The Hindi film industry is going through a mid-year crisis. And it is being bailed out by an unlikely and unsung hero Paresh Rawal. This man in an iconic role, gives Awaara, Pagla, Deewana, vestiges of hope. For his brand of comic timing is unmistakably rare. He is India’s worthy answer to Hollywood giant Peter Sellers.
The story of APD is as hackeneyed as a story in Bollywood can be. A lure of 1000 crore diamonds, wife swapping of a ’different kind’, loads of attitude, swaying-n-gyrating foreign models, A Spanish Matador for unwanted company and spilling-with-mirth comedy, courtesy the unshakable Rawal.
It is really surprising that Paresh had to be left out of the promos. Maybe his part wouldn’t have drawn the audience to the theatres. Trust me, these Know-all fillumwallahs don’t learn from their mistakes even after repeatedly falling flat on their faces.
APD is doing good business, and it is common knowledge that Paresh Rawal is the talking point and not the painstakingly done ’’Matrix’’ stunts by manipulative Akshay Kumar. Manipulative, because, it is being alleged that Khiladi Kumar got all the prime scenes of Sunil Shetty chopped on the editing table. And, Shetty’s role does come out to be half baked.
I must say, Akshay may not have envisaged that Paresh could have pulled off such a coup. It is a coup of sorts, for how else can you define such tremendous applause that the buffoon recieves each time he ’bursts’ on the screen. I must say that I haven’t laughed to this extent in any of the movies I have seen in a long long time.
Now, while I waited impatiently for Mr Manilal (Paresh’s name) to appear, I also had to suffer some haplessly inane songs, a motley of bimbettes who hardly made any impact, a deluge of uninspiring stunt scenes, and a villian who looked far too suave to do wrong.
Awaara Pagla Deewana is a mismatch of a film. A loosely knit masala movie that has some unforgetable moments. And quite a few painful ones too.
APD, A must watch. But only and only for PARESH RAWAL!!!!!!!!