Tanu Weds Manu Returns

Plot

Four years later in their marriage, Tanu and Manu visit marriage counselors where they start bickering at each other. Because of Tanus various allegations, Manu gets enraged, and is later taken by the doctors into custody suspecting his mental health. Tanus friend Payal calls her from India and confides that her newborn babys father is not her husband Jassi. An amused Tanu decides to return to her hometown, Kanpur. While leaving London, Tanu rings Manus friend Pappi in Delhi and tells him to come to London and release Manu.

At Kanpur in her parents home, Tanu finds a crafty law student called Chintu has become a lodger who refuses to pay or leave. Chintu befriends Tanu and slowly develops a crush on her, being bemused by her antics. Tanu also comes to know that her ex-boyfriend, Raja Awasthi, is getting engaged to another girl. Pappi reaches London and gets Manu out and they reach India, where Manu sends a legal notice to Tanu, but she does not respond.

One day Manu goes to Delhi University to give a medical speech, where he sees Kusum, a young Haryanvi student-athlete, who looks like Tanu. He slowly gets obsessed with Kusum and keeps following her despite Pappis warning. One day after Kusum confronts them, Manu tells her about Tanu. Kusum sympathises and they gradually develop feelings for each other. Manu tells Kusum he wants to marry her and meets Omi, her elder brother. Omi has no issues with Manu but shows a picture of the boy his wife wanted Kusum to marry, who turns out to be Raja.

Chintu gets jealous of Raja going around with Tanu and tells her father about it. He even sends Manu a nasty legal notice for a divorce, without Tanus consent, but Manu responds by agreeing, which shocks Tanu. She confronts Chintu who says he loves her but Raja shoves him off. Raja also discovers his engagement is being called off as Manu is going to marry the new girl in his life. Both Raja and Tanu are enraged and decide to go to Delhi to confront Manu.

Manu, Kusum and Pappi travel to Chandigarh to convince Komal, Payals sister-in-law whom Pappi loves, to run away from her wedding with Pappi instead. There Kusum is mistaken by everyone at the wedding as Tanu, including by Payal, who tells her she had a test-tube baby as Jassi was impotent. Kusum gets frantic on hearing these secrets and gives Payal a karate chop which knocks her out. She also gives Komal a karate chop too and they smuggle her to Jhajjar, where Kusums villagers are waiting. But once her family finds out she loves Manu, they attack Manu and Pappi and lock up Kusum. Omi arrives and saves the day with his logic. The village agrees to Kusum and Manus marriage.

As wedding preparations start Tanu and Raja reach there with Jassi, Payal, their baby and Manus parents. Tanu makes fun of Kusum who snaps at her saying she is a state-level champion who is independent, loving and honest. She also reveals the truth behind Payals baby in front of Jassi. A shocked and drunk Tanu meets Manu at night who brutally brushes off her love. In the morning, Tanu tells Kusum she is sorry about her behavior and would like to stay and help at their wedding.

On the wedding evening, Tanu gets drunk and dances in front of Manu in the baraat. Her parents arrive with Chintu and are shocked to see Tanu shattered as Manu leaves for his marriage. Tanu sits quietly as Manu is marrying Kusum, until Kusum stops confronts Manu, who confesses he still loves Tanu and cannot marry Kusum. Kusum honourably releases him and walks off, to break down privately.

Tanu and Manu are joyously reunited. Kusum comes out to find drunken Chintu, delivering an angry speech. She gives him a karate chop.

Cast

Production

Following the positive response to Tanu Weds Manu post release in February 2011, the team considered making a sequel to carry the story forward showing the next chapter of the couples life. The lead couple Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut both announced their interest of being a part of a proposed sequel, months after the originals release. In September 2011, Sunil Lulla of Eros International announced that they had signed on director Anand L. Rai to work on a second part of the film titled Tanu Weds Manu: Season 2. Early reports claimed that the lead actors would be seen in dual roles, while it was also speculated that Shahid Kapoor may replace Madhavan in the lead role. In January 2012, the project was postponed to allow Anand Rai to proceed with another venture Raanjhanaa (2013), while the makers also wanted Ranaut to finish her commitments with Krrish 3 (2013) as the sequel demanded a different look.

Following the release and success of Raanjhanaa in July 2013, Anand Rai confirmed that the sequel to Tanu Weds Manu was still active and would feature the original cast in the leading roles, playing down reports that Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma were to replace them. Screenwriter Himanshu Sharma began working on the film in July 2013 and revealed that only the first ten minutes would have a London backdrop, before the story returns to Lucknow, Kanpur and Delhi. He went on to confirm the working title, though added it potentially may also be known as Tanu Weds Manu Extra Large. Pre-production continued through late 2013, with Ranauts two-month trip to the USA delaying the start of the shoot in early 2014. She later confirmed that she would play a dual role in the film, that of an athlete apart from Tanu, and the team scouted for a body double to be used in scenes featuring both characters. Dhanush, who had worked in Raanjhanaa, was revealed to be playing a cameo appearance in the film.

The team began filming in October 2014 in Lucknow, after a small launch ceremony. The first motion poster of the film was released on 23 March 2015 on the birthday of the leading actress, Kangana Ranaut at a special event in Delhi. Ja Ja Ja Ja Bewafa sung by Geeta Dutt in 1954 film Aar Paar, was picturized on Ranaut, playing the background.

Controversies

In May 2014, the producers of the original film, Sanjay Singh, Vinod Bachchan and Shailesh Singh filed a legal notice stating that the director did not have the rights to make a sequel without their permission. Anand Rai replied stating that the trio only had rights over the first film and no direct rights over sequels or the franchise. In a further reply, Bachchan revealed that they were interested in making a sequel and should have been approached ahead of Eros International.

In May 2015, a critic at the Mumbai Mirror gave the film 2.5 stars and a generally negative review. The newspaper later "revised" the critics rating to 3.5 stars, based on reader feedback.

Soundtrack

The music and background score is composed by Krsna Solo.

Release and reception

The film was released worldwide on 22 May 2015 with nearly 2200 screens in India. The film was released overseas with 350 screens across the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and UAE. According to Box Office India, the film had an average opening in circuits like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Tanu Weds Manu Returns opened to almost 60% occupancies in screens up north, while screens across other states and metros had registered figures of 40–50%.

Critical reception

Tanu Weds Manu Returns received positive reviews from critics, with special praise directed to Ranauts performance. In a 4.5 out of 5 star review, Srijan Mitra Das of The Times Of India said, "Tanu Weds Manu Returns boasts one of the finest double roles ever in Hindi cinema. Alongside, Madhavan does a fine job as quiet, often morose, sometimes hopeful Manu." He also added, "Aanand L. Rai merits applause for his masterful direction of Himanshu Sharmas rich, riotous story. Evoking a new-age Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Rai keeps things tight, light, yet layered." Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express wrote, "I would buy a ticket for Kangana Ranaut." She gave the film 3 out of 5 stars. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV said, "The film hits the ground running, cruises along like a song until its final moments, where it comes close to losing its way just a tad." Mihir Fadnavis of Firstpost praised Kanganas performance saying "...the real draw of Tanu Weds Manu Returns is that you get two Kangana Ranauts to entertain you and she delivers in a huge way."

Box office

Tanu Weds Manu Returns earned ?380 million (US$5.9 million) in its opening weekend in India, for a worldwide gross of ?650 million (US$10 million). Trade analysts reported that the film took in the biggest opening weekend collections for a Bollywood film that year, and also recovered its production budget in the first three days. The film earned ?85 million (US$1.3 million) on its first Monday. It earned ?975 million (US$15 million) after its second weekend. The film earned ?457.5 million (US$7.1 million) in its second week in India for a two week domestic total of ?1.15 billion (US$18 million).

According to Box Office India projection, Tanu Weds Manu Returns earned ?240 crore (US$37 million) worldwide at the end of its theatrical run, to become one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films.