Prem Prakaran

A love triangle between the Hot, Hotter & the Hottest.

First & Foremost hats off to the team for withdrawing their release to accommodate The Kashmir Files.

A rare gesture.

Such rarity is also the film, rare to see a good, classy and cool Gujarati film.

The film is a great product.

The hero of the film is the music. Begins and ends only at the climax. Take a bow Amit Trivedi, you have created pulsating scores that not only maintain the pace but also gives a brilliant direction to the entire prakaran. Songs like Laagni, Zidd, Yaado Taari Tu Nahi To, Kori ne Kaachi liven up the entire experience of the prakaran. Niren Bhatt’s lyrics too touch your heart, though none have yet become hummers. Singers Jigardaan, Ishani, Siddharth Amit Bhavsar too have responded very well.

But first, there are some Prem Lessons you will get:

Prem is Love

Prem is like a label

Prem is not like cigarette.

Prem is like Nasha.

Prem is like Memory.

Prem goes but memories remain.

Prem needs to take memories with it.

Prem is a letter from the past.

Prem break-up & make-up always happens best on a bridge.

Prem is not all signals.

Prem failure makes you paddle your cycle harder.

God so much pressure on Prem, wonder what would happen to his performance.

 Furthermore, we learnt:

If you are a science student you will do arranged marriage.

If a girl gives the mother a chitthi meant for a boy, she will not read it.

MICA has an MBA and MNC job pays only Rs 22,000, might as well have joined a local.

Now, lets get serious. I went to the movie to watch two of my favourite actors, Deeksha Joshi & Sanjay Galsar. They did not disappoint. Deeksha at her goofy and beautiful best and Sanjay in his normal elements always stole the show.

But as I came out, I had added two more to my favourites list.

Director Chandresh Bhatt. Man, you are a find. What a great package.

Esha Kansara. Always liked her act, but here she completely lit up the screen from her first scene. What an amazing essay.

The story is about Aditya (always-teary-eyed, Gaurav Passwala) who falls in love with his school mate Aarti Vyas (Deeksha) who friend-zones him and life goes on. A series of turns later Aditya is dejected and shifts to Ahmedabad where not only does he become rich (wonder how!) but also classy and beardy. But his love continues to burn for Aarti till one-sad-rendition-of-the-sad-song-hothon-se-chhu-lo-tum, a rendition so sad, even Jagjit Singh cried in his grave, he meets Riya (Esha Kansara).

Now the story takes off from here and comes to point where it forms a triangle. Who will Aditya choose? That you will have to go to a theatre and watch the glamour in person.

All I can say is, you know who it would be and yet you will enjoy the reveal.

The movie is at least 20 mins too long, but the music does not make you feel the length. There are times when you wish it would pace up. But the overall chemistry among friends, lovers and the team, makes it really stand out.

Gaurav Passwala looks good and carries the role well. Besides the lead even the friends are well chosen and the entire team led by Maulik Chauhan, Manan, Deep, Aariz, Mehul Nilesh do a great job in keeping the film lively. Even the Katko, replaced by Chashma act of Manan is good.   

The frames are Bollywood, the feel is classy Suraj & Pratik have done a good job on the camera. Even Junagadh looks classy in the entire experience. Heck even the costumes are truly a class apart lifting the film.

All in all, it is a good movie, worth investing your time and money. It is not every day that you come across such good movies from

One dialogue stands out: Past is a good place to visit not to Stay.

Go Watch it Today 

Sonu Per Bharoso Karai

Sonu Tane Mara per Bharoso Nai Ke

A TV from Chor Bazaar can make you chaotically rich

Honestly, considering the name, I was confident that this would be one of those regular slapstick movies that come about. I have known the director Henil Gandhi to be good with stories, I have known Ragi Jani to be a fantastic actor, Off late Malhar's choices of films too have been pretty good, yet this movie. I was mentally prepared for one more disappointment.

But what I saw completely floored me. Of course, not before it had its disappointments.

The Story is straight simple situational. A middle class family lose their TV (in an unbelievable and painful fashion) and decide to go to Chor bazaar to buy a new one. What they discover in the TV is much more than just gold, but confusions, honesty, murders and much more chaos.  

Let us handle Disappointments first:

The first 25 mins need to be endured. It is something that shakes your faith.

Again the villain and the Hindi saga continue. Why do villains have to speak hindi? We are not South India! 

Some dialogues and narratives are more confusing than funny. 

The background music initially was just too loud, it only levelled out later...

There are some scenes which kill the entire flow and have no relation and could have been chopped especially the salon lady and the gangster meeting and seeking help (no this is not a spoiler). It is just there, doing nothing. Adding no value.

Now let us come to the Good things:

Dialogues: Punchy, funny and a lot of time PJs by Suraj Baraliya are rocking. They elevate the movie and take it from slapstick to outright funny in situations.

Ragi Jani: Take a bow. You just took the movie to great heights. There were shadows of Siddharthbhai, still the movie is all standing on Ragibhai and he carries it well. Actually very well. Always talented, he just proved himself all over again.

Malhar: He is himself and that matters. He does a good job at being goofy, funny and likeable. This is one good movie to headline.

Ditto Jayesh More: His chemistry with Ragi is just a treat to watch. Both veterans elevate the movie.

All other support characters fit in fine.

The title song, rocks. What a catchy song. Rahul Munjariya takes it a notch higher. Not to mention the Song in between, again very classy.

All in all, it is an enjoyable movie to take the family out to. Henil Gandhi, welcome to the Good Cinema club. You have actually found Gujarat it very own Priyadarshan. More power to you.

And yes, Malhar's head is more important than that of Nijal because he was wearing a helmet (honestly, a good start).

Golkeri – Awesome Foursome

Jignesh Vasavada

4 (.5 for Mansi)

Life ends one Saturday evening and toils through the entire Sunday before coming to a full circle in the evening. Yes, 24 hours of love, life and relationship is a delightful Golkeri.

Now here is the fear. Good movies just don’t get the right promotions and thus there is a fear of them missing out. Golkeri producers, guys, please go all out, you have a good product. Many a movie, earlier, has messed up with poor no promotion.

What is!

Well, this is a sweet gargle-your-way-to-a guy’s-heart love story (read Gujarati re-make of the Marathi Muramba) of a boy Sahil (Malhar) & girl Harshita (Mansi) which begins with a Break off (not Up) and traverses through Divorce (there is a difference here) and then ending with a Patch up (yeah the same thing).

Yeah yeah, once you settle into the movie you know how it is going to end, but the beauty of the story is in the way it folds, unfolds, re-folds and finally packs up. Honestly, I was waiting to see the climax hoping it would be a taxi-wala-taking-police-wala-helping-aircraft-stopping or simply running with the train ending. But the climax is truly a nice anti-climax.

Here Sahil and Harshita are aided by Sahil’s affable parents played by Sachin Khedekar and Vandana Pathak. The story, screenplay is a delightful journey of values, love, upbringing, generations and the bond called love. Good Movie.

All that is Wow

All four lead actors, simply rock.

Mansi Parekh, take a bow. What a performance. Brilliant portrayal of a stand-up comic going off and on, all the while alternating between being a girl-friend, would-be bahu and a girl. She really connects and takes the movie to an altogether new level.

Vandana Pathak, a veteran, who just keeps getting better and better. She is literally the life of the movie.

Malhar Thakar, yes, not the star Malhar, but the actor Malhar who has been emerging with movies, breaking his stereotype since Sharto Laagu excels in a great portrayal of a scared genius in love. His classical punchy style lends the much needed humour and life to the narrative. He infuses the pace and helps keep the interest alive.

Sachin Khedekar (also acted in the Marathi original), in a brilliant light portrayal of a loving, understanding and evolving father steals hearts. He too binds the narrative and is crucial in some situations where the story needs the push.

DoP, Vikas Joshi paired with the Art Director keeps the film clean and fresh. Despite very limited location you are captivated by the way the scenes have been captured.

Dialogues, by Viral Shah also add the delta in the movie’s Gujaratikaran. Most, other language re-makes miss the mark in this department. Viral has kept it real and Gujarati.

All that is Saav

Background Music alternated between being jarring, loud and sometimes forced. This department could have done with mellowing down.

The Story, while was a huge challenge, could have done with a bit of trimming and appeared to slow the pace at times.

Some scenes really looked like they were an after-thought and the green screen was visible.

Low focus on marketing would really cause a scare for an otherwise good product.

Do not miss moments

Read this more than once. Manan, aapno comedy factory waalo, hosts daaru parties where girls come home late night, drunk. Why didn’t I know of this earlier? Why did I have to learn this from a movie?

The four-seater-scooter is a nice side kick which has a maruti car’s key-chain!!

So, our hero kick-starts his bike with a slight stubble, travels few kms the stubble grows thick and then becomes light again at the end of the journey.

Looks like there is a lot of money in the spectacle shop, simply going by their bungalow.

Jenga, the game, mends relationships, yes, it is true.
Giving out Golkeri bottles, what a great PR victory!

Blatant favoritism by the producer ensures that his wife is always wearing a helmet and the hero is not :))

 

The Verdict

Oh, please go and watch it with your entire family. It is a nice delightful fun foursome ride of relationship and love. You might even end up thanking god for not making you a gold-medalist or a ranker.

Luv ni Love Storys – 1B3HK Story

One boy vs three girls and you thought he had all the luck? Well, grass is always green on the green screen, while reality is completely non-filmy.

Jignesh Vasavada

2.75 stars (.75 for the Look)

 

I have been checking every grammar site on whether it should be stories or story, nowhere it says storys...but what the heck, my grammar teacher isn’t coming to watch a Gujarati movie, so we grant the creator the creative licence as we focus on the Love Stories (I got this right).

Our Hero:

Luv, a cute kid who refused to give kheer to his father is packed off to a Boarding school and grows up to become Pratik Gandhi who can play golf like he plays cricket. Initially he plays a guessing game with the viewers teasing us to guess his profession (love guru, negotiator, hair-stylist, rich man’s son and chef). Finally, he settles down for one profession. His entire family knows all aspects of love. Luv falls in love far more easily than she can say Jalapeño (with a pronounced H). The entire movie revolves around his falling and failing in love (remember bachna ae haseeno, well don’t). And yes, there is a strong hidden political leaning with Luv’s surname. 

Love Interest 1:

A super hot, super beautiful Mishti (Shraddha Dangar) who gives all the right signals of love and while the viewer and kids in his family know everything, Luv just does not get it. All the slow-mo scenes here are really nice and effective.

 Love Interest 2:

A cute, bubbly, Sonam (Vyoma Nandi) who is so beautiful that the entire society notices her, but our man doesn’t. Who misses a hot neighbour? She too is completely into Luv, but not so much into him and yet he is into her. Confused? Well so were we. Did someone refer to the Kaula Lumpur Police Department?

Love Interest 3:

Amongst the most sorted, gorgeous and intelligent of the three, Preeti (Deeksha Joshi) flirts with a yes, no, yes, no, yes, no to the extent that she even has a T-shirt to that effect (just in case the audience does not get it). Confuses Luv, his friend, family, Golawala, balloonwala and the audience equally.

All that is Wow

Well, the film gets its look so so right.

Good Locations, good Art Direction and above average camera work by Suraj Kurade sets the tone of the movie.

The music by Parth Bharat Thakkar is good, soulful and in most cases takes the story forward. Ghoome Ghoome is a rocking number sure to hit the Top Charts.

Acting, all four have done a great job. Each of them excels in their individual roles. All in all, it makes the movie very watchable.

Dialogues and some situations were truly funny. The cast carried it well.

Hardik Sangani too rocks in the friends role.

All that is Saav

What is with the story? It just vanishes in thin air. Towards the end one feels completely lost and just wants the film to end.

Casting. While Pratik can make any role look like a cakwalk, he seemed just misfit for the role. A chocolaty, cute and dreamy boy (remember Ranbir) could have been more appropriate for the role. Did he look a tad bit uncomfortable in the lover/playboy/Casanova image. I thought so.

Logic, in most places seems misplaced. The story becomes predictable and slow. Situations are questionable. You want to run away with a girl but have not thought of what next. The entire third sequence of love is all over the place and stretched.

Pretty predictable ending.

And please don’t miss moments:

So, when you are heartbroken, you can waste water.

Men are like Golas...and...hello...this was a family watch...

You say Undhiyu and serve Pulao.

2023 is when the movie starts and yet 2019 they are checking FB timelines????

Teacher goes in and walks out for balloons and the bell rings and kids get the balloons. I want to study in this school (for the teacher, though).

The video has just begun playing and the characters end the same (wait for it).

The Verdict:

Should one watch this movie, of course yes. It is as glamorous as they can get. Besides lessons in love, prem, ishq and what not, you will surely fall in love with the cast.

x

Dhunki – Trance by Chance

A cosmos of chef-turned-entrepreneur meets coder-turned-entrepreneur meets realities of life.

2.75/5 The .75 for Kaushambi and Vishal.

Jignesh Vasavada 

Well the good times for Gujarati cinema for the year 2019 seem to have begun rolling. With a good film last week, this week too appears promising, not to mention, the coming few months. However, there are miles to go in few departments.

What is heartening is that film-makers are experimenting, with styles and genres. Dhunki is one such experiment, slightly late in time, yet not too late.

1. The Film begins with a lot of people to thank. Just too many.
2. Why Why do these actors not wear seat belts or wear helmets, why? (Or am I too paranoid/hopeful).
3. Deeksha Joshi has 5 clearly visible moles, 2 lightly visible ones and one highly invisible mole on her face.
4. ISRO just did not have to spend so much for a moon surface landing, this movie offers a lot of space on the heroes’ faces.
5. Daaru is injurious to health, even in Mount Abu, so relieved.
6. English subtitles of Gujarati movies are a huge distraction. I learnt, Dadagiri is Bossiness.
7. Just because it is a movie about a chef does not give you a reason to forget your manners, never talk with food in the mouth.
8. Looks like Radio Industry is truly throwing up good actors and rich bosses, RJ Ankit (the firing boss), RJ Aarti (the tycoon boss), Chirag Tripathi (the non-hiring boss), wow, good cameos.
9. Daaru Peene Dhingli thai jay chhe! What a line, Loved it.
10.  It will always haunt me, you go to an investor to seek 1 million of funds and have no plan on hand!!

And therein lies the challenge.

But before that, the story.

Nikunj and Shreya, colleagues in a digital firm, quit based on a goof-up and follow their passion of opening a food delivery start-up. Nikunj’s wife (kaushambi) and Shreya’s fiancé (Vishal) keep giving them reality checks even as they duo struggle to keep their passion up and running. Looking at the clever trailer, we are sure how this will end for the protagonists, however, there promises to be some twists. The way the movie ends, it is good.

But can someone please tell me, why does the story need to have so many close-ups? Extreme Close-ups? With a weak story line and average sub-plots, there is just no scope for any kind of facial expressions, then why did Anish and his DOP adopt this classical line of film-making. Beats me, even as I count Pratik’s nose hair, get irritated by Deeksha’s every interfering hair-line, Dr Vishal’s ear (I assume he is an ENT surgeon). Why! Why!

Also, I am confused. Is this film about food? Then where are the array of very well shot extreme close-ups of dishes? Only three dishes, Dal-fry, some non-veg dish with cream and something else? Why? If it was about an app, then why focus on a chef? And if it was about a start-up then where is the marketing plan, the passion, the ‘Real Disappointment’. To be fair, there is a lovely sequence of investors giving gyaan, not money. Very relatable.

Yes, there are some really good sequences, emotions, connects and attempt at humour. Once in a while you also feel the pain, you relate to incidents (home selling, struggle for jobs, at jobs). But all in all, had some more hard work gone into the story and detailing, I am sure, this movie would have been more gripping. Ditto, the pace, it is sometimes too slow, sometimes just ok, but never takes off.

Anish Shah’s directorial debut is commendable. But he just needs to get more story oriented and practical. Among the actors, Kaushambi and Vishal score high, a truly commendable task considering they were number 3 & 4 in the cast. Kaushambi looks and acts fresh and confident while Vishal does a great job of a MCP. Pratik is a natural, but I feel is more of a package than just a face. Extreme Close-Ups spoil the plot. Complete opposite stands for Deeksha, who does not get too many emotions to show her strength. Her Extreme Close-ups are futile.

Music by Siddharth Amit Bhavsar is fine, Niren Bhatt’s Urdu-Gujarati lyrics are good but not catchy.

All in all a truly good urban effort. Definitely worth a watch, worth spending your weekend. Dhunki times for Gujarati cinema are here.

Pics Courtesy Dhunki Promotions

Chal Jivi Laiye – Joi Laiye

Jignesh Vasavada

3.75/5 (.25 extra for the bubbly heroine)

Boring son, Happy father meets bubbly girl in God’s land giving us a good time, philosophies and fun.

So, life is full of stress, work and commitments. And we forget to live. Well, Bollywood and Dhollywood are hell bent on driving you to make a life out of living, though am not sure how much of a life do the makers have left after this hard work!

Well, few observations:

1. All Ahmedabad needs now is a coast. We seem to have a host of Coconut corporates.
2. This must have been the most ideally marketed movie in recent times. Even the premiere was magnificent.
3. Is Tushar Sadhu wanting to be Gujarati’s next Heart-throb? Watch to movie to realize.
4. The servant must be the first one in the world singing Angrezi mein kehte hai…while making juice.
5. Guess rich people are like this only. The servants are more plumpier than their sons. Wow, I want to be rich.
6. The Spelling of Rafting was Raftting (not the maker’s fault, but what the hell!)
7. India is really prospering in the villages, even village kids are wearing Ray Bans.
8. Gujaratis are magnets. They seem to attract Gujaratis everywhere.
9. For a full-fledged role, Arunaji just got a Special appearance mention. She rocks.
10. So, your pop is kidnapped and taken in a car, you search for him on a bike shouting papa papa all the way, why? Wait till you spot the car.

But sincerely, the movie is a good weekend watch. The effort is very visible. The experience is very pleasant. All in all Vipul Mehta scores again after two good ventures. Guess, here is one more 100% director.

The story revolves around a workaholic son and happy go lucky retired father. The first five minutes of the movie is so fast paced it’s as if the crew just wants to rush to Uttarakhand. Fine by us. We too are ok with the free tour.

The dramebaaz father has a medical and part of his bucket list he wants to do a road trip with his always-on-the-phone son. Welcome to Uttarakhand and its winding roads and Alakhnanda streams and beautiful people. So amidst loads and loads of dialogues and emotions and PJs and meeting with a bubbly girl the story takes us to unexplored areas of the Devbhumi culminating at Kedarnath. This is where Vipulbhai gives a pleasant twist. And the movie paces towards a beautiful end. All through the movie there are few emotions you will experience. Laughter, Tears, Frustration,  Aww Cho Cute & Wow are some of them.

Pratik Parmar’s  cinematography is just top class. Next in line is the effortless, lively, bubbly and oh so pure Aarohi Patel. There is a collective haaaaaash every time she comes on the screen. She alternates easily between all emotions. Music by Sachin-Jigar and lyrics by Niren Bhatt and song sung by Jigardan has given Gujarati its anthem for 2019, Chand ne Kaho. Other songs too are very good. 

Story is the third winner coupled with dialogues.

Siddharthbhai is his natural best. Thankfully he has humour here though his Gujjubhai antics don’t seem to dim. Yash Soni has three expressions that takes him through the entire movie. Background music is loud, screenplay doesn’t keep us hooked. It’s as if now you laugh, now you choke, now you laugh again, now you cry. Nope doesn’t work.

All in all, a good movie very well packaged and good for the weekend especially against all there is to offer. You can safely say, Chal Joi Laiye.

Pictures Courtesy: CMP

Short Circuit – The Name Says it All

Jignesh Vasavada 

2.5 Stars

A film on time, about time finally out before it went out of time.

I always knew that being a Radio Jockey has its privileges. But being a good Radio Jockey has its baggage. Everyone expects you to be everything and there lies a trap. Not too many have bitten the bullet, and yet a few have been ‘Short Circuited’.

Short Circuit is a good looking package which needed a strong shoulder.

But first few Observations:

1. Why can’t Government pass a rule saying all Heroes need to compulsorily wear a helmet. Not only the lead man but his side kick too travel without helmets, so much for safety campaigns.
2. Wonder where does one get Alcohol so easily? All Gujarati movies show freely available alcohol!
3. Check out the tie-knot. It keeps automatically loosening and tightening.
4. Why does a security guard always have to be hindi speaking, not to mention, a dumb fool.
5. Did she actually say it or I heard it wrong, Baking News (at the Dangee Dums outlet)? Hear it out.  
6. Just because you are the hero, you won’t even allow your friend to take his chance at the pool table?
7. So, the girl is a PhD in Quantum Physics, yet she asks about Northern Lights!
8. Artificial Intelligence has taken a leap for Gujarati! Wow Silicon Valleybhai, Ae Haaaalo J J
9. Here is a gun that vaporizes flesh, bones and everything yet cannot do the same to plastic glasses? Wow!
10. First ever research facility where lab assistants (in orange overalls) have guns and security has a stick!

 

Well, now comes the tricky part, reviewing the story without revealing it.

Samay (RJ Dhvanit), an engineer is caught in a time loop/time bounce. Events keep happening and he keeps bettering his action plan to counter the murder of his first-sight-love Seema (Kinjal Rajpriya). Assisting him in this endeavor is his funny friend Bhopo (Smit Pandya).

As sequence keeps repeating things begin to happen and the movie moves towards a definite but very prolonged end. Yes, the story is crisp, short and very pointed.  

Any further and I will spill the beans, so let me stick to evaluating the performances.

The film is and around RJ Dhvanit. Well, to be honest without being hurtful, he still needs to learn to act, run, eat namkeen, give different expressions, sleep in the right position and get the right angles. His body and body language needs a serious boost. There is a kind of monotony in his method that does not help build the story.

Kinjal Rajpriya does a good job. She looks fresh and very much in the role (though her Shuu Thayu beauty is missing). If Smit Pandya had carried the previous venture alone on his shoulders, this time he just does not get the space, time or enough dialogues. A little more and he would have filled a lot of gaps.

Utkarsh Mazumdar, the scientist looks and feels strained. A little younger talent would have helped the cause. A talking villain Jacob (Vikee Shah) stretches the end way too much. Music wise, Mehul Surti has managed to keep it non-interfering and helps keep the pace (whatever little it has). Cinematography rules here. Jeremy Reagan makes the entire experience pleasant.

The story, well, I will leave this part blank.

The marketing of Short Circuit may have gone overboard in promoting this as Gujarat’s First Sci-Fi film. For a fledgling industry like Dhollywood, it would be prudent if we rate original works as First or Second. Else, simply let the Box Office do the talking.  

Well, is it worth a watch? Why not? If you are a RJ Dhvanit fan, if you do not watch English movies, if you want to see something different, yes it is worth your quick time (it is a sharp 2 hr film). Only don’t get caught in the time loop beyond 12 midnight, because, one min late and the language would change.

Happy Viewing.

Pictures Courtesy: Short Circuit Promotional Material

Balloooon - Bursts

Story of an aspiring singer simply falls short of any aspirations, logic, plot, dialogues and direction.

Jignesh Vasavada

0.5 Stars

 

There was a constant warning in the movie that kept staring at us. Yet, Yet we persisted and attempted to enjoy the Balloooon. Why? The sign screamed, constantly, Why? And the only answer I had was, it is a job, someone has to review it.

So, here goes.

1. This was the first time, thanks to a technical glitch I read the entire certificate end to end. They actually tell you the duration of the movie. This was 119 mins, felt like 11199 mins.
2. Why do all Gujarati movies have to start with a drone shot of Ahmedabad’s Nehru bridge?
3. Why do all fathers in Urban Gujarat Movies have to be Prashant Barot Sir?
4. Seriously, our mind set needs to change for a Government job. It appears to be a ticket to a retired, relaxed life.
5. This must be the first sci-fi movie where a cellphone charges without the switch being on!
6. What is an All-Rounder Teacher? Are they referring to Kapil Dev?
7. Which Channel on TV has Game of Thrones? I would love to watch it there?
8. So, if you keep listening to music, you can become a good singer?
9. Modiji’s Digital seems to have worked well. Now a girl living in a village gets engaged online! Wow!
10. Never ever watch a movie with the star-cast sitting right behind, you cannot watch it honestly.

 

Gosh, wish I had read the WHY sign and taken a 1 hr 42 mins bathroom break. Guess, Balloooon is taking abstract to a different level.

All of 119 mins you are just wondering what is happening, why is it happening, what are you doing here, who is she, who is who, what are they doing, why are they doing!!!!

The movie is about an aspiring singer who is goofy, casual and below average as a singer. Basically a loser in life, dreams big of becoming a celebrity (by winning Voice of Kutch!!!, I mean seriously!).

Pampered, ditched, broke & driven out from home, he wakes up in Bhuj (yeah yeah, actually, he just wakes up in Bhuj, waking you up too). Here is realizes that he will have to hit big by becoming a singer and winning a competition. So, he befriends a Speaking (S)Tree girl who just opens her mouth to give gyaan (arrey when she writes a postcard also she is giving Gyaan, I mean is she for real?).

 

So, Our Hero gets rejected, his father is perennially dejected, mother is continuously interjected all the while the viewers keep praying to be ejected!

Thumb wrestling, some tone improving blogs, a praying-to-haromnium-playing monk, Early morning yoga, doses of luck gets him a semi-final place in the competition. What happens next just bowls you over. You just have to bear the logic defying stuff. Wonder why make a filmy effort that has no coherence? Just simply copy some Kannada, English or Marathi film and entertain the audience and make your money naa Rehan Bhai and Rashesh bhai.

Is Navjot Singh Chauhan playing a goof or is normally like this, we wonder in the entire film. If he is playing one, then he has done a good job. Aarti Rajput, is full of two expressions and loads of gyaan. Completely wasted. Instead, a much better role is essayed by her room-mate. Very natural, lively and good.

Bhaviniben Jani does a good cameo. Gives some life to the movie. Prashant Barot is just fatherly as they come and Swati Dave as mom does a decent job.

 

A movie about a singer ought to be Samir-Mana’s delight. And two songs Musafar & Pankhi Maan really stand out. They add the much needed class to the narrative. But beyond that there is nothing memorable. Dialogues are out of place. Parents are scared the kid will commit suicide by hanging from the fan and the mom is worried for the fan, come on! Is the scene serious or funny.

Nope, Balloooon (with all four O) just deflates in the first 15 mins. Post that you are just forcing air into the puncture.

Better luck next time.