2 States (2014 film)

2 States is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic-comedy drama film written and directed by Abhishek Varman, marking his directorial debut. An adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's 2009 novel with the same name,[3] it is produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala under their respective banners Dharma Productions and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film stars Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt,[4] with Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Revathi and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam portraying supporting roles. Distributed by UTV Motion Pictures,[5] it was released worldwide on 18 April 2014, receiving positive reviews. The music of the film was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy. A major box-office success, it grossed ₹1.75 billion (US$25 million) worldwide against its ₹360 million (US$5.0 million) budget. At the 60th Filmfare Awards,[6] the film was nominated in eight categories including Best Film, Best Director (Varman), Best Supporting Actor (Roy), Best Supporting Actress (Singh) among others, and won two: Best Debut Director (Varman) and Best Music Director (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy).

2 States
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAbhishek Varman
Produced byKaran Johar
Sajid Nadiadwala
Written byStory:
Chetan Bhagat
Abhishek Varman
Dialogues:
Hussain Dalal
Screenplay byAbhishek Varman
Based on2 States: The Story of My Marriage
by Chetan Bhagat
StarringArjun Kapoor
Alia Bhatt
Ronit Roy
Amrita Singh
Revathi
Shiv Kumar Subramaniam
Music bySongs:
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Background Score:
Tubby-Parik
CinematographyBinod Pradhan
Edited byNamrata Rao
Production
company
Distributed byUTV Motion Pictures
Release date
  • 18 April 2014 (2014-04-18)
(India)
Running time
150 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹360 million[2]
Box office₹1750.2 million[2]

Plot

Krish Malhotra, a fresh Engineer from IIT Delhi, now a student pursuing his MBA at the IIM Ahmedabad, Gujarat, comes from a troubled, rich family of Punjabi Hindu origin based in Delhi. His mother, Kavita Malhotra, is often beaten by his father, Vikram Malhotra. He meets his classmate Ananya Swaminathan, an economics topper in her college, who comes from a conservative Tamil Hindu Brahmin family. Krish and Ananya initially quarrel, but soon become friends and start studying together. Ananya, though an economics topper, is unable to answer simple questions to her professor who chides her in turn. Ananya finds that Krish is a genius and starts taking his help in academics. Krish is attracted to Ananya and can not control himself, so one day, he tells Ananya that either they end their friendship or she kisses him because while close to her, Krish is distracted too much from her for him to focus on studies. Soon they begin dating and stay together for their next 22 months on the IIM campus. Krish confides in Ananya that his real passion is writing, which he wants to pursue a career in. They both have become close to each other and fall for each other during the stay in IIM. Krish gets selected in the campus drives for Yes Bank. He immediately rushes to the next room and proposes to Ananya, in the middle of her interview. She accepts and then gets selected for Sunsilk.

When they complete their graduation, Krish and Ananya decide to get married. They introduce their parents to each other at the convocation ceremony. To their dismay, Krish's loud Punjabi mother Kavita, does not get along with Ananya's reserved Tamil parents Radha and her husband. After graduation, Ananya begins her marketing job in her hometown Chennai, and Krish goes back to his own hometown Delhi, with the choice of the workplace in his own hands. Krish's brash family urges him to stay in Delhi and try to discourage him from his interest in writing. They also criticize his relationship with Ananya and tell him to get into an arranged marriage with a Punjabi girl. It is also evident that there is tension between Krish and his rich, alcoholic father, Vikram.

Krish, unable to get over Ananya, leaves his dysfunctional family and shifts his job to Chennai. During this time, he tries very hard to win over Ananya's family. He initially steps on the rangoli at the entrance of their house and, unintentionally, messes it up, which upsets Ananya's father. Gradually, over a period of time, he builds rapport with the family. He tutors her younger brother for the IIT entrance, gets her mother an opportunity to sing for an event at his workplace, and helps Ananya's father create his first PowerPoint presentation.

With his efforts, when Krish symbolically proposes to each member of the family, Ananya's family agrees to the marriage. Krish and Ananya then travel to Delhi to win over Krish's family. Initially, Kavita and her family are hostile towards Ananya but slowly come to like her after she saves Krish's cousin's wedding from being canceled due to a dispute over an excessive dowry.

Krish and Ananya decide to take a vacation in Mumbai with their families before the wedding. The vacation does not go as planned when Kavita makes continuous snide remarks about Tamilian culture. Furthermore, Ananya and her parents overhear Krish falsely assuring his mother that she can treat Ananya however she wants after they are married. Having had enough of the insults Ananya breaks up with Krish, and both go their separate ways.

Krish and Ananya find it hard to live without each other. Krish becomes a workaholic and becomes depressed and starts writing about his story with Ananya. He also visits her in Chennai, where she warns him to stop communication. Sometime later, he gets a call from Ananya, who reveals that Krish's father had secretly come down to Chennai to speak to her parents, apologizing for his wife's shallow behavior in an effort to change their decision. This allows for Krish and Ananya to finally get married, with Krish and his Punjabi family traveling by train to Chennai for the wedding. His father initially says that he will not attend the wedding to prevent any further embarrassment, but at the last minute, he flies down to Chennai with Krish seeing his rental car outside of the hotel, and to the surprise of his mother, announcing that his father has come to the wedding during an argument with the priests due to the absence of the father. Krish's father apologizes to his mother for his abusive behavior over the years.

After getting married, Ananya gives birth to twin boys. Krish resigns from his job at the bank and publishes his book 2 States based on his and Ananya's life.

Cast

Production

Casting

The first choice for the lead pair in the film had been Saif Ali Khan and Priyanka Chopra and the film was to be directed by Siddharth Anand.[9] Later, it was announced that Shah Rukh Khan and Asin Thottumkal would play lead roles and the film was to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.[10] The role of Krish Malhotra was also offered to Imran Khan who instead chose to work on Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.[11] Finally, Arjun Kapoor was cast as the lead.[12] The female lead was then offered to Anushka Sharma who rejected it as she didn't find the role interesting enough and later Alia Bhatt signed on.[13] Amrita Singh and Ronit Roy were cast as Arjun Kapoor's parents and Revathi Nair and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam were cast as Alia Bhatt's parents.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on 29 January 2013 with the shooting of a song.[14] Parts of the film were shot at Chennai, Delhi, IIM-A and Gol Limda Bhajiya House near Astodia Darwaza, Ahmedabad Railway Station to Police commissioner office in Ahmedabad in August 2013.[15][16] Alia would be sporting an Indian Fusion look in the film and her costumes have been designed by Manish Malhotra.[17] Speaking about her character, Alia said that she is a City Girl who speaks Tamil only with her parents.[18] It was given a U/A certificate by the censor board

The song "Offo" was choreographed and conceptualized by Remo D'Souza as a celebration of several Indian festivals in a time lapse of almost one year. It was shot over four days at IIM Ahmedabad campus and Filmistan Studio in Mumbai.[19]

Soundtrack
2 States
Soundtrack album by
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released16 March 2014
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length25:06
LabelT-Series
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology
Darr @ the Mall
(2014)		 2 States
(2014)		 Kill Dil
(2014)

The film score was composed by Tubby-Parik while the songs were composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, while the lyrics for the songs were penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The first song, Offo, sung by Aditi Singh Sharma and Amitabh Bhattacharya, released on 7 March 2014. The second song, Locha-E-Ulfat, sung by Benny Dayal, released on 13 March 2014. The soundtrack of the film released on 16 March 2014. The medley song "Isaiyin Alai" at the Concert was sung by Mahalaxmi Iyer. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy won the Filmfare Award and IIFA Award 2015 for this film.

Track list
No.TitleSingersLength
1."Offo"Aditi Singh Sharma, Amitabh Bhattacharya3:34
2."Locha-E-Ulfat"Benny Dayal4:48
3."Mast Magan"Arijit Singh, Chinmayi Sripada4:40
4."Chaandaniya"K. Mohan, Yashita Sharma4:07
5."Hullaa Re"Shankar Mahadevan, Siddharth Mahadevan, Rasika Shekar3:41
6."Iski Uski"Akriti Kakkar, Shahid Mallya, Shankar Mahadevan4:14
7."Isayin Alai"Mahalaxmi Iyer2:35
Total length:25:06

Release

India

According to Box Office India, 2 States had "excellent" first day figures of ₹120 million (US$1.7 million).[20][21] The collections for second day were around ₹118 million (US$1.7 million) taking its two-day total to ₹238 million (US$3.3 million), receiving a "fantastic" response in circuits like Mumbai, Mysore, Delhi-UP, CP Berar, CI, Nizam and Rajasthan.[21][22] The film was declared a "Super Hit" by Box Office India in light of its first two days' performance.[21] With a very good run in multiplexes and single screens alike, it managed a three-day nett of ₹280 million (US$3.9 million).[23] 2 States had a final domestic nett of ₹811 million (US$11 million).[24]

International

According to Box Office India, 2 States grossed US$5.85 million internationally, and was the second highest overseas grosser of 2014 in Bollywood after Jai Ho at that point.[25][26]

Critical reception

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama awarded the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, and noted, "On the whole, 2 States is one of the finest movies to come out of the Hindi film industry of late. This is one of those rare Hindi movies that commands a repeat viewing. Strongly recommended!"[27] Critic Saurabh Dwivedi, writing for India Today, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, and published, "2 States can be a good mirror for parents to understand their children. So take along your parents and enjoy the film."[28] Meena Iyer of The Times of India gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, and wrote, "What makes 2 States work is the simple narrative told humorously. Adapted as it is, from one of author Chetan Bhagat's best-selling works, the film, just like the book before it, is light-hearted. Chetan's funny one-liners and life-view are studiously borrowed by the director for his screen outing. And though there is a sense of deja-vu, for those who have read the book, the movie still manages to charm and surprise."[29] Paloma Sharma of Rediff.com gave the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars and opined, "There's nothing that should keep you from watching 2 States".[30] Mohar Basu of Koimoi gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, and wrote, "2 States is barely unwatchable but misses the magic of Chetan Bhagat's novel. As a stand-alone, it is endearingly done with Alia and Arjun's scorching chemistry coming off as adorable. The Bhagat fan in me is disappointed, but the cinemagoer isn't."[31] DNA posted, the first half of the film is light and breezy and the second dramatic and emotional, perhaps a better balance would have helped the post-interval portion which seems heavy.[32]

Hindustan Times' Anupama Chopra gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, and said, "In 2 States, the story is the weakest link. The film is bolstered by talented actors, gorgeous songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, nice styling, sumptuous production design, and a few sparkling moments. But in the second half, 2 States falls apart. At almost two-and-a-half hours, it's also stretched so thin that by the time Krish and Ananya walk into the sunset, you are long past caring". Concerning Kapoor and Bhatt, she said, "Arjun, departing from his earlier violent roles, makes a nicely goofy and later subdued lover boy, but it's Alia who lights up the screen."[33] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, and wrote, "2 States is a cross-culture love story that strives to be sweet, funny and emotionally wrenching all at once. It is occasionally funny and sweet in parts all right, but the family drama at the film's core has a severely stultified feel. The trouble is that the impending wedding remains impending far too long to sustain interest... it sets out to be a slice-of-life drama about a real couple grappling with the politics of inter-community marriage, but it fails to generate enough energy and warmth to draw the audience into a tight clinch".[34] Shubra Gupta of The Indian Express gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, and said, "2 States... sets out to be a solid, emotionally satisfying rom-com, and goes well for a bit but then turns into a too-stretched-out 'jhagda' between the two sets of North-South parents. The smooth, engaging first half descends, post-interval, into mopey melodrama, and I got impatient waiting for the inevitable resolution." She praised Bhatt's performance, saying, "...Alia Bhatt is a surprise. She leaves behind her earlier films, and gets into her character: she may not be an authentic 'Southie' in terms of body language, but she is all girl, easy and fresh and natural."[35]

Awards
21st Screen Awards
  • Best Film Marketing
60th Filmfare Awards
7th Mirchi Music Awards

Remake

The film has been remade in Telugu with same name starring Adivi Sesh and Shivani.[36][37]

References
  1. "2 STATES (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. "2 States – Movie – Box Office India". Box Office India. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. "Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in 2 States". India Today. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  4. "2 States Cast and Crew". bollywoodhungama.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  5. "Cast,Crew,Actorstresses,Director and Producers of 2 States". Oneindia.in. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. "Movie Review: 2 States – or how to woo the parents – Blogs". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. "Ronit Roy plays negative role in 2 States". India Today. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  8. ""I am doing a negative role in 2 States" says Ronit Roy". IBN Live. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  9. "Saif & Priyanka in Siddharth Anand's adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's '2 States' | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | News". BollywoodHungama.com. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  10. "Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra re-ignite 2 States". The Times of India. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  11. "Casting chronicle: One's miss is another's hit". India Today. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  12. "SRK Wins Face of Romantic Music Award at Radio Mirchi Music Awards". The Times of India. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  13. "5 Films Anushka Sharma Rejected & We Thank Her For That!". filmibeat.com. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  14. "Arjun, Alia starrer 2 States goes on floor today". Bollywood Hungama. Bollywood Hungama News Network. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  15. "Arjun Kapoor, Alia Bhatt at IIM Ahmedabad for 2 States". The Indian Express. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  16. "'2 States' brings Ahmedabad centre to a standstill". Daily News and Analysis. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  17. "Alia Bhatt sports an Indian Fusion Look in 2 States". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  18. "Being a Tamil Girl was not difficult for Alia Bhatt in 2 States". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  19. "Festival soiree". The Indian Express. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  20. "2 States Has Excellent First Day". Box Office India T. Box Office India. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  21. "2 States Emerges Biggest Hit Of 2014". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  22. "Two Day Circuit Figures – 2 States". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  23. "2 States Has Excellent Weekend". Box Office India Trade Network. Box Office India. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  24. "All Time Top Ten Under 50 Crore Budget Grossers – 2 States Tops". Box Office India. 14 May 2014.
  25. "Boxoffice". Box Office India. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  26. "Top Ten Worldwide Grossers 2014". Box Office India. 4 February 2015.
  27. Adarsh, Taran. "2 States". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  28. Dwiwedi, Saurabh. "Movie Review: 2 States is a tale of journey from love to marriage". India Today. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  29. Iyer, Meena. "2 States". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  30. "Review: Nothing should keep you from watching 2 States – Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  31. Basu, Mohar. "2 States Review". Koimoi. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  32. Sarita A Tanwar (17 April 2014). "Film review: Two states starring Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor is realistic and fresh | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  33. Chopra, Anupama. "Movie review by Anupama Chopra: 2 States' story is its weakest link". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  34. Chatterjee, Saibal. "2 States: movie review". NDTV. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  35. Gupta, Shubra. "2 States movie review : Alia Bhatt is easy, fresh and natural". The Indian Express. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  36. "Adivi Sesh, Shivani to star in Telugu remake of 2 States; film to be 'slightly peppier' than original". Firstpost. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  37. "2 States' Telugu remake to go on floors soon". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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