A Story By Deepak Jeswal
A Story By Deepak Jeswal
“Tum filmein nahin dekhti” cheekily remarks Akshay Kumar whenever he bowls over the prim and propah (well, read not really) British bred heroine with some stereotypical googly. This insouciance and ability to poke fun at one’s own self is extremely heartening and displays immense maturity and confidence on the film makers part. Perhaps the latest spate of overseas success has helped Bollywood shed its fundamentally solemn outlook while giving the most filmi movies; and now it does not take itself too seriously. And all this is paradoxically done keeping every traditional cliche neatly preserved in the script.
Years back, pfizer when Manoj Kumar directed Poorab Aur Paschim he had kept a straight preachy tone. Today, this site Vipul Shah (the director) has inverted that school-masterly intonation to a more friendly banter to present his own version of a similar story. In a crucial patriotic moment, when Akshay Kumar enlists the virtues of India, he doesn’t somberly sing “Hai preet jahan kii reet sada” but simply gives a small monologue, rounding it off saying – tongue firmly in the cheek – that if the British need to know more about the so-called land of snake-charmers they could hire a DVD of Poorab Aur Paschim! Absolutely a brilliant and funny way to put the point across!
Clearly, the film is not meant to be taken seriously, and I am sure Vipul Shah would be embarrassingly shocked if he receives an esoteric review or if someone tries to find subtle meanings and hidden sub-texts in his film. There is no need to exert your gray-cells, for that is not Shah’s purpose.
Built on the premise that you can take an Indian out of India but not the Indianness within him, the film is a light-hearted, fluffy and breezy entertainer, stacked with dollops of humor – some forced but largely genuine laughable moments.
The dialogues are wittily written, and the cinematography is all about bright colors whether in India or abroad. And yes, there’s an excellent shot of Taj Mahal (wish I were here at that time when they canned the scene!). The direction is light, fluffy and fun-tastic.
Both Akshay and Katrina suit their roles. And Katrina’s fragile beauty and the la-di-dah Brit accent charms exceedingly. Upen Patel – as Katrina’s Pakistani friend – has a small role, but is again well-cast. And Rishi Kapoor, the veteran, is absolutely and convincingly delightful! There are the two Brit stars, and thankfully, they aren’t made to speak horrendously accented Hindi – their dialogues carry Hindi subtitles (perhaps, a first in our cinema!).
Himesh Reshammiya’s music is the biggest sore point. The tunes are stale and his voice over the Dolby sound system excruciatingly hurts. Chakna and Rafta rafta could have been enjoyable numbers if he hadn’t sung them.
The film celebrates the current Indian self-assurance to take on the world, keeping all our idiosyncrasies and foibles intact, without being embarrassed or apologetic, and without any extraneous superiority-or-inferiority complex.
So, sit back, pack that pop-corn and Coke, and enjoy the film. You won’t be bored!
Overall Entertaining and Relaxing!
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hmm..i knew there had to b a review today.
No plans of watching this one….But, as always this review is better than what I read in TOI today morning 🙂
ab agli movie kaunse hai list mein???
🙂 good review, may be I’ll watch in next 2 days
Taarika – LOL yeah, aajkal Friday ko hi dekh leta hoon 😀
Mehak – Arre aisa kyun… i think its worth one view… And kya list, jo next Friday release hogi hum pahunch jaayenge dekhne 😛
Preeti – Okie…bataaana kaisi lagi…
Plan to watch this one.
BTW, is The Namesake out in India? We are going to watch that this weekend. Looks like a well directed movie.
nice review… will check out the movie sometime this week
“Namaste Kathmandu”
😛
There was a TV serial and many books too 😉 😛
As usual, will watch and read your review. 😀
stuck in Kerala for our baby’s delivery…and with Rekha not available for a visit to the theatre….this will have to wait
Congrats for your car anniversary…
Good post .. To view list mey iska naam bhi dal diya hai … let’s see when I am able to see it …
Lately your movie reviews have been quite positive. Once you said that it also depends upon the state of mind and the mood in which the movie is seen. So your mood seems quite jubilant and you are in a happy state of mind, I suppose…..
Deej, I say you turn into full time Entertainment Blogger! Quit that job and blog fulltime! Nice review..will watch it since ya recommended/
Back to waht I was saying..get into fulltime blogging and advertise this site! I see so much potential..with so many reviews one after the other..you could be the official bollywood movie review site!
i saw the movie only for katrina kaif ….phew, she is supermodel material ! and theres simply no other option but falling in love with her !
Mannat – Yes, The Namesake is out in India, but hasnt reached Agra though.
Manpreet – Do tell me kaisi lagi…
Juneli – Okie 🙂
Jammy – Welcome back to this space 🙂 And many congratulations!
Navjot – Thank u ji … Yep, the mood is a bit effervescent these days. But found both Namastey London and Just Married good movies. The rest werent upto the mark, but still since i go for time pass, chalta hai…
Kaushi – Sigh! Blogging doesnt pay, and hence it has to be a hobby only.
Prakash – yeah, she is very beautiful!
hum bhi dekh aaye ji..gud that u watch them on fridays itself..makin’ it easier for us to make up our minds on sundays.no doubt a light entertainer.”teri yaad saath hai” in the background is melodious,apt n touching.
Taarika – toh kahan dekhi? Fun pe ya Sanjay talkies? I m happy my reviews r well received …thanks 😀
[…] Deepak Jeswal reviews Namastey London posted at Random Expressions, saying, “Clearly, the film is not meant to be taken seriously, and I am sure Vipul Shah would be embarrassingly shocked if he receives an esoteric review or if someone tries to find subtle meanings and hidden sub-texts in his film. There is no need to exert your gray-cells, for that is not Shah’s purpose.” […]
Be sure that it is not you that is mortal, but only your body. For that man whom your outward form reveals is not yourself; the spirit is the true self, not that physical figure which and be pointed out by your finger.