Yash Raj Films' Bunty Aur Babli is the story of two thieves and a cop on their trail. It is Abhishek Bachchan's story who doesn't want to follow his father's footsteps and do a 9 to 5 job. And it is Rani Mukerji's story who doesn't want to marry the boy her parents have chosen for her. While Abhishek dreams of becoming rich and famous over-night Rani dreams of becoming Miss India.
Abhishek and Rani decide to run away from their respective houses and fate brings them together. From here starts their journey. Both try to do something positive but on realizing that there is no place for honesty, they decide to teach everyone a lesson.
Initially, they con people for small money, but get addicted to the lure of earning easy money. They go on a robbing spree from one place to another. They function in disguise and are known by their nick names - Bunty Aur Babli.
Enter, Amitabh Bachchan who is a cop and is on their trail. Amitabh's only mission is to catch Bunty and Babli. What happens thereafter forms the crux of the film.
Production values are up to the mark and technically it is a well made film. Abhik Mukhopadhyay's cinematography is very good and the background music goes very well with the mood of the film. Music has always been a backbone of every Yashraj product but this time the music does not live up to their track record. Baring one song 'Dhadak dhadak', none of the others are impressive. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is the biggest drawback of the film. However, 'Chup chupke' has been filmed very well. The item song on Aishwarya Rai fails to excite.
The film takes off very well and very sweetly when the lead characters are introduced to the viewers. Their first crime is well penned and executed. Their first robbery generates a lot of expectation and one expects Bunty and Babli to come up with more innovative and humorous ways to fool others. Though the gags and punches are not built up properly and even the film drags on in certain places. The first half is quite entertaining but second half doesn't live up to the expectations. The climax is a stretched unnecessary. The maker has taken a lot of cinematic liberties and the film is full of illogical sequences.
There are loose ends such as how Amitabh finds out about Abhishek and Rani's whereabouts in the end? Why don't Abhishek and Rani's parents try to find out about their whereabouts? The sudden change in Amitabh's character is also not conclusive.
Performance-wise, Amitabh Bachchan is superb. Abhishek Bachchan is impressive and the film looks like his launch pad. Rani Mukerji once again proves herself as an accomplished actress. Raj Babbar and Rameshwari are fine. Punit Issar and Kiran Joneja Sippy provide relief. Prem Chopra stands out. Others lend adequate supports. As the director, Shaad Ali is handicapped by a weak script.
At the box-office, the film has opened to good houses. And since there are vacations, the film is a Yash Raj banner and has Sr. & Jr. Bachchan together; it might prove to be an average fare.