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7 1/2 Phere
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'7 1/2 Phere' Adventure Matrimony

By Aparajita Ghosh
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Director Isshaan Trivedi’s ‘7 ½ Phere’ is based on a story that hasn’t been tried in Bollywood so far. The movie, set around a marriage, exposes the private lives of certain people in the household busy in matrimonial preparations.

Starring Juhi Chawla and Irfaan Khan in the leading roles, the movie is a lighthearted entertainer strewn with funny moments.

The

comedy and the irony that comes through as the story exposes how people change personalities behind closed doors – besides highlighting the personal ambitions of the main protagonists – is what makes ‘7 ½ Phere’ a movie worth watching once.

Story:

Asmi Ganatra (Juhi Chawla) is a first-time director who has been given the task by her company to cover a reality show. As her maiden project, Asmi decides to make a reality show on the marriage of a Joshi family in Mumbai.

The Joshis are initially perplexed by Asmi’s proposal to cover the marriage of their daughter for a TV network. Though the bride's father is willing to go along with the idea, there are some people in the family who are thoroughly opposed to Asmi’s proposal.

And there is Manoj Joshi (Irfaan Khan), the bride-to-be’s youngest uncle. He is a shy, gullible, good-for-nothing man who develops a soft corner for Asmi. Getting an inkling of Manoj’s feelings, Asmi decides to use him for the project.

Ambitious Asmi has dreams of becoming a top-notch director some day. She is willing to give her best to this project of covering the Joshi’s marriage. Having denied the permission to shoot, she decides to play covert.

With lovesick Manoj’s help, she gets hidden cameras installed in the house. Then, as the hidden cameras begin to roll, the inner life of the Joshi family is captured on reel, unknown to them.

Slowly but surely, skeletons begin to tumble out of the Joshis’ closet as the cameras catch the well-kept secrets of some characters in the family. Malice, evil intentions and secret love affairs in the family – all is captured on the camera.

Chaos and confusion reign supreme, until Manoj realizes that he has opened up the Pandora’s box.

‘7 ½ Phere’ is a healthy entertainer. Although the movie lacks technical finesse, it has a novel story that keeps the viewer interest alive. Besides the tongue-in-cheek humor, the movie also brings to the fore the hidden shades and personalities of several characters against the backdrop of a marriage – for instance, the love story of the aged couple (Anang Desai, Neena Kulkarni).

And the best one of all the revelations comes in the climax in the long-drawn sequence between the bride and the groom.

‘7 ½ Phere’ would not have been the same without Juhi Chawla. The chirpy actress suits her role perfectly. Her body language reflects the notoriety, the ambition and the subtle manipulations of her character Asmi Ganatra.

Irfaan Khan, seen mostly in intense roles, proves his versatility playing a good-for-nothing guy smitten with Juhi. Although he doesn’t display much flair for comedy, he still manages to breeze through his role with his funny reactions.

In the marginal roles, Anang Desai and Neena Kulkarni chip in for entertaining moments. Lalit Tiwari, Manish Choudhary and Manini De too play their parts with conviction.

In a nutshell, ‘7 ½ Phere’ is a fun and frolic film aimed singularly at entertaining the audience. It has no mushy moments, no melodrama and no somber moments.

Entertaining.

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