Tanu Weds Manu Returns

About the film

Tanu Weds Manu Returns is a 2015 Indian romantic comedy film directed by Aanand L. Rai, written by Himanshu Sharma, and produced by Rai and Krishika Lulla under Eros International and Colour Yellow Productions. A sequel to the 2011 film Tanu Weds Manu, it stars R. Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut as the titular characters, reprising their roles with Ranaut also additionally portraying Datto, a Haryanvi athlete, thus featuring her in dual roles, while Jimmy Sheirgill, Deepak Dobriyal, Swara Bhaskar, and Eijaz Khan also return to reprise their roles from the original. Set four years after the events of the 2011 original, it centers on Manu's soured relationship with Tanu and prospects of an impending divorce after he falls in love with her lookalike Datto, a Haryanvi athlete, who he decides to marry.

Principal photography began in October 2014 and the film was released on 22 May 2015. The soundtrack and film score were composed by Krsna Solo, who made his debut with the prequel, with songwriter Vayu and musician Tanishk Bagchi making their debuts as composer duo Tanishk-Vayu through the guest composition "Banno", which was also the first single to be released. Lyrics for Krsna's compositions were penned by Rajshekhar, who also debuted with the prequel. Saroj Khan and Bosco–Caesar served as choreographers, with Chirantan Das handling the cinematography, while Hemal Kothari edited the film.

Plot

Four years after their marriage in Kanpur, Tanuja "Tanu" Sharma and Manoj "Manu" Kumar Sharma moved to London, where Manu works, and are revealed to be suffering an unhappy and dysfunctional marriage. During a psychiatric discussion gone wrong, Tanu gets Manu detained in a mental asylum as revenge after he loses her temper on her, and returns to her hometown Kanpur, India, when her friend Payal calls her from India and tells Tanu that she has given birth to a baby girl. Before leaving London, Tanu rings Manu's friend Pappi Kutti in Delhi and tells him to immediately leave for London and release Manu.

Back in Kanpur at her parents' home, Tanu encounters a crafty law student called Chintu who has become a lodger but refuses to pay rent or vacate the room. Chintu befriends Tanu and slowly develops a crush on her, bemused by her antics. Tanu also learns that her ex-boyfriend, Raja Awasthi, is getting engaged to another girl and gets jealous. Pappi reaches London and gets Manu out and they reach India, where Manu sends a legal notice to Tanu to make her apologise, but she does not respond.

One day, Manu goes to Delhi University to give a medical speech, where he sees Kusum "Datto" Sangwan, a young Haryanvi student-athlete, who resembles Tanu. He slowly gets obsessed with Kusum and keeps following her despite Pappi's 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. Payal Gill, Tanu's best friend, calls Tanu and confesses that her newborn baby's father is not her husband Jassi Gill.

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 couple's life. The lead couple R. Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut both announced their interest of being a part of a proposed sequel, months after the original's release. In September 2011, Sunil Lulla of Eros International announced that they had signed on director Aanand 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 Ranaut's 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 picturised on Ranaut, playing the background.

Key details