Thandi Jodi

Hmmm.....SRK tires a different role.And succeeds in establishing a likeable,timid,innocent yet lovable character with Suri.This bespactacled Punjab Power employee is a new hero in bollywood who is struggling to find love even after marriage!They usually find love many times over by the time marriage is on the cards.The 'problem' that's the central idea of this film is Suri's wife's condition that dosen't allow her to break away from her troubled past.And hence Suri sets on an adventurous journey to woo his 'ladies' in style.A dance competition allows him to express his love through his alter ego 'Raj' who sees love in everyone,especially if there is a splash of godliness in him/her as the case might be.The problems of the movie start with Raj's entry, as this character, though decently written, lacks the conviction so essential in a whirwind-sweeping-her-off-the-feet-kinda-guy.Also,the plausibility is missing since he isn't too disguised so as not to be recognised by his own wife! The middle class setting and emotional quotient is balanced between the characters ,but what's missing is the vital ingredient of hilarity and 'landed in a soup' sort of situational bonus.The director should have taken a leaf or two out of some previous gems, notably Amol Palekar's Golmaal.The dilemma of the now demure housewife, now exuberant sucker for love heroin, is understandable to a certain extent,not so the climax where she suddenly falls for her husband all over again stating the hackeyend bland theory of seeing Rab in him.The totality is diluted by the holes in the story line,which could definitely have come a whammer with some imaginative puntuations and more of the situational cartwheeling.
A thanda comeback for Adi sadly enough.King Khan pumps in as much fun as possible in a double role which essentialy is the best part of the movie.The newcomer, Anouska has a 1000 watt smile and that's about it, wish she could pull in some chutzpah.Music is just about okay with yet another bollywood parade song routine thown in,which has lost its novelty now.Dialogues are of the ji ji variety without any sharp oneliners.A notable fact is that the current reality show mania is being capitalized upon, but the sweat,emotional rollercoaster and high voltage drama which is visible in these shows is conspicious by its absence.Not happening.

OLLO? ORIGINALITY KI HOLO?

It's still fresh in our minds, the bong belle and the tall Jr Bachhan stealathon.So it can't be helped if if the comparision starts immidiately.Given that Dibakar Banerjee has made a good first impression with Khosla Ka Ghosla, his edge and grip on the medium cannot be denied.And actually, with this one, the viewer does get sucked into the Delhi ambience all too smoothly,especially with the opening sequences of a lovable crook in the making.The hopes rise and rise with some truly authentic saada Delhiwale characters(Paresh Rawal delivers a winning threesome combo punch, Archana Puran Singh fiesty again,Abhay Deol fittingly subtle)and story setting.But the grown up chor is too close for comfort to the earlier avatar of Bunty in a Yashraj production.It is worth noting the detailed approach of the talented Mr Banerjee, who makes it all look too delicious and saucy.The story then is of a skinny Jat boy who finds his way around life by taking some easy shortcuts.For example; steal a bike for a day from local garage to impress girl next door because pop delivers blows when asked for a bike. The adolescent, denied of a happy childhood, obviously dosen't fit in the family set up, less so his own, and at the first chance, leaves his house for good. The daddy (Paresh Rawal's first character) meanwhile had got home a loose character aunty despite being married.Our hero when left on his own, goes astray.He is grown up after a few reels more of petty crime. The big chor, our Lucky, is sleek and handsome(like all heroes) and anyone crossing his zigzagging path becomes unlucky(unlike most heroes).The dealings become shadier by the day as he starts off in the big league by stealing imported cars for a rowdy dance show organiser(Paresh Rawal in second character).When confronted by the law at a juncture, Lucky hoodwinks the cops and dumps his buddy to start afresh elsewhere.Growing more desparate in each heist, he at last meets a man who would eventualy con the conman, together with his mean wife(Paresh Rawal's third character), a vet who dreams of a restaurant business.The love interest is in the form of an escort's younger sister.The climax is all about how Lucky having trusted unworthy friends in his highflying giddy days, falls alone, but still is a lovable chor next door.The music expectedly is peppy with bhangra beats galore.A more strudy narration would have given the movie an added impetus.Dialogues are essentially witty and coloquial, keeping the proceedings engaging.The story, incidentally of a real life thief, would have held attention and found more buyers had we not witnessed the more glitzy edition already.Yet OLLO holds on its own in parts, and the gentleman crook act of Abhay Deol is really cool. Thumbs up to him, the maker and the team for being true to their craft,but alas we have only a mere three hours to deliver a not guilty verdict, which in this case is unexpected by the chor himself.