Summary
A series of interviews, where three generations of stars discuss the history of Bollywood and the legendary director Yash Chopra. This docuseries has a contagious energy that makes you want to keep watching.
Directed by Smriti Mundhra, we review the 2023 Netflix documentary series The Romantics.
The Romantics is a four-part Netflix documentary series about Bollywood’s Auteur Director, Yash Chopra. Chopra is one of the most influential figures in Bollywood history and the creator of the banner Yash Raj Films. The Romantics tracks his career, all the highs and lows of his legendary films, using archival footage and first-class interviews with some of Bollywood’s biggest names.
The Romantics (2023) Review
For many western viewers, Bollywood is a flashy Indian version of Hollywood, filled with love, drama, dancing, and bright clothing. However, it is so much more. India is a country of many cultures and religions reflected in its films. All the arts, from plays to movies, are embedded in the culture and are part of their daily life. There is a zest and need for dancing, vibrancy, music, and beauty, which truly stands out in this documentary.
I was drawn in and hooked instantly, wanting to learn more about this billion-dollar industry and the creatives behind the process. The documentary series discusses and helps audiences understand the shape of the industry and its impact, not just as a source of entertainment, but how it’s made India viewed around the world.
There is so much talent in front of and behind the scenes, and this documentary gives access to interviews with some big stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Ranveer Singh, who take complete joy and pride in discussing their careers and Yash Chopra. Hearing about their experiences is one of the main highlights of this series. Their enthusiasm and insight are inspiring, and the hours flew by watching. Interestingly, no one likes the term “Bollywood,” and you’ll have to watch to find out why. India Cinema does have a nicer ring to it.
One main highlight for fans will be that this documentary manages to interview well-known shy, recluse director-producer Aditya Chopra, the son of Yash Chopra. He followed in his father’s footsteps, studying and becoming obsessed with films and creating his empire. Known for being interview-shy, this is a massive moment for this documentary to have this personal access. He’s friendly and fun, and his love and understanding of films shine through.
The interviews are staged brightly, with colored interiors, and everyone looks very comfortable in their setting. They scream bling and money, which is what I expected. There is a decent amount of footage from films, from action films to romance, as it takes you through the history of Bollywood. There is also footage of Yash Chopra speaking about his work, his lows, and highs, and you can tell from how people speak that he was very proud and sensitive over his work.
My only criticism would be that It lacked a little on the musical side of Bollywood, which I was looking forward to, so maybe this could be a scope for another series, as musicals are a huge part of Indian culture.
Is the documentary series The Romantics on Netflix good?
Yes – for anyone interested in film, television, and how the magic of cinema is brought to our screens, this docuseries is for you. While this might seem like another series with sit-down interviews and reminiscing about the good old times, it’s still well worth the watch. Especially if you’re new to Bollywood, as it does a great job of explaining who Yash Chopra is, which films he’s responsible for, and teaching about Bollywood and India Cinema as a whole.
What did you think of the 2023 Netflix documentary series The Romantics? Comment below.
