‘Tension se jaan chudaani hai toh Dhamaal dekhiye.’ Says Director of Dhamaal, Indra Kumar. He is true. After watching the film, I can endorse his words. Dhamaal is an all out comedy which stops for nothing. If you are a person who likes the heartless, mindless and brainless cartoon comedies the movie is a sure treat for you. In another test, if you liked films like Partner or Phir Hera Pheri, the movie is definitely for you. Book your ticket right now, since afterwards you will find it difficult to get the ticket. But one warning: If you have some heart problems and don’t have insurance think before you decide. It is a ROFL kind movie.
Many a times it is told that the mistakes we do or others do and its depth makes a comedy. The larger the blunder, greater the comedy. Didn’t we enjoyed reading Sardar jokes earlier? Namboothiri falitham, Mulla stories…each set of people have their own version of these idiotic mistakes and laughing at it. In Dhamaal, you get an entire episode of such jokes, well mixed and presented it in style. Add a bit of CID Moosa kind of a cartoon detective to join with 4 cartoon jokers and connect them to some mad rush to get the money like the Malamaal squad had done last year…we get a Mad, laugh a minute comedy (in it’s true sense) called Dhamaal.
Aditya (Arshad Warsi), Manav (Aditya’s younger brother played by Javed Jaffri), Roy (Ritesh Deshmukh) & Boman (Aashish Choudary) are friends in need. Each of them has their own small reasons to come out and stay not paying - paying guests. If it is poverty for one, for other(Boman) it is the continuous beating by his father (played by Asrani). . Their search for money in any crooked way didn’t find any concrete results. Each is smart in their way, but stupid enough to give away the results of their hard efforts go in vein. In a day, they witnessed the death of a rich notorious criminal, Boss (Prem Chopra) chased by Police inspector Kabir Nayek (Sanjay Dutt). In his last minute, the rich man told the huge wealth he hided in St. Sebastian park, Goa. Inspector Kabir Nayek who is haunted by the desperation of not able to getting Boss with life now want to possess the money entirely for him where the secret told to the 4 slipped from Manav as usual. Now, the chase for money begins. They pull each others legs to reach the place. Often they co-operate, sooner they disintegrated. But wait…are you looking for a story in a film like Dhamaal???
The writer Paritossh Painter did his home work of collecting the maximum number of jokes and knitting it to a thread. He along with screenplay writers Bunty Rathod and Balwinder singh Suri require the special mention because the movie is going to be a hit or super hit due to their efforts than any other factor. Director Inder Kumar who directed films like Ishq, Mann, Pyare Mohan hit big time with DHAMAAL. He succeeded in generating the humour in the right moments. All characters except Kabir Nayek are idiotic. (By the word Idiot, I didn’t mean a completely foolish person, but a smart/non smart person failed to cash on their opportunity because of some stupidity done in the critical moment.)
The moments gets little repetitive in the second half especially where the kind of hindrances bought back time again is the same and same in any direction. The mad race started early and it continues in the same pace. So, the writers and director failed to create variety of problems. However, this doesn’t prevent people from laughing as most in the theatre are fall flat within the first half hour itself and they had to accumulate energy to laugh further. So, such lags helped them to stop their laugh a little.
Sanjay Dutt, gives the necessary star light to the film and he bring out his normal performance, brilliant. Since this is the first film after his arrest and bail few weeks back, I am sure it will bring some cheer to his face. Without doubt, Javed Jaffrey is the star of the show for his super performance of an idiot with innocence. Ritesh Deshmukh continues his comedy film streak with success this time. Arshad Warsi gives another fine performance and reasserts that his presence leaves a good impact to the audience. Aashish Choudari well consolidated his position and managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with others. All other cast did their roles brilliantly. I am sure they must have enjoyed shooting the film.
For a change, there is no female lead in the film. A real rarity. However, this doesn’t prevent them adding few dancers to their not so inspiring song sequences.
Music is strictly average and keeps the mood of the film with the foot taping number, but nothing great. Cinematography is good. Editing is fine.
If one look at the film for a quality cinema, this is surely not for those who do so. There are serious flaws all along. (However, who look for logic in films like this one?) If you get reminded of Malamaal weekly in occasion, I think it is incidental, if not intentional. The director/writers failed to weive a good story to the mad proceedings. It is an all out assault by laughter pills which landed in big cartoons (Ooops Carton).
Overall, the film leaves a good vibe among audience and it reach as a surprise gift which entertains. So…Go for it if you can go to the theatre keeping your brain and mind at home. Time for Indra Kumar to laugh with the full house audience.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars