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Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
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'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' -Eminently Enjoyable

By Aparajita Ghosh
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It may fall a wee bit short of the high expectations that were attached to it, but ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ verily delivers what it promises – unadulterated entertainment.

The movie solely rests on the now-dependable shoulders of Abhishek Bachchan, who once again proves that he has got the mettle to live up to the credentials and reputation of his bloodline. The actor, once brooding and uptight, has now begun to loosen up. His comic timing is coming in place. His facial expressions are more real and his body language reflects the character. Abhishek is the driving force of ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’. Preity Zinta complements him well, while Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta remain mainly on the sidelines until the film’s last half hour.

You’ve

got to throw cynicism aside before watching a film like JBJ. It is easy to curl your lip and poke holes in somebody’s work. Not so easy is to be flexible, to step back and take an impartial look at how a director has tried to present a story in a different way.

Yes, JBJ is a movie different from others of its ilk. Although it is set in London and Paris, the movie has a very desi touch. Perhaps the reason for it is that Shaad Ali, the film’s director, has himself been a small-towner. The humour in the flick is crude and has a street flavour even though the visuals are very glossy.

Amitabh Bachchan, dressed in his rockstar outfit and carrying a guitar, opens the film with the song ‘Jhoom’.

The location is London train station. Two strangers are waiting for a delayed train. In a crowded café they share the same table.

Rikki Thukral (Abhishek Bachchan), a Punjabi guy living in London, breaks the ice and begins the conversation. Alvira Khan (Preity Zinta) gives him no lift. To ward Rikki off, she tells him she is engaged to someone who is coming from the train she is waiting for. In response, Rikki also flaunts his engagement ring and tells her he has come to receive his fiancée.

Thereafter, these two strangers, already engaged to someone else, begin to tell each other the story of their fiancée and fiancé.

Rikki tells Alvira how he met Anaida (Lara Dutta), the manager of Ritz in Paris on the same night when Princess Diana and Dody Fayed walked out for the car ride that claimed their life. “When two lovers die, two new lovers are born,” claims Rikki.

In turn, Alvira tells him how she met Steve (Bobby Deol) in London’s Madame Tussaud’s museum. Like a typical hero, Steve had then saved Alvira’s life and won her heart in return.

When the train’s arrival time is due, Rikki and Alvira separate, only to find out that the train has been delayed further. Rather than being disappointed, the two begin to look for each other. The cupid has done his work.

The movie’s story is poised for a complex love quadrangle. But director Shaad Ali surprises you. Instead of wallowing into a romantic quagmire, he takes the movie onto an entirely unexpected track. Lies of Rikki and Alvira are exposed. Lara Dutta and Bobby Deol do enter the picture, but in the roles you would not have expected.

‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ is not a romantic drama. It is a musical comedy about two unlikely people falling in love with each other. The good thing is that the movie steers clear of any mushy sentimentality. Even in romance there is teasing and humour.

The film is very high on style and gloss. The costumes by Aki Narula are gaudy but they go well with the mood of the film. The music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy is very catchy, particularly the song ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ and its simple tune that keeps playing in the background at many places in the film. The cinematography is top-class and the editing is crisp.

Abhishek Bachchan is getting better with every film. He brings a rustic quality into his character Rikki. He speaks in Punjabi accent, his humour is crass and his demeanor has oodles of attitude of a man who thinks he has “got class”. A very good performance by Abhi indeed.

Bobby Deol, sadly, is made to look caricaturish in the second half. Also, Bobby doesn’t have as natural flair for comedy as Abhi has.

Preity Zinta complements Abhi well. Lara is perfectly cast in the role of a sexy, spitfire girl.

‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’ starts off very well but it begins to drag a bit in the second half. Thankfully, the drag is not for long. The penultimate dance competition sequence is quite entertaining despite three songs placed back-to-back.

Shaad Ali’s funda is simple : to provide paisa vasool entertainment. And he does succeed to an extent.

Don’t go expecting moon from this film and you will enjoy it.

Worth a Watch.

Rating: ***

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