Cast: Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin, Prachi Desai, Archana Puran Singh, Asrani
Director: Rohit Shetty
Rating: 3/5
Cheesy and Slapstick - Bol Bachchan is a Laughter Riot
Rohit Shetty is a crowd pleaser. He brings to the screen Bollywood humour which is both sprinkled with classic comedy and peppered with desi drama. Bol Bachchan is definitely indispensible to the Bollywood junkie.
It is also undeniable that Shetty brings out the best in Ajay Devgn. We have seen it through their superhits, The Golmaal Series and Singham and we witness it again. The fight sequences, plenty I must say, coupled with the slapstick one-liners that rhyme keep you gripped till the interval.
With Hinglish dialogues callously delivered by Ajay Devgn, his presence has taken Bol Bachchan to a whole new level of family entertainment. Viewers are bound to relish the English one-liners mouthed by Prithviraj (Ajay Devgn). “I will make you remember milk number 6” (chatti ka doodh) and “idea jo hain neela rang se bahar” (out of the blue) are lines that stick in your head long after the film is over.
Prachi Desai brings to the screen vibrancy! Her colourful, flared patialas narrowed at the bottom develop her character as the peppy, jumpy, sister protected by Big Brother Devgn that she is. The dance sequences, even though mostly unwanted, are flanked by Abhishek Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Asin, providing the glam glam Bollywood seems to be demanding even more with every new movie.
The story of Bol Bachchan uses the basic plot of Amol Palekar’s Golmaal and expands upon it. In fact, the film has many references to the original. Yunus Sajawal’s screenplay is engaging but many will find the going-ons to be brainless, amazingly, even such detractors will not be able to hold their laughter.
The acting throughout shows exceptional amusement – be it the broken English-speaking Prithviraj, or the gay-dancer Abbas (Abhishek Bachchan). All the obfuscation going on in the film leads to many situations where the viewers laugh out loud. Sajid-Farhad’s rib tickling dialogues are the best thing about the movie.
The second half of the film does not break out in emotional dilemma as expected. The humour entices the audience right till the end with brilliant acting by Archana Puran Singh and Asrani, two very wise casting decisions.
The music of this film is disappointing with no innovation. Likewise, the script. The story seems to be a conglomeration of the most famous top 100 jokes in the world, with a little bit of Hindu-Muslim, Pyaar-Vyaar, reincarnation and family politics. But when you’re purchasing a ticket for a Rohit Shetty film, it’s not like you’re expecting something grand and serious anyways.
There are elements in the film that seem overdone. The use of BIG English words in a non-stop continuum for Abhishek Bachchan and Prachi Desai – constantly, goes overboard. The opening sequence with Amitabh Bachchan, who has nothing to do with the film, is completely unnecessary.
Devgn looks suitably gruff and goofy. Both his and Abhishek Bachchn’s knack and skin for comedy have loosened up considerably. The snarling in the face acting with everyone hammering baritone that oscillates between a Marwari accent and a wannabe English keeps the audience entertained, even though the intelligent, core story demander would demand that it gets way too over bearing.
If there's one thing about this over-the-top, 2 and half hour long flick, with not an ounce of subtlety are the right use of characters - the obese pahelwans dancing alongside Bachchan whose moves make you palm face while we giggle simultaneously. The populating car chase sequences, Devgan's entourage, the bright, magenta flowers on Abhishek's shirt, actually works wonders for the film.
Bol Bachchan is not the film of a 'hero defeats the villain, claims his beautiful love and saves the day!'
Abhishek Bachchan underplays it as the regular, unspectacular dude with his Rowdy Rathore-ish moustache and he also imitates ‘Amol Palekar’ with his turn as the queer brother where he lets his guard down like a guy who dances like no one’s watching.
Another thing jarring about this film is how Shetty’s decision to end Bol Bachchan was just like an Anees Bazmee movie - No Entry or Welcome. In the end, all that DRAMA comes to an even more dramatic pause. Then again, with all the aping this film shows, why is that not such a big a surprise?
To many, Bol Bachchan is dispensable cinema, forgotten almost immediately after it's over. But if you don't know what I'm talking about, you definitely deserve Bol Bachchan. It is made for you to laugh and believe that overdoing slapstick humour can be so much fun!