Ok, if you have seen Bheja Fry and want to know whether this movie match to its prequel, I have to say you will be disappointed as I am yet to watch the first one. Thanks to my non habit of watching movies in DVDs and the low profile release of the prequel explains my absence from the first. So, let me directly go to the Bheja Fry 2 review which is the first for me.
The film is a light watch for fun in frequent intervals. It is not intelligent like many others nor it is commercial to standards but it makes you take a lighter look at life and situations.
Some times corrupt and some times idiotic Bharat Bhushan (Vinay Pathak) is an irresponsible tax officer who is thrilled to win the 25 Lakhs reality show which he won by the help of the executive producer Ranjini (Manisha Lamba). He is idiotic but gives wisdom of life all along. Ajit Talwar (Kay Kay Menon) is a business tycoon who builds an empire but fearful of the tax people. Shekharan (Suresh Menon) is an honest tax officer, who is all set to get Ajit Talwar under his custody. Ajit Talwar has one weakness, beautiful woman. He got a beautiful but talkative wife who gets his ignorance in personal and professional life. Ajith Talwar is now behind Ranjini the beautiful executive producer. All lands up in a cruise ship and the ship moves to......
If you go behind the story, there is not much of a story in this movie. By the time the writer director finishes his character description (or does he yet?) the film is already end. Oops! That is right. The second half stands completely indifferent from the first. I have to admit, the first half which was more focused on the corporate business and were promising. The second half let down the film when one approach it in its totality. If you have watched Chalo Dilli (ironically Vinay Pathak was the hero over there as well) there is absolutely nothing new in the second half of the film. Most of the plot remains unexplained. We cannot expect a reason for a beauty like Ranjini falling to the idiot-crazy Bhushan. When the heroine tries to romance we remain undetermined whether to laugh or cry. The only reason for her to woo Mr. Bhushan is the yet to be cashed 25 Lakhs cheque, but....the writer failed miserably in many areas whereas the director in Sagar Ballary did an excellent job otherwise. One liners are the strength of a satire and it is missing in this film. There have some fun in dialogues but the film demands more.
The film is a mix of art and commercial. The commercial side gives fun in packets. Despite the weakness of the plot, the fun in small packets keeps the audience hooked to the last scene though one get disappointed at times for non happening twists and turns. Vinay Pathak is the console for this film and he shoulders the full responsibility of making it a decent entertainer. Kay Kay Menon is superb, as usual. Manisha Lamba did her cute doll part though the character was out of place or unexplained. Amol Gupta’s acting skills are showing but the actor was let down by an unexplained eccentric character. Suresh Menon gives an impressive performance. Rest in the cast did competitive performance as well. Overall, performancewise the movie is very good.
Cinematography of the movie is very good. Brilliancy in pictures is visible in most part of the film. Music is average. Editing is ok.
Now, let us look at the movie as an art film. Well, it is an ok attempt but not very good. There are brilliant metaphors used at many places. The nature of Mrs Talwar is beautifully narrated by the shouting dog and the inability of Mr. Talwar to control her by the shooting of it with a duplicate bullet is one such example. Mr. Bhushan’s uncle’s romance with the foreign woman is intended to represent who guide the Indian politics and business. The Bombing of cottage seems intended at the Taj attack and Tatas, better skip watching this movie. Lack of commitment by the media may explain the love by glamorous executive producer. In the art line as well the beauty of the film is given in small packages and the writers failed to connect it in a fine rope. Corporate life, politics, social life and personal life is all covered in the movie but the writer doesn’t know how to swim nor to dig deep the treasures of the sea. Even if we are corrupt, we have to help each other to save ourselves....can I deduce this message from the movie? I am not sure
(As some of you are already aware, I am reading Chetan Bhagat books this season and what best time for me to watch the South Indian North Indian silly fun drama when I am reading the two states!)
Overall, Bheja Fry 2 has fun in it at many places. There are thoughts and sarcasm in frequent intervals as well. Performance by Vinay Pathak will help you to get entertained from this movie. The writer however failed to create a complete story or drama and the film may not rise above a level. It is definite fun, if we compare it to many other Bollywood films but it is not a film which is going to be a classic at any standards. The movie is a good to very good watch unless the expectations pull the entertainment kid in you down.
My rating: 3.25 stars