Dhh Movie Review

Three cute Friends, Loving Grandpa, Inspiring teachers and Magic, enthralls one and all.

Jignesh Vasavada          

4.5/5 stars

There are times when you feel blessed that you have taken up the mantle of reviewing Gujarati movies. These times come when you are watching movies like Dhh. Yeah, you read it right, Dhh.

What a cute little story taking you into your childhood and back, making you want to believe in the innocence of early days, magic and that anything is possible as long as your friend is with you.

Slave to habit, I will have to add up few observations:

1. What is with Films and Three Friends? Is this the sure shot formula of success?
2. The real Dhh in this movie is the marketing of the movie. Completely missing!! Why does marketing mess up big time. Last time it was Chor bani…now it is Dhh (Duhs!!!).
3. Hanumanji on a Luna, some ride he must be having.
4. Why does a teacher need to wipe a blank board in the beginning of the movie?
5. I love the school here. Teacher announces the subject and the bell rings.
6. Seriously, good question, if Gandhiji is the Father of the Nation, who is the mother of the nation?
7. PVR seems to have realized that their popcorn costs a kidney! Even the straws are non-plastic.
8. The movie makes you wonder what role do parents play in their Dhh kids’ lives?
9. Is it really this easy to bunk classes? Did I have an ignorant childhood?
10. Wonder which radio station plays Sa Re Ga Ma at night!

Boss, what a wonderful movie!

What amazing storytelling!

What super logic!

What cute kids!

What mature handling of relationships and innocence!

The hero of this movie is the minute detailing. Director and Storywriter (with Adityakumar) Manish Saini has scored big time by taking care of a lot of nuances among actors, locations, shots, stories and most importantly emotions.

Relationship among friends, between grandparent and grandchildren, father-son, teacher-student-principal all have been given a lot of depth and crafted with exquisite detail.

The story is about three Dhh friends Gungun, Bajrang and Vakil. They are weak in studies and high on life and friendship. Nothing affects them, like Brijendra kala (Hindi teacher) says, Nirlajjam Sada Sukhi. However, a chance watching of a magic show of Jadugar Surya Samrat (a crisp Naseeruddin Shah cameo) gives them hope of shedding the Dhh. Thus begins the film and the beautiful twists and turns as the kids find a magic mantra with the help of Gungun’s grandfather (Archan Trivedi). Will they shed their tag, will the kids excel in life and studies, well, that needs to be seen in theatres, like NOW.

What a magnificent performance by Archan Trivedi. All his previous filmy choices are forgiven purely based on this role. The kids, Kahaan, Karan and Kuldeep (especially him, with his belly button always open) did a great job of stealing hearts. The songs by Meghdhanush transforms us to and fro and keeps the movie’s pace alive. Sagar Desai’s background too keeps the momentum. Udankhatolu song in both its happy and sad versions rocks the screen.

Dialogues by Parth and Ninad steal the show with some really smart quips (Front bench this classroom ketlo naano laage chhe ne? Gandhiji nu hathiyaar Lakdi hati!!). Even both the letter sequences displays the amazing grip the Director has on the story. Do listen to the content of the letter written by kids, both times and you will know why these guys are intelligent. Very smart Cinematography by Prahlad Gopakumar keeps us engrossed, especially with lovely close-ups.

All in all, this National Award Winning Gujarati Film has it all to make its mark in the hallmarks of good films for the next few years to come.

Folks, take a bow, you wowed us.

Don’t be a Dhh, watch Dhh Today (no, have not been paid to say this)!

Ventilator -Breath Gujarati

The Story of a large family that appears United yet stands Divided (No reference to Congress)

3 Stars

Jignesh Vasavada

I am cursed to have watched the original Ventilator in Marathi, and now when I watched the Guajrati re-make, I just couldn’t help making comparisons. Just couldn’t help being happy and unhappy.

Few Observations (Please bear with me the comparisons, because they are bound to happen):

1. Why are we Gujaratis portrayed so loud? Apple to Apple, Marathi villagers seem a quieter lot and the humorous scenes hit well there.
2. What would it feel to debut at 90 years? The grandfather in the film, at 90 made his debut in films. Watch out for him, he gives magnificent performances.
3. No one wears helmet in Gujarat, it has to be noted film after film.
4. What is the  Dr Juhi Chawla doing there? Amusing herself and having a ball in a situation which should evoke anger. So misplaced completely avoidable.
5. I was bribed black coffee to say this. The background score was magnificent, flawless and very lucid. It must be noted, Parth Bharat Thakkar has been choosing seats next to me only to influence my decisions for two movies in a row. I must be really important. Its just that the background score here is actually fantastic. Blends very well. Parth you need not have taken so much trouble of stalking me.
6. Manan Desai has never called me so many times to know my view of the film (suddenly I feel so good). Manan too does a fantastic single expression role.
7. Did I actually read Ordertory and idoltory in relation to Mataji and navratri offering?
8. Jai Shri Krishna is not Good Morning. Interesting subtitle issues galore.
9. You can perform in a hospital, the guard stops you yet you continue. Wow.
10. Do notice, Jackie Shroff’s lips are saying something and his dialogues something else.

Well, I admit, I was emotional towards the end. Ventilator, a name that would send shivers down your spine, here is light, rib-tickling, painful, stretched and tear-jerking in various parts. 

Lyricist Niren Bhatt. Pic Coutesy Buddybits

To be honest, there is no clear male/female actor hero of the movie, instead the real heroes are Niren Bhatt (Lyricist), Parth Bharat Thakkar for music (no, not because of the coffee) and the writer (Rajesh Mapuskar).

Gijukaka a father figure is on ventilator and the entire family from Mumbai to Chorwad to Mehsana to Ahmedabad rally around to visit him at the hospital and pay their respects (with a feeling that they may be for the last time). 

Parth Bharat Thakkar with Umang Vyas and Aditya Gadhvi

The film is a magnificent display of emotions excellently captured enough for each viewer to relate/identify with some character or the other in the film with some relative/friend in his/her life. It captures small nuances like the need to repeat the same story over and over again to every new visitor (this too sounded far better in Marathi). Captured also is the excitement of an impending death in the family, the selfishness of self above all else, the Mumbai and small town divide, the relations between father-son, the vast difference between the nature of relatives in villages and city-bred. It is all there. And sorry if I may say a large chunk is captured naturally in Marathi. Sadly in Gujarati it just does not flow well.

Ashutosh Gowarikar giving the Muhurat Clap. Pic Courtesy TOI

Jackie Shroff, personally I think, was a perfect misfit when it comes to dialogue delivery. The entire involvement, natural accent  was missing, killing the purpose. Characters don’t blend as well as they need to. Ojas Rawal a powerhouse of all things funny is completely wasted as is Jayesh More. Pratik Gandhi stands out like a perfect hero. He delivers where it matters. Mitra Gadhvi too does a consistent good job. Sanjay Goradia, a natural comic, after a point becomes cacophonous and unbearable. Why do they have to be so loud.

While the first half is loud and stretched, the second half has all the emotions. Some scenes really stand out as Jackie begins to take control. The scene with Archan Trivedi melts your heart. All the ventilator scenes be it the Grandfather touching the screen or the siblings and even Pratik Gandhi talking to his father are teary ones. You will be left with a lump in the throat and you will have none but Niren Bhatt and Parth Bharat Thakkar to blame.

Do not miss the cameo by Emotions Salesman Malhar Thakar, am saying it after long, he was good. Juhi Chawla is just a pure misfit.

Manan Desai with Director Umang Vyas

Songs are just well blended and would do well. Bhada na Makan ma, Amba Re Amba all stand out.

Well, if you ask me, do not miss this movie. And if you have Netflix or any other service please watch the Marathi one too. I promise you that you will want to re-read my review and agree with my angst.

Watch it, watch it.

Mitron – The Friendly Super-Son

Yeah Yeah, One more 'Different' Gujarati Friendship Story

Jignesh Vasavada

3.5 Stars

There is something very cute about Jackky Bhagnani, that innocent appeal, that adorable bechara feeling that makes you want to buy a movie ticket to his movies. It is this endearing feature of his persona that should have been used to promote the film, they would have saved all the money.

Still there were a lot of learnings while watching this movie:

1. Who will tell me honestly, is this an autobiography of Jackky Bhagnani? Come on, a wannabe chef being forced into movies? Please, poor him.  
2. Who did the homework on Ahmedabad? When does Light ever go in Ahmedabad? Unless of course you cannot afford the excruciating bijlee rates, lights never go off here. Premise hi galat hai. 
3. Love adds speed. Yes, here the family has been searching for the house for 30 plus mins in an innova, a distance that lovers cover in 1.7 mins, yeah yeah that short from Pol to Pol.
4. Why did the hero have a GJ-1 Scooter and Heroine have GJ-4, Aa toh just!!
5. There are one too many Mirror shots, guess they wanted to make a mirror image of the original movie (yes yes this is a re-make).
6. This movie was conceived and shot in the pre-Vijay Nehra days, else the street food cart would have to be replaced every day of the shoot.
7.  Since when did YouTube have an office in Gujarat? And why does it have to have a greek/german/godknowswhat language speaking gori? Why?
8. I wonder, if Lester D’souza, the owner of Upper Crust, is marrying off his daughter, why will he outsource his catering? Why?
9.  Never sit next to a Music Director while watching a movie, I have never focused on the sound so much in my entire life.
10. Yes, this film is about a Gujarati, based in Gujarat, you know how? None of the characters wear helmet while riding a two-wheeler.

Finally, the Bhagnanis have gotten the mantra of success right, only that they got the equation wrong. Touch Gujarati family and you have success, but touch them for a movie then the Gujarati ought to be a financier!!

Boss, what are the characters doing? Speaking Gujarati or Hindi? One of the things that Khichdi got it right was the dialogues and their delivery. Something I feel Mitron ends up confused.

Otherwise the movie is delightful, wish it was in Gujarati, it would have been a run-away hit (though it has all the makings of one here).

Jay (JB) is a good for cooking things is list-less till he decides to marry for money. Avni (Kritika Kamra, with puffed under eyes) is ambitious and being forced to marry. Their lives intertwine and as fate would have it they become business partners. Whether the partnership will go Band Bajaa Baraaat, is anyone’s guess (duh!!). Yeah, Yeah, the movie is as simple as this.

Wonder why did they even have friends when the movie was all about hero and heroine? Guess it was always about three friends (they had to fit them in). Pratik Gandhi excels in whatever role he has been given. Truly class. Prateik Babbar looks good, has no role. He needs more meat in the role than on his body. 

Shivam Parekh (5 dialogues) is absolutely non-utilized. Kritika excels in her debut role and seems to be a bright candidate. Jackky rocks with a brilliant performance. Now, if the film doesn’t work then boss, meet an astrologer, or actually become a Chef!!!

Watch the movie for the screenplay, cinematography and some amazing background score. Truly, very high class. Songs blend very well with the narrative. Overall a good package to spend the weekend with.

And yes, the movie ends with not one, but two songs.

P.S. Please find the screenshot of the True-Caller identity of the number. I have done your bit, don’t waste time on the same. Language is Telugu.