impulsive, poisonous love. The film exposes the tumultuous emotional turbulence that frequently characterises contemporary love, thanks to a scathing screenplay by Kanika Dhillon. Vicky is just like Kundan: a real, flawed, and obsessed person. OK Bangaram
This Tamil romantic comedy features Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menen as a contemporary Mumbai couple negotiating a live-in relationship, and it was directed by Mani Ratnam. The emotional tug of war between commitment and independence is delicately woven into the second half of Raanjhanaa; despite its seemingly lighter tone, OK Bangaram manages to portray this conflict. It's about a love that finds its way through life while holding on to its dreams.
Raanjhanaa reflected on more than simply romantic relationships; it also explored themes of sacrifice, identity, and the challenges of first love.

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The Hindu

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• The Hindu

Keeping old Hindi melodies alive

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Hindustan Times

4 hours ago

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‘Maar na': Shubman Gill tells Rishabh Pant to hook bouncer for six, his reply: ‘Respect karna pada tagda'

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant's stump mic chatter was as entertaining as their batting during the India vs England first Test at Headingley. In between their solid defence and attractive boundary that made England's bowling attack appear ordinary, Pant and Gill constantly chatted while standing at the striker's and the non-striker's positions. Sometimes, it was teasing each other, sometimes related to what the bowler was trying to do, and sometimes it was just pure fun. And all of that was in Hindi. India's Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill(Action Images via Reuters) They were so entertaining that they also caught the attention of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who termed it a strategy to confuse the English fielders. Among many episodes between Gill and Pant during their mammoth 209-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Gill teasing Pant to go after Brydon Carse was perhaps the best. It happened in the first session of Day 2. The over number was 94. Carse was trying to test Pant's backfoot play by banging the ball in. In the fourth ball of that over, Carse bowled a well-directed bumper at Pant's body. The Indian keeper-batter ducked under it. As Carse was going back to his mark, Gill told Pant "maar na," which translates to "Hit ma, no." Pant generally likes to take on the short ball, but this one from Carse was a bit too short. His reply to Gill was pure gold. "Bada ball daal dia yaar. Respect karna pad gaya bohut tagdaa. (He bowled a good one, man! I had to give him a lot of respect)." Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill's remarkable 209-run partnership was the highlight of India's first innings in the opening Test against England. Resuming on 359-3, with Gill unbeaten on 127 and Pant on 65, the pair displayed a compelling mix of composure and aggression that pushed India firmly towards a commanding position before an unexpected collapse. Gill, captaining India for the first time after Rohit Sharma's retirement, played with maturity beyond his years. He brought up his highest Test score of 147 with elegant strokeplay, surpassing his previous best of 128. His innings, laced with 19 boundaries and a six, was a masterclass in timing and placement. His off-drive against Chris Woakes to reach the milestone was particularly memorable, showcasing his growing stature as a leader and batsman. At the other end, Pant unleashed his trademark attacking style. Resuming on 65, he brought up his seventh Test century—and fourth against England—in thrilling fashion, lofting Shoaib Bashir for a one-handed six. The celebration that followed, a somersault, was as energetic as his 134-run knock. His 146-ball innings featured 10 fours and four sixes and kept the scoreboard ticking briskly. Together, Gill and Pant added 209 runs in just 49 overs, steering India to 430-4 and seemingly toward a total in excess of 500. Their contrasting styles complemented each other perfectly: Gill anchored the innings with finesse while Pant injected momentum with his fearless hitting. However, the end of their partnership triggered a dramatic collapse, with India losing their final seven wickets for just 41 runs. Still, the stand between Gill and Pant stood out as a blend of flair and focus, a vital foundation in India's innings that showcased the next generation of Indian batting brilliance.

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