Parvathy and Irrfan’s chemistry is pure and organic, and does not remind you of the fact that the two hadn’t worked together before. The actors give in their best to the small banters that the film highlights. Irrfan’s character could have been developed a little more. His past is the basis for the plot of the film, but it’s still not delved into a lot.Maybe, the director found it necessary to keep it under wraps. The story is a fresh take on romance and relationships, and it is a much-welcomed one. It talks about being in love and moving on happily.

A light-hearted traipse through loves lost and lives interrupted, Tanuja Chandra's Qarib Qarib Singlle - yes, it is single with double 'l' - isn't anywhere near qarib qarib perfect. But give or take a few stray missteps, it is an elegantly crafted, languidly paced film that puts a delightfully off-kilter, mellow spin on the conventions of the rom-com. In fact, given its unusual narrative arc in which nothing seems to be happening by way of overt action and plot progression, Qarib Qarib Singlle is a difficult film to slot in any single genre. For Irrfan, Qarib Qarib Singlle is a veritable breeze. He cruises through the film with customary elan without breaking a sweat. His comic timing is at its scintillating best. Malayalam cinema star Parvathy, in her first Hindi role, brings easy charm and intelligence to bear upon the character of Jaya. She fills every frame with a warm glow. Talking of the frames, a mention of the work of director of photography Eeshit Narain is in order. His lighting and visual compositions, striking in the depth that they manage to create even in closed spaces, lends a distinct look and feel to the film. The frames aren't uniformly illumined. Nor does the camera focus solely on faces. Narain creates angular, evocative images that thrive on an interplay of light, shade and shadows. The unhurried rhythm of Qarib Qarib Singlle might put off average filmgoers but if you see value in a film that breaks away from norm and derives strength from understatement rather than flashy storytelling methods, your search ends here.

Qarib Qarib Singlle is a road movie-cum-coming-of-age-romance, with a bittersweet tang to it, and yet it is peppy, and fun and fresh: two adults, a man and a woman, connect via a dating site, and find that online, can, sometimes, translate into something vital and real offline. This Irrfan Khan and Parvathy starrer is peppy, fun and fresh. We’ve seen Irrfan Khan at his most charming before, and he carries on in the same vein, showing flashes of banked passion. But this film’s real draw is Parvathy. The pace is just right: not too fast, not too slow. Things develop unhurriedly. This is the kind of film where nothing happens while everything is happening. There’s a lot going on between Yogi and Jaya, and that’s what we want in relationship dramas, the awareness of each other that builds slowly yet steadily. It is all so right that you are compelled to ignore that eye-roll of a reason that leads to the journey, a few flat moments and underlined scenes – zooming into faces to tell us how the character is feeling – especially one in which one of them, finally, grows up. At the end of it, you hope that their relationship status will change to Kareeb Kareeb Couple.

By now, we're well aware of the formula behind Bollywood romantic movies. When boy meets girl, they fall in love and overcome all their hurdles because in the end - Love conquers all. Oversimplification aside, it's been a while since we've seen a rom-com that manages to subvert the route usually taken by these movies. 'Qarib Qarib Singlle' certainly embarks on the road less traveled, and for the most part, it succeeds. This film wouldn't resonate as much with lesser skilled actors, and Tanuja Chandra knows this. She lets Irrfan and Parvathy bring out their nuanced interpretations of the lead pair, which then keeps you amply invested in their stories enough to see them through to the end. Eeshit Narain's cinematography also adds to the film's realism by beautifully capturing the subjects in their natural elements, without resorting to over-dramatic shots. As long as you don't expect fireworks, enjoy this sweet film that will leave you smiling.