Mubarakan BO and Review Thread - Page 4

Mubarakan proves convincingly that comedies need not always be about slapstick, that there is more to comedy films than vulgar gestures and crass jokes, says Prasanna D Zore.

Director Anees Bazmee, story writers Rupinder Chahal and Balwinder Singh Janjua and dialogue writer Rajesh Chawla, take a bow for making a clean film that is an out-and-out entertainer!

They don't serve comedies this size no more.

But to say that about Bazmee's Mubarakan shouldn't make you feel that one is taking the credit away from a stellar star cast.

Arjun Kapoor, who doubles up as Karan (the smart guy) and Charan (the duffer), proves a point with this madcap. This is Arjun Kapoor's second double role after Aurangzeb, and he rocks.

Anil Kapoor, the bumbling, ideas-generating Kartar Singh Bajwa, who plays Karan's mamu and Charan's chachu, adds heft and charm whenever the film's pace dulls down, which is like the first 10-15 minutes.

Ileana D'cruz is coming into her own in comedy films and while Mubarakan gives her a solid platform, she doesn't let her fans down. As Sweety, the hot-headed Sardarni, D'Cruz looks like a million bucks too.

Athiya Shetty's Binkle is hardly there in the first half of the film and when she does get a chance in the latter half, she too walks into your hearts with ease.

Pavan Malhotra, who plays an upcoming, egotistic hotel tycoon, leaves a lasting impression and at times gives everybody else in the film a run for their money.

But it is Bazmee's stewardship and Chahal's, Janjua's and Chawla's craft that give you the high you seek from comedy entertainers like Mubarakan.

Every scene ends in a rip-roaring climax, and every dialogue ends with a solid, comic punch.

The Bazmee-Chahal-Janjua-Chawla quartet prove very convincingly that comedies need not always be about slapstick; that there is more to comedy films than vulgar gestures and crass jokes.

That clean dialogues, written sensibly, entertain and charm the movie-goers.

That using common sense to captivate the audience works remarkably well and is much appreciated too.

And that is where Mubarakan, after Andaz Apna Apna and Hera Pheri (you can list your best comedy films in the message board below), scores big time.

There is no doubt in my mind that I'd watch Mubarakan again and again just for its clean dialogues and clean comic punches; just like Andaz Apna Apna or Hera Pheri.

I can bet that you won't disagree with me.

Film: "Mubarakan"; Director: Anees Bazmee; Cast: Anil Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Ileana D'Cruz, Athiya Shetty, Neha Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah and Pavan Raj Malhotra, Rating: ***

Film: "Mubarakan"; Director: Anees Bazmee; Cast: Anil Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Ileana D'Cruz, Athiya Shetty, Neha Sharma, Ratna Pathak Shah">Ratna Pathak Shah and Pavan Raj Malhotra, Rating: ***

Nothing is implausible if it works in cinema. After all, it is a part of getting the job done and hence, one does not complain when it comes to "Mubarakana" as it entertains you wholeheartedly.

As the film opens, we are informed that twins, Karan and Charan, both played by Arjun Kapoor are separated at birth. Not simply destined, but absolutely required to, by the bylaws of the Bollywood 'Code of Cliches'.

With a predictable plot, this Anees Bazmee oeuvre with all tropes of comedy like his previous films, is based on personalities and dialogues. The audience is the target of the joke. When something funny happens, the actors don't react; the film itself reacts by what it shows next.

Set in a Sikh family; the drama is obviously high strung. The characters are supposed to be intelligent, loud, family-oriented and yet they have the maturity of gnats.

Again by the Bollywood Code of Cliches, the twins both in love; Karan with Sweety (Ileana D'Cruz) and Charan with Nafisa (Neha Sharma) are expected to marry as per their foster parents' wishes.

So, when a proposal comes from a close family friend, Mr. Sandhu's daughter Binkle (Athiya Shetty), the duo are tongue tied. They simply cannot muster the courage to tell their respective foster parents about their love life.

Complications arise when the twin's uncle Kartar Singh (Anil Kapoor) comes up with an "idea" to rescue his nephews, which leads to a big family fight. How they resolve the issues, forms the crux of the tale.

Though over the top, the actors are natural and very engaging. Real life uncle and nephew -- Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor shine in their respective roles.

Arjun shuttles between the shrewish Karan and the shy goody boy Charan with aplomb. Anil Kapoor on the other hand offers nothing extraordinary that we have not seen him do in his earlier films. Together, their camaraderie is palpable on screen.

The three heroines, Ileana D'Cruz as Sweety, Neha Sharma as Nafisa and Athiya Shettyas Binkle are outright perfunctory in their approach.

While the rest of the cast laudably essasy their roles effectively, it is those in the side-lines who actually take centre-stage.

What contributes to their performance, is undoubtedly the well-etched characters. Prominent among them are; Ratna Pathak Shah">Ratna Pathak Shah as Jeetu Bua and Karan's foster mother and Pavan Raj Malhotra as Charan's foster father Baljeet Singh who create an impact.

While the story by Balwinder Singh Janjua and Rupinder Chahal is cliched, the dialogues with comic timings, cross-references and community-jibes are noteworthy and entertaining.

The songs are an aberration to the narrative. It simply breaks the impact, especially the songs with the lyrics, "Hawa hawaa" and "Tu Google pa ke nacha".

While the first half of the film is a breezy laugh-a-minute riot, the second half tends to be a bit melodramatic and preachy.

With ace production values, the film is a glossy and high-ended.

Overall, the film is a well-packaged entertainer.