With “Jodi Ekdin”, Director Riingo Has completed his trilogy. Not a thematic trilogy, but a trilogy of copying Hollywood. Three consecutive copy in a row. The first one is “Love Story”, the second one is “Cellular” and this one is “If only”.
“If Only “ was made in 2004. It was an American romantic drama directed by Gil Junger. The principal casts were Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paul Nicholls.
Riingo doesn’t try to hide his copying attitude. He keeps the title of his films sometimes the same (as on “Love Story”), and sometimes literal translation (as “Jodi Ekdin” as “If only”).
If you have seen “If only”, my advice is not to watch Riingo’s Bong Version of it, Because Hollywood can never be re-made in Bengali. Riingo utterly failed in “Cellular”, and to some extent in “Love Story”.
Any way, the story revolves around two live in partners Neel (Indraneil Sengupta) and Nikita (Priyanka). Their life is smooth like a mirror. Neel is a corporate guy and Nikita is a promising singer. Everybody around them believes “Couple ho to aisa”.
But one day everything goes wrong with them. Everything means everything. But they are not responsible whatever happens. As if they are driven by destiny. Their relationship gets a crack. One misunderstands other.
Nikita’s friend (Rii) tries to console her. Neel’s conscience (Saheb Chatterjee) appears as a magician from the blue. He suggests three magic steps to make the relationship work. But the moment Neel tries to make it up with Nikita, she dies. Yes, she dies in a car crash.
The uniqueness of “If Only” was handling the screenplay right after this. Riingo has failed in handling the later part.
Neel feels lonely, he tries to find his love in Nikita’s belongings. One such belonging was diary. He flips the pages, and then…and then he hears the voice of Nikita, “What the hell you are doing with my diary?” Nikita is alive, we were watching “if only Nikita dies what would happen to Neel?”
Indraneil and Priyanka both are good. Priyanka is better. Saheb and Rii are OK. The Photography by Riingo is brilliant. “If Only” Riingo thinks something other than Hollywood next time, it would be better for him, and us also.