'Tanu Weds Manu Returns' Isn't a Feminist Triumph (But Close Enough?)

Aanand L. Rai's last film Raanjhanaa was so horrifically misogynistic (guy threatens to kill girl if she doesn't go out with him, she reluctantly does--yay, they're in love!) that I was severely disappointed that this movie I was kind of into was also directed by him. Tanu Weds Manu Returns had an appealing trailer, some catchy songs and the promise of a showcase performance for Filmfare award winner Kangana Ranaut. Truth be told, Tanu Weds Manu Returns came at the right time--I had just seen Ranaut in the totally marvelous Queen on Netflix.

Tanu Weds Manu Returns is the sequel to the 2011 hit Tanu Weds Manu. Ranaut stars with R. Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Swara Bhaskar and Deepak Dobriyal. Krsna Solo returns as music composer. The film was directed by Aanand L. Rai from a screenplay by Himanshu Sharma.

4 years after their marriage, Tanu (Ranaut) and Manu (Madhavan) are having major problems in their married life in London. After she has him committed, Tanu goes back to Kanpur. There she befriends her parents' entitled tenant Chintu (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub). Manu's brother Pappi (Dobriyal) releases him back from the mental institution and he goes back to India as well. He sends a letter to Tanu, saying he'll forgive her if she changes. This causes Tanu to reconnect with her old boyfriend Raja (Shergill). Manu encounters Haryani athlete Kusum (Ranaut again) and is shocked to see that she is an exact duplicate of Tanu.

Kusum and Tanu are both interesting characters. They are opposites but neither one is held on a pedestal. Tanu is spoiled, rebellious and impulsive. Kusum is hard-working, confident and hotheaded. But they are tied together not just by their striking resemblance but their immaturity. Tanu refuses to approach any situation like an adult, while Kusum is naive enough to believe that marrying her humshakal's ex-husband is a good idea. Neither woman is seen as perfect  but they are both strong, well-written interesting women. It's awesome having two three-dimensional, complex and interesting lead female characters in one film.

Kangana Ranaut is a fantastic actress. Her performances in this double role go way beyond Kusum's brilliant Haryanvi accent. I could totally believe you if you didn't believe it was the same actress. I didn't believe it either and still don't. For me, the purpose of a double role isn't just to show that two characters are different but to show how they are the same. Ranaut finds ways to tie them together. Manu's attraction to Kusum is obviously tied to his attraction/repulsion with Tanu. Otherwise, they could have found anyone to play Kusum.

For his part, Madhavan is happy to take a backseat to his leading lady. That's not to say that Manu isn't a good role for him. Madhavan is excellent at being subtly hilarious. Jimmy Shergill is awesome as Raja Awasthi. He has some of the best lines in the film. The supporting cast in this movie fills out the world quite nicely with some unique and wacky characters.

But why isn't this a total feminist triumph? Well, Aanand L. Rai still has some of the ugliness from Raanjhanaa left over. This film has two subplots about the Nice Guy Syndrome, neither of which have a satisfying conclusion. One even includes a woman getting kidnapped and then nothing comes from it. I don't mind seeing anti-feminist characters but to see the film take on these regressive ideas is very annoying.

The music in this film is pretty great. Banno is such a great dance song. Ghani Bawri shows Tanu putting herself on the line and it's an enjoyable track. Old School Girl is a feminist anthem, showing the many faces of Kusum and Tanu. Move On and Mat Ja are good but situational. The film has a simple but colorful look to it. The editing is pretty choppy but not distracting. Costumes are gorgeous, especially for Tanu. I love her outfit in Ghani Bawri.

Is Tanu Weds Manu Returns better than its predecessor? Yeah! It's funnier, bigger and features catchy music. The film is a showcase for actress Kangana Ranaut and she leads the film with confidence, fearlessness and honesty. While I had some issues with it, the film is very entertaining and has some insights about male/female relationships and marriage.

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