A recipe straight out of the cold storage, this is yet another ‘safe’ launch vehicle for the producers’ daughter. Anushka Ranjan is not bad. Launched in a ‘in and as’ sort of way, she has a strong screen presence and knows how to hold audience attention but her parents have saddled her with a script that is well past its expiry date. And director Binod Pradhan makes little attempt to liven up the proceedings. A celebrated cinematographer, this is an unnecessary diversion for Pradhan. It seems somebody has watched a series of Rajshri and Dharma productions to create this khichdi that tries to masquerade as Pullav. It not only lacks flavour but even the ingredients are undercooked.
Aadi (Kannada actor Diganth Manchale) is about to get married to Rhea (Sonalli Sehgall), daughter of an automobile magnate (Parmeet Sethi). On their ring ceremony, Aadi’s best friend Anushka turns up. Now Aadi and Anushka like each other but they don’t know that they love each other. Remember Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai ? To make them know, the writer hooks Anushka to a long-haired and bearded painter Jay (Karan Grover). The two couples and their families head to a beach resort in Thailand to promote tourism and play Hum Aapke Hain Koun in a new setting. It seems everybody knows how it is going to unfold but they have been asked to generate two hours of showreel to justify their presence for the hospitality offered. To pad up, Pradhan adds an extra dose of melodrama by bringing together Rhea’s divorced parents. It is good to watch Kitu Gidwani but not in such a lopsided script.
It is a kind of film where you can be easily ahead of the narrative. There are no surprises in store and when the characters pretend to be shocked, I hold the armrest in disbelief. You can use the performance of Diganth and Karan, as a tool to explain a kid the meaning of active and passive voice.
Rishi Kapoor turns up as a love guru but you can tell that he is going through the motions for a friendly appearance. So does Satish Kaushik. How can they for they have been asked to make the cardboards breathe.
