Stereotypical Racist Jokes, Cheap Sexual Humour and A Very Predictable Screenplay, is what Total Siyapaa is all about. Total Siyapaa is an adaptation of the 2004 Spanish film, Seres Queridos.
What is surprising is the fact, that how could Total Siyapaa end up looking like this when it has such a strong creative team behind it. Directed by E. Nivas, who gave us such films like Shool, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Dum, written and produced by Neeraj Pandey who has been behind films like A Wednesday and Special 26.
Now coming to the film, Aman (Ali Zafar) is a Muslim musician from Pakistan, and is in love with Asha (Yaami Gautam) a Hindu working in broadcast journalism, both settled in London.
Asha’s parents are broad minded and are ok with the fact that Aman is a Muslim but then hell breaks loose, when they get to know that Aman is a Pakistani. What follows are a series of unfunny comedy of errors that are forced, stretched and at times morbid. One misfortune after another befalls Aman who finds his day getting worse as he is humiliated and insulted by Asha‘s family.
Total Siyapaa boasts of a non-consistency in its plot. One moment Aman feels guilty for accidentally killing his prospective father-in-law and moments later he is joyously dancing with Asha’s sister.
Almost all characters in Total Siyapaa are caricatures. There’s Asha’s father (Anupam Kher), who just appears at regular intervals in the film, walks through the streets of London and his sole job here is to mistake a prostitute for his wife and get a lap dance. Asha’s grandfather (V.M. Badola) who lies in bed and plays with knives, Asha‘s crazy brother, her self-absorbed sister and finally Asha’s brother-in-law who is a miser, gives missed calls to his estranged wife and buys day-old flowers and closing-time pastries so he can get them cheap.
However, Ali Zafar manages to bring some humanity and sympathy for a helpless boyfriend trapped in a series of misunderstandings and Yami Gautam has nothing much to do in the film.
At the end of it all, Total Siyapaa belongs to Kirron Kher, who is cute, enduring and loveable as she is a charming over the top Punjabi mother. She is real and has tried to do complete justice to her role.
If one has to see the film, it’s only because of this powerhouse performer.
Ratings: *1/2
