One by Two

Cast: Abhay Deol, Preeti Desai, Rati Agnihotri, Lillette Dubey, Darshan Jariwala, Jayant Kripalani, Diwakar Pundir, Geetika Tyagi, Maya Sarao, Yudhishtir Urs, Anish Trivedi, Preetika Chawla, Tahir Bhasin, Yashika Dhillon

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Direction: Devika Bhagat

Production: Amit Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Sanjay Kapoor, Vikram Khakhar, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Story: Devika Bhagat

Screenplay : Devika Bhagat

Cinematographer: Sameer Arya

Music: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy

Editing : Shan Mohammed

Studio : Anil Kapoor Films Company, PVR Pictures, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures

Distribution: Cynozure Networkz

Release Date: 31^st January, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Rating: 2.75/3 (Average +)

One by Two is a film which tracks down the lives of two protagonists parallelly. I can not actually put it under the genre of Romance or Comedy as such, but yes, it deals with certain complexities of love, profession, dreams, aspirations, ambitions, relationships, parental concerns in a lighter manner.

Amit Sharma (Abhay Deol) essays the role of an individual whose left / right hemisphere of the brain both seems to be in conflict with one another adding confusion to his life. Though being a software professional whom boss / colleagues trust, he is neither at his optimum best in his professional life nor in personal life. He is complacent with the fact that he is boring in his approach towards life. His way of handling rejections in relationships are not overdone. His mood swings, casual yet sensitive relationships with parents, perseverance to win back the girlfriend, his annoying flatulence (though this humour was out of place), his approach in life with a spectator’s attitude are effortlessly played by Abhay Deol. A nagging mother Meenu Sharma (Rati Agnihotri) and one-liner witty Susheel Sharma (Jayant Kripalani) portrayed their roles realistically.

Another protagonist Samara Patel (Preeti Desai) plays the role of a dancer, aspiring to make it big. Choreographer Ashley Lobo’s signature dance moves are well projected by Samara. Her efforts to give priorities / value to relationships, yielding in love at times, singing aloud ‘Kaboom’ on road soon after break-up projects the attitude of the character. The tumultuous life of a mother Kalpana Patel (Lillette Dubey) capsized in a drunken state handled by a loving and a caring daughter is quiet watchable.

The film’s portrayal of police officers less in action, more in Shero-Shayari adds zest to the whole plot. Darshan Jariwala’s affectionate Mamu act to Abhay Deol is good. Other actors viz. Diwakar Pundir, Geetika Tyagi, Maya Sarao, Yudhishtir Urs, Anish Trivedi, Preetika Chawla, Tahir Bhasin, Yashika Dhillon also do a pretty decent job.

Devika Bhagat’s attempt to give a fresh approach to tell a story (of two) through her direction, story and screenplay is appreciable but one can not deny the fact that it has flaws as well. The first half is a drag. One keeps wondering and waiting for the two protagonists to meet each other but ….. oh, let me not reveal the same that when do their paths actually intersect.

Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya is good who has used catchphrases- Kaboom, Khushfehmiyan, Pakaoed, Khuda na Khasta… Shankar-Ehsaan-Leo have definitely unplugged melodious ‘Khushfehmiyan…’, ‘Baat kya hai...’ very well.

One by Two is not for you, if you want to enjoy Romance or Comedy. 

One by Two is for you, if you want to watch a light-hearted movie with a feel-good factor (with occasionally just the opposite).

Indeed this is a One by Two movie since where this movie ends, it is left to the imagination of the audience whether it is actually an end or a new beginning for the protagonists appearing not in a split-screen but in single screen in a sequel.