The Romantics is a 4-episode series directed by Smriti Mundhra. Smriti has written the episodes along with Michael T Vollmann. The series talks about the legacy of India’s one of the most prominent and legendary directors, the late Mr Yash Chopra. It features a lot of Bollywood stars, directors and writers. The episodes are of an hour approximately. The review is based on the first two episodes shown at the media screening.

The synopsis reads, “Featuring archival footage and in-depth celebrity interviews, this docuseries celebrates the life and legacy of Bollywood filmmaking titan Yash Chopra.”

The Romantics Review (Based on Episodes 1 and 2)

We all remember when, why and how we fell in love with the movies. My very first memory of watching a Movie is of Baazigar on TV. I might be 8-9 years old, and I was impressed by the charm of Shah Rukh Khan, who has so many shades. I was curious about the actor, and every time his movies would come on any TV channel, I would watch them. That’s how I became familiar with his incredible works like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Badshah and more.

SRK was my introduction to the cinema. He made me fall in love with him and the movies at an age when I didn’t know what love was. Little did I know that with the help of SRK movies, I would learn about the massive Hindi film industry. At an age where I would forget to do my homework, I could thoroughly remember the lyrics of my many favourite songs. With age, I understood that movies are not only made by actors, but there are writers, directors, singers, musicians, technicians, and so many people. Among many gems we have in this country, one of them was Yash Chopra.

In Netflix’s The Romantics, we learn about the iconic late director’s journey from being a dreamer to an achiever. We understand his desire to make good movies, passion for telling impactful stories, dedication to giving great music, and making sure his actors and actresses look remarkable on screen. I won’t give away a lot of spoilers about what’s being told in detail about Mr Chopra in the docuseries. It is something that every movie lover should watch and experience.

What made Yash Chopra such an iconic personality is how he didn’t narrow himself down to a particular kind of cinema. His movies spoke of the newly independent country; there was action, drama, crime, obsession, and lots of romance. The docuseries also have 35 celebrities who share their experience working with Chopra. From his wife, Pamela Chopra, to actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, and Rani Mukerji, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, everyone shares anecdotes about the Jab Tak Hai Jaan director.

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The Romantics don’t shy away from talking about the lows in his career. In the archive interview footage, the Veer Zaara director confessed that there was a point when he wasn’t happy with the kind of movies he made. He was trying to fit into the trend of action movies. But the 90s changed everything, and love made its way again on the screen and in people’s lives.

In the mid-90s, Yash’s elder son Aditya Chopra made his directorial debut with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. DDLJ redefined love stories, and nothing has come closer to it, even after 3 decades. It’s such a delight to see Aditya Chopra on camera, talking about his father, YRF movies, his movies and his love and understanding of cinema.

The Netflix docuseries stirred up a lot of sentiments in me, and it will do the same for everyone who loves movies, especially Yash Chopra’s romantic and dramatic Hindi films. Although I may not have seen every YRF film, I have seen most of them. I cried while seeing sequences from several well-known movies. It was a trip through some of the most spectacular times in Indian cinema.

I felt nostalgic when I saw the scene of Amitabh Bachchan singing the Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein song. I wasn’t even born in that era. I saw Kabhi Kabhie in 2017. But that’s the power of cinema; it transposes you to times and places where you weren’t even there. It’s like a time machine, a reminder of both bad and good old days. It reminds you of the simpler time that leaves most feeling that you’re born in the wrong era. Who doesn’t want to experience and live the romance and love we see in these beautiful stories woven by Yash Chopra?

The Romantics Review: Final Thoughts

Smriti Mundhra’s The Romantics reminds us – Come, let’s fall in love with cinema again! It’s a perfect Valentine’s gift to movie lovers; it’s a terrific homage to the magic created by Yash Chopra through his mastery, art, vision and creativity.

In the last few years, Indian cinema, especially Hindi movies, has taken a serious tone, with films majorly about social issues. There are also a lot of remakes, big-budget action movies and biopics. The genre of romance is lost deep in the background somewhere. Even the King of Romance has walked the path of action (PS: I enjoyed Pathaan). One can only hope that the Netflix documentary series helps to bring romance back into cinema.

The series is now streaming on Netflix.

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