Aabeer Gulaal brings back the era of sweet and simple romance. The ‘opposites attract’ idea is tackled here and it works well, thanks to the characters and amusing moments of the first half. The songs are the USP; every song has a charm and that further adds to the film. However, the second half is not as enticing; the conflict bit doesn’t have the desired impact. Though the climax is sweet, it is also beaten to death. Lastly, some of the supporting characters and their subplots are weak. As expected, Fawad Khan displays his trademark charm and performs ably. But it is Vaani Kapoor who is the surprise of the film. She delivers her best performance ever. It is a perfect reminder that some actors possess immense talent, but when they don’t get that one defining opportunity, public perception hardens and becomes difficult to change. Here’s hoping this film marks a turning point for her and opens up more opportunities to showcase her potential. Ridhi Dogra is dependable; Lisa Haydon and Dev Agarwal do well but are let down by the writing. Parmeet Sethi is entertaining, while Farida Jalal is adorable. Soni Razdan and Rahul Vohra are fine. All in all, Aabeer Gulaal is a clean and charming entertainer.

My rating - *** ½ out of 5!