Does Bollywood need another Laila Majnu?

The trials and tribulations of lovers in epic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Beauty and the Beast and Helen of Troy have left a indelible impact on people's minds across generations. Now, another classic tale about lovers' ordeal is being brought to life in the retelling of the classic story of Laila Majnu with a contemporary twist. Two fresh faces - Avinash Tiwari and Tripti Dimri - have been roped in to  give this concept of love a fresh twirl.
Talking about Laila Majnu, which releases in UAE theatres today, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali (the man behind popular romances like Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal), who presents the movie which marks the directorial debut of his brother Sajid Ali, said in a recent interview that, "Laila Majnu is an eternal story of everlasting love. It's perhaps the most popular love story of all time. For the film, we wanted a fresh approach in all aspects - a fresh cast, fresh script and a fresh setting."
Creative minds Imtiaz Ali and Ekta Kapoor opted to tread a completely unconventional route for their passion project. To begin with, they decided to cast new faces as opposed to established actors in Laila Majnu, and the entire film is reportedly shot in reverse order, i.e. the shooting began with the last scene first and then proceeding forward in a reverse chronological order.
For the uninitiated, Laila Majnu is a centuries-old folk tale that still resonates with people today due to the intensity of the relationship between the protagonists. But will it make a mark at the box-office is a question that can only be answered once the verdict is out from movie goers today - who have the luxury to choose either this crazy romantic saga or a more patriotic movie in the form of J.P. Dutta's Paltan that also releases today.
Shot in Kashmir
With the beautiful locales of Kashmir as a  backdrop, the movie revolves around Kaes (Avinash) and Laila (Tripti) whose journey of love is filled with insurmountable obstacles. The characters are anything but stereotypical. We see Kaes deliver a line that says he has to make up for his ugly looks by being smart; while the lively and spirited Laila is the one who's shown as not having a care in the world for anything.
Who doesn't swoon over a good love story? Even a bad one will have fans in some corner of the world. But timeless classics like Laila Majnu have been followed for generations and have won hearts.
"We are all looking to having a long-term companionship with someone. We all desire to experience that. A relationship we can really cherish all our life. And Laila Majnu are the epitome of love," said Avinash about how the characters in this classic tale try to overcome hurdles to maintain their relationship. A romantic at heart, we see Laila passionately fall in love in the movie. As Imtiaz says, "Laila fell in love first and then searched for someone to fall in love with. This was the fascinating thing that led me into the story." 
Laila loves the concept of love and is on a quest to find it, even before she meets her lover. However, ironically, in real life, Tripti aka Laila does not feel the same about love. She believes in tame and light relationships.
"I don't want my relationships to be that serious. Not that crazy. I'm not into crazy s**t. The story is something very different. We don't get to see all of these things in real life. It's better if we see these things in movies. Not in real life."
Working with the Ali brothers
Talking about their experience working with the Ali brothers, the lead actors have nothing but praise for the duo. "Both of them (Imtiaz and Sajid) have their own ways of working. Sajid is very particular about things. And that's because he knows his characters and his plots in and out. He's very different from his brother. Imtiaz on the other hand is very easy going. He would first ask you what you understand from your character and the plot, and then he will try to put his point across. And if you're still unclear (about it), he will then try and make it easier for you by trying to find a balance. It was a very unique experience," Tripti said.
Avinash agrees, "I met Imtiaz sir in 2016 and I think he's one of the humblest guys that I've ever come across. I've always been in awe of him, and I still am. The way he lives his life and conducts himself, it's a life lesson. He's been the driving force behind the film and has held our hand throughout the journey. He told us, 'You'll have to walk on your own feet but I'll guide you through it.'"
The origin of Majnu
Majnu wasn't always majnu (crazy). Before he became Majnu, he was known as Qays ibn Al-Mulawwah, a 7th Century Bedouin poet who fell madly in love with Layla when they were very young. As they grew up, they found out that Layla's father was not too keen on their relationship. While Qays becomes obsessed with Layla, his tribe and his community give him the nickname of Majnu - meaning one who is crazy, or crazy in love. What began as a simple poem by Persian poet Nezami Ganjavi about Bedouin poet Qays and his ladylove Layla, went on to become what we today know as the epic romantic tale of Laila and Majnu.
Director Imtiaz Ali isn't the first filmmaker to adapt this story for the big screen. Previous movie adaptations include a Telugu film in 1949 directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao with the same title and a romantic classic in Tamil by F. Nagoor the following year.
Imtiaz Ali's romantic  films
Imtiaz Ali is known to create movies that are loved world over. He makes viewers fall in love with all kinds of unconventional characters - from the nutty Geet played by the ever lovely Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jab We Met to the rowdy kidnapper Mahabir Bati (Randeep Hooda) in Highway. He brings a fresh perspective to all of his movies and flips the concept of the typical love story on its head to make it more appealing to cinema fans.