Expectations: Con-drama has been one of the most interesting genre in our modern Hindi cinema. Though we did witness many films in the retro era where this angle was used as, one of the pivotal tracks in the film. Films like Shaan, Mr. Natwarlal, Shalimar, Katilon Ke Katil, Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri, Heeralal Pannalal and many such films had good track where the protagonist used to con people in the initial part of the film. These tracks attracted its audience as people love to see how does one person cheat another and that too in an entertaining manner. Looking at these factors film makers enhanced this track from a small part of the film to a whole plot line of the film, with films like’Bunty Aur Bubbly’, ’Bluffmaster’, ’Special 26’, ’Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye’, ’Badmaash Company’, ’Khosla Ka Ghosla’ and many more. Probably, this could also be a main reason for Emraan Hashmi to do a con based film’Raja Natwarlal’, which also witnesses his comeback to his type of mainstream cinema after a gap of a few years. So lets find out whether, this master of masala entertainer will hit it right with his targeted audience or might have to struggle a bit to find his perfect form.
Story: ’Raja Natwarlal’ is story of Raja(Emraan Hashmi) who performs small time con along with his partner Raghav(Deepak Tijori) in order to live their livelihood. Raja once get a huge opportunity, after which his whole life goes through a sad and tensed phase, where he meets the biggest ex con-artist Yogi(Paresh Rawal). Raja convinces Yogi to target a multi billionaire Vardha Yadav(Kay Kay Menon) and what happens next is what the entire film is all about.
Screenplay & Technicalities: The story is predictable and works very well in parts. The first half takes a lot of time to come on its right track. It’s just before the interval, the film comes to its right track, but also has some hurdles in the form of romantic drama. In the initial part you are tortured with back to back three songs with an unwanted overdose of drama, especially the whole track of Humaima. The movie picks up drastically with the introduction of superb actors like Kay Kay Menon and Paresh Rawal. There are some interesting scenes like Paresh Rawal training Emraan Hashmi, Emraan’s first meet with Kay Kay Menon, Paresh Rawal and team trying to con Kay Kay along with the finale portions. Though, these scenes are not path breaking, but is still entertaining and engaging. They could have been more impactfull and sleek as its required in this type of genres. Whenever the movie picks up its momentum, the romantic and dramatic scenes dilute them and thus the whole fun element is short lived. In the movie Paresh Rawal tells Emraan Hashmi that people like them should not have any girlfriends or wife well, I would rectify it by saying that films like these should not have the romantic track, at all and should concentrate only on the thrilling and engaging con drama. Editing should have been sleek and crispier.
Music & Direction: Music has been one of the biggest positive aspect in Emraan Hashmi’s films, sadly, here the songs are not up to his caliber. They are wrongly placed in the film and does not go well with the flow of the film. Kunal Deshmukh made his mark with films like Jannat and Jannat 2, which were proper Bhatt-Hashmi styled entertainers. His latest attempt has a good plot line which is perfect for its targeted audience, but is presented in a very lethargic manner. It should have been razor sharp and bit high on an intellectual level. The forced melodrama and predictable narration style ruin the impact of the film.
Performances: Emraan Hashmi is super comfortable in his zone of masala entertainers. He performs well, but falls short due to the half baked script. Humaima Malik is terrible and hams to the fullest. She is a good actor, but fails to show her potential in this forced track of hers. Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon are the true saviors in this film. It’s due to their presence in the movie, that makes it worth watching, despite of so many loopholes. Deepak Tijori lends good support. Talented actor like Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is super wasted. Prachee Shah is fine in her part.
Final Verdict: So bol meri "FILMI KHOPDI" iss film mein kitna hain Dum?
Dum? Well, if you can tolerate the lethargic first hour of the film, there is a decent amount of entertaining dum in the later part of the film. Though it’s nowhere close to the good and thrilling con based films we have seen in the past, but thanks to talented actors like Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon, this king-con has some tricks under his sleeves. As for Emraan Hashmi, his fans will be relieved to see him in this type of film, but for all others. wait for a Bhatt camp film.