Producer: Firoz Nadiadwala Director: Neeraj Vora Cast: Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty, Rajpal Yadav, Rimmi and Bipasha Basu Music: Himesh Reshammiya
Bollywood is turning towards comedies these days. And churning out a comic package is emerging as a tested formula to make the film successful. But does every comedy succeed at the box office? Of course not…! You have witnessed abundant of examples for many comedies’ box office failures in the past. Priyadarshan and David Dhawan are the filmmakers considered to be the king of comedies on Bollywood scene today. But as a saying goes: A man is not perfect. They too sometimes face failures for their projects, they are much confident about. Thus after putting your very best in a film, you are not sure of a success since after your hard work there comes another big thing, which has a big role of making anything successful and a failure and that is destiny.
Sequels’ fashion is ON in Bollywood these days. There is a sequel to Koi Mil Gaya - Krrish, a sequel to Munnabhai MBBS – Munnabhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi and now to Hera Pheri – Phir Hera Pheri. Even Boney Kapoor has also decided to make a sequel to No Entry. ’Hera Pheri’ had been directed by Priyadarshan whereas the sequel ’Phir Hera Pheri’ is directed by Neeraj Vora (who has earlier written many Priyadarshan movies). The film carries the same trio of Raju (Akshay Kumar), Shyam (Suniel Shetty) and Baburao (Paresh Rawal) in the lead. It’s a mad comedy and requires you to not watch it with careful eye instead just extract as much enjoyment as you can and it’s there to endow you the same in plenty. The movie is a full dose of entertainment with rib-tickling scenes, funny one-liners and laughs. Neeraj Vora has used his brilliance only on one thing - he has to make people laugh and has succeeded very aptly in his efforts.
’Phir Hera Pheri’ begins with the ending sequence of ’Here Pheri’ where the trio of Raju, Shyam and Baburao received stout money. Raju stumbles upon a scheme in mind to make the wealth double. To get it materialized, he will have to invest Rs. 1 crore with a chit-fund company. Initially Shyam and Baburao don’t agree but later they surrender to this scheme. The trio contributes Rs. 10 lacs each but still Rs. 70 lacs are less to complete one crore rupees. Raju meets a street hoodlum (Rajpal Yadav), who also contributes his share of Rs. 20 lacs after hearing the scheme. Now Rs. 50 lacs are left. And to get this amount, Raju sells the bungalow (the three are the owners of this abode) to a Parsi (Dinesh Hingoo). The Rs. One crore are now handed over to the chit-fund company (to Bipasha Basu) After three weeks, they all come know that this company is a big fraud itself and has cheated with many investors. All get under troubles even the street goon too who has borrowed the money from a big mobster, who will kill him if he doesn’t pay back his money. Now they all are running to save their lives.
Akshay Kumar’s scenes with Paresh Rawal, Suneil Shetty and Rajpal Yadav are superb to watch. They tickle your funny bone. The first half of the movie is laced with the excellent comic sequences to stay with. Frankly, the second half loses film’s importance a bit because of putting many new characters forcibly into the narrative. But since the handling of the movie is exceptional, this thing is easily ignored. Climax of the movie is the rhombus of this outing. In a circus, all are chasing each other and it looks simply uproarious. And the skill of the director reveals from this particular scene. Undoubtedly it is the true life of the film. It reminds of the yesteryear’s Vidhu Vind Chopra’s classic comedy ’Jaane Bhi Do Yaroo’ where in the end, all chased each other in such a hilarious way.
Neeraj Voora, the man behind this magnum opus, deserves huge marks for doing excellent job as a director, fabulous job as a writer and a superb job as a dialogue writer. He wins all medals placed on the plate to present. Music by Himesh Reshammiya is a mellifluous treat to enjoy with. Cinematography is crispy.
The film rests on two characters – Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar. Paresh Rawal gives his usual best since he is such a fine actor Bollywood has ever produced. Akshay Kumar, a new superstar emerged on Bollywood front after giving many hits recently and igniting box office with last year’s mega blockbuster ’Garam Masala’, lifts the film on his shoulders. He thoroughly delivers a fabulous acting from the beginning till the end. His comedy doesn’t get you tired and you love to watch it. Suniel Shetty impresses. Rajpal Yadav is superb. Bipasha Basu and Rimmi don’t have big roles to play but justify their characters. Other cast of the film does well also.
In a capsule, Phir Hera Pheri with all the ingredients to entertain its audience will see an enormous business at the box office. A MUST WATCH…!