The other day I was discussing, more like arguing with a friend of mine as to whether Bollywood movies are better or the movies down south. Sadly, I had to accept defeat (I know, ‘I’ had to accept defeat). Well, but it is true, at least when it comes to the dubbed movies; for example, Bhool Bhulaiya, Chupke Chupke, Raavana and recently, Khatta Meetha. I will try to give you more such reviews of the dubbed movies from south to Hindi (obviously those movies which I see). For now read the review for Khatta Meetha-
Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar, Rajpal Yadav and so on....All in all a power packed star cast and that too for a satirical comedy. Naturally, you enter the movie hall with a lot of expectations from such a strong star cast and a theme based on R.K Laxmans common man. After all, most of this team together has created laughter riots in the past but Khatta Meetha gives no such pleasure; it is just a Khatta experience.
Khatta Meetha is a film about the hardships faced by a common man; it is about the atrocities by the municipalities, corruption in the government and at times also about the superstitiousness still prevalent in the country (the times where Akshay Kumar is ridiculed by his father for being born as unlucky on a very inauspicious day). Although the running time is a bit too long (two hours forty minutes), so many subjects still cannot possibly be handled effectively even in that much time.
Coming back to the plot, our common man in the movie is Sachin Tichkule (Akshay Kumar) a man with no money but lot of pride especially for his name I guess coz he keeps on emphasizing the fact that he is Tichkule… Sachin Tichkule!. He is a law graduate who has no trust in righteousness anymore -"Mein akela aadarshvadi hone se kuch nahi ho sakta" (I alone being righteous won’t make any difference in the world) - and hence gives up law and becomes a contractor (wow that is quite a change of path!). Neck-deep in debt and workers to be paid for and fed for, his life already is a mess when enters his ex-cum-future lady love (Trisha Krishnan) as the commissioner of his area. She makes matters worse for him and keeps on trying to make him realize how much wrong he is and how she is the aadarshvadi (righteous), non-corrupt commissioner. His brothers and his brother-in-law, who hate him to the core, keep on blaming him for being such a waste and a complete burden on them; and his parents have to comply with everything these goon-like sons of theirs say since they are the ones who earn and not him -"Jinke paas paisa nahi hota unhe aadarshon ki baatein nahi karni chahiye" (those who don't have money, shouldn't talk about righteousness). Overall things appear bleak for our 'poor common man' (wearing expensive glares and watches and always travelling everywhere by rickshaw), when suddenly with him winning a road-roller as a compensation in some case he filed, gives him some hope. But, it takes just a Johnny Lever and an elephant to drown even this hope of his. And while all this is going on, there is a non-stop attempt to create at least some laughter, which, without having to say much, fails miserably.
Throughout the movie there are times when you really feel for Tichkule or the so-called common man. At times you can actually relate to what is happening and feel for the characters like- when there is a talk about how the roads are always bad, or when the atrocities on his sister and her consequent murder/suicide are shown, or even when Tinnu Anand, who is fighting to bring truth to the fore-front is brutally murdered. But, that is all you get and the script (or the not-so-much-a-script) takes it away from you and you are again thrown at the oh-so-worn-out jokes. It looks like there is a constant confusion in the writer's or the director's minds whether to make the film serious or to make it funny. The sudden transition from the monkey business by almost everyone, to the heart wrenching seriousness is not at all smooth. Since there are many parallel stories running at the same time, you keep expecting that something related to a particular theme will happen when suddenly the theme changes and a new plot is introduced like- the falling of the bridge, Sachin Tichkule being disaster-prone, his sister's marriage and then murder etc.... Some scenes are absolutely unwanted like- the one at Arsani's place, or the shot where Tichkules workers are beaten up for having misbehaved and to simply put, are poor attempts to create laughter. Towards the end, the movie speeds up; almost as if Priyadarshan is trying to wrap up the movie as fast as possible. It appears abrupt!
As far as acting is concerned, Akshay Kumar is too full of himself, while his ex-cum-future girlfriend is a total misfit. The lady can't act and is too soft to play the role of a strict commissioner. Rajpal Yadav and Kulbhushan Karbanda have given spotless performances as usual, and are the only relief to ears from all other non-stop screaming cast members. The music is fun to listen to and the songs are definitely catchy but are absolutely unnecessary. All in all, the movie is a complete disappointment and the last song will actually reflect the state of mind you will be in, after watching the movie- 'I am allergic to bullshit!'
Khatta Meetha is a film about the hardships faced by a common man; it is about the atrocities by the municipalities, corruption in the government and at times also about the superstitiousness still prevalent in the country (the times where Akshay Kumar is ridiculed by his father for being born as unlucky on a very inauspicious day). Although the running time is a bit too long (two hours forty minutes), so many subjects still cannot possibly be handled effectively even in that much time.
Coming back to the plot, our common man in the movie is Sachin Tichkule (Akshay Kumar) a man with no money but lot of pride especially for his name I guess coz he keeps on emphasizing the fact that he is Tichkule… Sachin Tichkule!. He is a law graduate who has no trust in righteousness anymore -"Mein akela aadarshvadi hone se kuch nahi ho sakta" (I alone being righteous won’t make any difference in the world) - and hence gives up law and becomes a contractor (wow that is quite a change of path!). Neck-deep in debt and workers to be paid for and fed for, his life already is a mess when enters his ex-cum-future lady love (Trisha Krishnan) as the commissioner of his area. She makes matters worse for him and keeps on trying to make him realize how much wrong he is and how she is the aadarshvadi (righteous), non-corrupt commissioner. His brothers and his brother-in-law, who hate him to the core, keep on blaming him for being such a waste and a complete burden on them; and his parents have to comply with everything these goon-like sons of theirs say since they are the ones who earn and not him -"Jinke paas paisa nahi hota unhe aadarshon ki baatein nahi karni chahiye" (those who don't have money, shouldn't talk about righteousness). Overall things appear bleak for our 'poor common man' (wearing expensive glares and watches and always travelling everywhere by rickshaw), when suddenly with him winning a road-roller as a compensation in some case he filed, gives him some hope. But, it takes just a Johnny Lever and an elephant to drown even this hope of his. And while all this is going on, there is a non-stop attempt to create at least some laughter, which, without having to say much, fails miserably.
Throughout the movie there are times when you really feel for Tichkule or the so-called common man. At times you can actually relate to what is happening and feel for the characters like- when there is a talk about how the roads are always bad, or when the atrocities on his sister and her consequent murder/suicide are shown, or even when Tinnu Anand, who is fighting to bring truth to the fore-front is brutally murdered. But, that is all you get and the script (or the not-so-much-a-script) takes it away from you and you are again thrown at the oh-so-worn-out jokes. It looks like there is a constant confusion in the writer's or the director's minds whether to make the film serious or to make it funny. The sudden transition from the monkey business by almost everyone, to the heart wrenching seriousness is not at all smooth. Since there are many parallel stories running at the same time, you keep expecting that something related to a particular theme will happen when suddenly the theme changes and a new plot is introduced like- the falling of the bridge, Sachin Tichkule being disaster-prone, his sister's marriage and then murder etc.... Some scenes are absolutely unwanted like- the one at Arsani's place, or the shot where Tichkules workers are beaten up for having misbehaved and to simply put, are poor attempts to create laughter. Towards the end, the movie speeds up; almost as if Priyadarshan is trying to wrap up the movie as fast as possible. It appears abrupt!
As far as acting is concerned, Akshay Kumar is too full of himself, while his ex-cum-future girlfriend is a total misfit. The lady can't act and is too soft to play the role of a strict commissioner. Rajpal Yadav and Kulbhushan Karbanda have given spotless performances as usual, and are the only relief to ears from all other non-stop screaming cast members. The music is fun to listen to and the songs are definitely catchy but are absolutely unnecessary. All in all, the movie is a complete disappointment and the last song will actually reflect the state of mind you will be in, after watching the movie- 'I am allergic to bullshit!'
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