One has to applaud Salman Khan and Co. for releasing ‘Loveyatri’ just in time, with the nine-day long Gujarati Sunburn being just around the corner. Because the music of the film is the only saving grace in this rather old-fashioned love story, which is too simplistic and frankly juvenile.

Sushrut aka Susu (Aayush Sharma) is a naïve but good-hearted Garba trainer, based in Vadodra, who is smitten by London-based NRI Michelle aka Manisha (Warina Hussain), the moment they exchange glances at a Garba night during Navratri. He is determined to win her at all costs, even though Sam Patel (Ronit Roy), the daddy dearest of the girl is hell-bent to keep the two lovers apart. Does love eventually win is what ‘Loveyatri’ comprises of.

From the rushes of the trailer, it’s evident that director Abhiraj Minawala isn’t interested in stretching a love story by adding dramatic portions for cheap thrills. But he is given such a puerile script by writer Niren Bhatt that the film comes across as an extended music video. Bhatt also pens some of the most unoriginal dialogues that seem to have been lifted off from WhatsApp forwards. ‘Saari duniya black and white lagegi, par sirf wohi colourful aur bright dikhegi’, says a character in the film. Dialogues, really? Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography captures the beauty of Navratri in Gujarat, in all its glory. Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty’s production design lends the required authenticity, while Ritesh Soni’s editing could’ve been crisper.

What keeps the film afloat is watching Aayush and Warina dance to the chart-busting music of the film, looking their beautiful best. You are likely to hear ‘Chogada’, ‘Dholida’ and ‘Rangtaari’ at every Garba event, this year. Both the leads put up their best foot in terms of acting too. Guess, they just deserved a better film. Gujarati star Pratik Gandhi and Sajeel Parekh are a complete hoot as Sushrut’s best friends Negative and Rocket. Infact, the film could’ve simply been centered on their friendship. Ram Kapoor as Sushrut’s maternal uncle Rasik Mama is the worst kind of relationship expert possible. He hams his part to an extent making you wonder if he was accidentally drugged. Ronit Roy too doesn’t make a menacing baddie either.  

‘Loveyatri’ is solely designed to attract the younger audiences and the Gujarati NRIs. It’s well-intentioned but could’ve been much more entertaining.