Film: Dhamaal
Director: Indra Kumar
Producer: Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria
Screenplay & Dialogues: Balwinder Suri and Bunty Rathore
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaafrey, Aashish Chowdhury
Rating: 3/5
Based on trailers, promos and title one wouldn’t go to this film for anything but time-pass. Now if one’s expecting more than that then reading this review is a waste and if one is looking for time-pass then again one needn’t be reading this review. Just go watch the film.
Yes, Indra Kumar’s next guy flick after Masti is total time-pass. Not as much of Dhamaal as promised or even aspired for but enough to make it worth your while. It is a screwball comedy which includes silly lines that are so silly they are surprisingly fun, an endearing cartoonish flavour, slapstick in moderate doses and no unnecessary elements to spoil the flow of the narrative.
Dhamaal is a story of run and chase. Run for life while chasing the prize of a delicious sum of money.The story is not new, especially in recent times where the audience has seen a number of such movies. But what works for the film is its treatment. The style of the film does not allow it to take itself seriously and that, combined by the energetic histrionics of all involved pulls the film to some serious laughs. The screenplay seems to be penned with strictly laughs in mind. It is action-oriented and does not rely completely on funny one-liners. It does have its share of baser humour which make you squirm in your seat but thankfully it is lilmited. With its pace, flow and mad concepts it has adequately done its job of creating a paisa-vasool.
With all that surprising hilarity the ending comes as a bit of a downer, especially the looseness with which it is handled. The lack of seriousness which was a style until now suddenly becomes a liability. The fault of direction apart maybe the moral high-ground the film takes is required among today’s film where it is fashionable to be irreverent to good-old simple values of goodness, honesty and charity.
The fact that there are only two songs (beginning and end credits and none to bother the flow), no item numbers or no heroines or love angles either is a rather bold step for a typically mainstream film. But it shows a lesson or two in playing to the gallery intelligently.
The film is as much a screenplay film as it is a performance film. The positive side is that it gets its due from both sides. A good screenplay meets some good comic timing and apt performances from the lead actors especially Arshad Warsi and Ritesh Deshmukh. The duo have consistently established themselves in comic roles and live upto their credibility. There are even times when one wishes the length of their roles would be longer.
Sadly, one wishes the same for Sanjay Dutt as well, whose role is not a leading one and is more of one of the characters. He is good at what is given but to say he shines would be an exaggeration. A larger canvas in terms of length and comic scope for Munnabhai would definitely be welcome. Javed Jafferi packs that dexterity of expressions and body language in his performance that he has always been capable of and Ashish Chaudhury is moderately good in what he does. Vijay Raaz in his quirky cameo is absolutely hilarious.
Adnan Sami’s music is foot-tapping but sounds like you have heard it all before. The background score is more entertaining than the tracks. Ganesh Acharya’s choreography is fun and does the film no injustice but one still wishes that the age of dancing with white chicks in glitzy discos were over. Cinematography is apealing with no strange forced angles or cuts to heighten comedy and action/thrills getting its due. Editing is superb, matching pace with the frenetic narrative.
Typically made to enchant the average movie-goer this film packs enough punch to attract viewership from all classes as well. Go with a view to watch perfectly enjoyable non-sense and you won’t be disappointed.
