Similarly, when Divya (Nuveksha) sternly tells Surya about accepting a breakup as easily as he accepted her proposal, it’s her perspective that you find rational. When Priya (Sonu Thakur) asks Rahul (Sandeep Saroj) to make up his mind about marital commitment, you see her point. Later, as Priya reveals her reasons for wanting to get married soon, you understand both her perspective and the reasons for her not confiding in Rahul earlier about the same.
These are people dealing with their baggage, following a rational that makes them right in their place. For every confrontational scene between the lovers, you walk away agreeing with the woman. While the film stays with a male perspective, the audience’s empathy largely lies with the female perspective—Roti Kapda Romance is a strange, perplexing film that way.
Sonia (Khushboo Choudhary), in particular, is a refreshing character. Under her conservative appearance and upbringing is a raging sexual drive and a practical mind that sees sexual needs as a practicality, without judging herself for it. At one point, she tells her friend to switch the Arjun Reddy soundtrack off because its sensuality distracts her from her studies. And yet, Sonia’s character journey becomes way too heavy handed for such a film, which is largely about the emotionally volatile youth and how they approach romantic relationships.
(There is also an awkwardly staged anti-abortion sermon that just doesn’t sit in a frothy, young film like this.) Khushboo delivers a sincere performance, rising over the script and bringing an emotional depth to many moments. Among the male counterparts, Supraj Ranga is the only one who makes you empathise with his character; the others—Harsha Narra, Sandeep Saroj and Tarun Ponuganti—struggle to lend any novelty to their archetypal roles.
The climax of Roti Kapda Romance is also a mixed bag. It talks about women being the transient phases of a man’s life, bringing them both joy and sorrow, while also addressing the complicated nature of relationships that don’t necessarily function in black or white.
During a moment of reconciliation, Surya and Divya apologise to each other and Divya reminds him what they shared cannot and will not vanish away. And yet, they must part ways because that’s the best for both of them. More often than not, the failure of a relationship belongs to both ends. Roti Kapda Romance rocgnises this element, and that’s enough progress for now.
Roti Kapda Romance
Cast: Khushboo Choudhary, Supraj Ranga, Harsha Narra, Sandeep Saroj, Nuveksha, Megha Lekha, Tarun Ponuganti
Director: Vikram Reddy