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Phir Hera Pheri
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'Phir Hera Pheri' Fun Again

By Nikhil Kumar
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

So, the trio is back at it again. Raju, Shyam and Baburao, the three unique characters are back at their race for the riches. But, did they not become rich at the end of ‘Hera Pheri’? Yes, but more money is always welcome. But then again, the greed for more and more can land one back to the footpath.

To make a sequel to the film that has become one of the all-time favorite comedies is indeed a daunting task. And Neeraj Vora, who directs the film, rises up to the challenge by making a rollicking, rolling, funny, fantastic comedy that, however, has two flaws – it is too long (about 3 full hours), and some of the hilarious sequences in it are overblown.

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number by Dia Mirza opens the movie and we see a rich Baburao (Paresh Rawal) splurging his money on the lissome dancer. The super-excited Baburao has to be literally carried away by Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty).

Times have changed for the trio. They now live in a palatial bungalow, with a swimming pool, a garden, and plush interiors. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the telephone that brought them the lucky jackpot in ‘Hera Pheri’.

It is through the same phone Raju, the most notorious of the three, gets the idea to double one crore rupees in just three weeks.

The scheme, to invest 1 crore and get back 2 crores at the end of 21 days, is by Laxmi Chit Funds, run by a good-looking woman named Anuradha (Bipasha Basu).

Raju convinces Shyam and Baburao to invest in it. But the problem is that each one of them has just 10 lakh each. Even if they pool in, it makes only 30 lakhs. 70 lakhs more have to be arranged and Raju’s mind is cooking one idea after another to raise the money.

Raju convinces a small time goon (Rajpal Yadav) to invest 20 lakhs. To raise the remaining money he sells the bungalow for 50 lakhs.

Together, Raju, Baburao and Shyam, hand over the money to Anuradha, with the hopes of getting back the double amount after 21 days. Shyam, particularly, is smitten with Anuradha at first sight. She reminds him of his lost love (Tabu).

21 days later, the trio goes to the office of Laxmi Funds, only to find a vacant building. They have been soundly duped. They have lost their money and their bungalow.

So it is back to the Mumbai chawl for Baburao, Raju and Shyam. Back to the tattered clothes, empty stomachs and pockets with holes.

But the goon from whom Raju took 20 lakh is after them. For the money originally belonged to a notorious don named Tiwari (Sharat Saxena).

The don gives Raju, Baburao and Shyam just three days to pay back 40 lakhs.

An idea blips into Raju’s head once again.

Neeraj Vora has kept the scope for yet another version of the movie (‘Hera Pheri 3’ perhaps) because – without spoiling the suspense – the riches at the movie’s end hangs literally between Raju and the deep blue sea.

‘Phir Hera Pheri’ is definitely worth one watch. The movie’s strength is comedy and particularly its witty dialogues. It is evident that Neeraj Vora has put his heart and soul into the film. But in that endeavor, he has overdone certain sequences and made the movie long by many reels. The film’s end is too long drawn.

Hats off to Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar once again for their exceptional comic sense. Paresh Rawal, as the myopic, bespectacled, slouching, and overtly honest Baburao is simply brilliant. Akshay Kumar, as the notorious, clever, cunning Raju stands in equal stead. Sunil Shetty, as the simple and gullible Shyam, does a fine job. Sunil looks particularly hilarious while mimicking the stammering don (Sharat Saxena).

Rimi Sen and Bipasha Basu don’t have much footage.

The main strength of the story is the bonhomie between Raju, Shyam and Baburao. The three often quarrel, but they make up. They scorn each other, but they cannot separate. They desire riches and for it they stick together through the rough and tumble, through the chaos and confusion that the jumble of unimaginable situations create.

And, in the end, what they sought all this along hangs in the mid-air, just a nick away, just a phone call away from an unsuspecting Raju.

Expect another ‘Hera Pheri’ to know the answer.

Worth Watching Once.

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