This is a landmark year for Indian cinema. For the first time a trilogy has been released. And by the looks of it, won’t be surprised if the franchisee continues. As I have mentioned many a times, the success of a film is not dependant on its theme, but on the intent of the makers. Did the Director/ Writer intend to make a serious flick, did they want to make an inane comedy? Did they want to just go with the flow and then let destiny take its own call? Or was it that the Producer wanted to make an ensemble star cast film wherein he just wanted to take the leading A listing stars and make them look good on screen, story/content/idea can go to hell!
With the same logic one chooses G3 as the first option for the auspicious Diwali weekend. The makers of this franchisee, have never claimed to be the Hrishikesh Mukherjees of this millennium, nor have they ever claimed to be making cinema meant for the festivals. Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty set upon Golmaal with the intention of making a laugh-a-riot, they followed it up with a more star studded sequel and now take the series to its latest avatar. If you liked Golmaal, enjoyed Golmaal Returns, chances are you will need a jaw replacement by the interval in G3.
Pritam a.k.a. Pappu (Mithun Chakraborty) is a single old man, raising 3 useless boys, Madhav (Arshad Warsi), Laxman (Kunal Khemu) & Lucky (Tusshar), who have huge debts. Geeta a.k.a. Guddi (Ratna Pathak Shah) is a single woman raising 2 orphans of her own, Gopal (Ajay Devgn) and Laxman (Shreyas Talpade) along with Daboo (Kareena Kapoor) and her sister / aunt Chintu (Ashwini Kalsekar). There are two rival gangs, one run by Pappi Bhai (Johnny Lever) along with his 2 cronies, Daga (Sanjay Mishra) & Tejaa (Vrajesh Hirjee) and the other lone ranger Vasooli bhai (Mukesh Tiwari). There are 2 bumbling cops too, Dhande (Murli Sharma) & Gandhari (Vijay Patkar). Based loosely on the 1978 Basu Chatterjee directed Khatta Meetha, this Rohit Shetty flick as always, takes it basic premise, I repeat, basic premise from a ‘70s comedy film and gives it its own new definition.
There are gags galore. The film takes a dig at the industry, at its stars, at the current state of affairs in the country, all in one. This is not a film dedicated to wash dirty linen or remove personal vendetta via its jokes. The film is a comedy where along with you the entire ‘plex laughs. I saw kids ranging from 2 to 14 years of age having as good a time like the adult audiences. There is not a single moment till the interval that lets you rest your jaw. I for one, actually had to have another coffee from the food counter, as I spilt mine while laughing in one of the sequences.
There is a subplot of a grand theft somewhere in the film, which forms the cause of the climax of the film, just like in all the other films being served by this Director / Actor, combination (G, GR, ATB). But it is not the story, but the screenplay by Yunus Sajawal, which is the king here. He along with the dialogue writers, serves you a tadka dal, Rohit Shetty style.
The performances by all the above mentioned cast is excellent. So there is not a single scene stealer in this flick. Murli Sharma, Vijay Patkar are first rate. Then the next combination of Mukesh Tiwari, Ashwini Kalsekar is not only funny but cute too. Then come the retro cronies, Sanjay Mishra & Vrajesh Hirjee (still carrying the snake tattoo). As Daga & Tejaa they actually reminded me of Sudhir and Ranjeet from Dharmatma. Johnny Lever shows that there are stand up comedians wanting to be famous and then there is Johnny Lever. The fact that he has become so exclusive in his choice of roles now, helps his character being so lovable! That brings us to the ‘family’ then, (since everyone here is the main protagonist) Ratna Pathak does it all, she looks nice, exudes as much class as she did as in Sarabhai v/s Sarabhai, and holds her own in this otherwise male dominated flick. Mithun is first rate. This credit goes to Rohit, for using a person of Mithun’s stature, persona and acting skills and using them so well in a self depreciating, lovable old bus driver cum disco dancer. Prem Chopra in his cameo was excellent.
It is such a pleasure to see a talented actor like Kunal Khemu finally get into some clique. He gets to display not only his well toned body but also his excellent comic timing as the metaphor quoting Laxman. Shreyas Talpade, the stammering Laxman namesake, is too hilarious. The scene wherein every character is confronting Pritam for the necklace, and Laxman keeps trying to complete his statement will have you in splits. Kareena comes up with another award winning performance after 3 Idiots. She should stick to doing such films rather than those ‘family’ films which she seems stuck in. She is the star of the film truly. Daboo’s character not only takes the story forward, but she is one of the ‘guys’ in the film. Intended to be a tom boy, she looks sexy and rocks the show and how! Full marks to Manish Malhotra for styling her so well too, with all the film inspired tees and harem pants combination.
That brings us to the original quartet of Golmaal! Tusshar Kapoor as the non-communicating Lucky, initially has a relatively lesser role, but post interval he too rocks. The only emotional scene in the film has been given to him and he does move you to tears. Arshad Warsi as Madhav and Gopal’s nemesis again delivers a knock out performance. One has to keep in mind, that Lucky, Madhav & Gopal have always been a part of Golmaal, hence their characters and their personality disorders/ traits are already known to the audiences, it is only refined here. So if you do hear people saying that these 3 have a comparatively lesser role, that is not the case. Ajay Devgn as the wacko, finger breaking Gopal proves what a star is all about. His charisma on screen, his fights, his anger, as always conveyed through his eyes, his evil smile, all just go on to prove the worth of having Ajay Devgn in your film and the range of goods that he can deliver. If you look his films only in this calendar year, Ajay has given Attithi Tum Kab Jaaoge, Raajneeti, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, Aakrosh, Golmaal3 and all set for the animated Toonpur ka Superhero. That brings me to the last of the Golmaal quartet, Rohit Shetty.
Rohit has never claimed to be making masterpieces or classics. He is trying to present comedies wherein the audiences laugh and come back home happy. As far as I know, that was, is and will be the intention of majority of the cinema going audiences. They want to have a good time. And if one can do it with clean, sensible humour, all the more better. If one manages to do it repeatedly, his films will always be well anticipated. Rohit Shetty, the son of veteran fight master Shetty, knows his task well and makes no compromise in the same. His first love is action and he weaves it seamlessly in G3. Be it the car crushing climax, the jet ski banging or the title track. His transformation into a comedy maker is an added bonus. His gag selection are timely, funny and fortunately not bathroom humour. Guess being the judge in the ‘comedy circus’ also helps. One can see the confidence that the cast has in him as a director and stunt co-ordinator. Do not miss his cameo as the car driver for Kareena’s opening stunt.
Does it have The Y Factor : Definitely Yes!
Rating : 8/10