Shart – The Challenge Review {1/5} & Review Rating
A love triangle, SHART is a remake of the Telugu blockbuster BADRI. However, the story may have appealed to the South audiences, but when remade in Hindi, it holds scant novelty purely because there has been an overdose of love triangles in Bollywood and one more triangle, which lacks in face value, is an absolute no-no.
Karan [Tusshar Kapoor] has a habit of involving himself in all types of challenges. While Karan and Sonam [Gracy Singh] go about singing and dancing, there comes a moment when an argument develops between them regarding love. Sonam believes in love at first sight while Karan opposes that theory vehemently, stating that love at first sight is nothing but mere infatuation.
Sonam challenges Karan to befriend and propose a girl of her choice. If he succeeds in doing so, she will accept defeat and present Karan with a gift, which he has to accept. Karan accepts the challenge. Just then a beautiful girl steps down the temple stairs. Sonam points at her as the target for their challenge. The girl is none other than Sarayu [Amrita Arora].
Adopting different methods, Karan ultimately strikes a chord of friendship with Sarayu. One day, Sarayu?s brother Nanda sees them together. Nanda and his goons simply thrash people black and blue if they dare to cast an evil eye on Sarayu. He goes to Karan?s office along with his henchmen. After a scuffle, Nanda warns Karan to stay away from his sister.
Seeing the rough behavior of Nanda and his gang, Sonam expresses her wish to withdraw her challenge. But Karan is now more determined to face Nanda at any cost. Sarayu learns about this confrontation and decides to reveal everything to her brother. While he is in a jolly mood, she confesses her love for Karan. But Nanda gets enraged and disapproves of Karan. A depressed Sarayu attempts suicide.
Karan learns about the suicide attempt of Sarayu and runs to the hospital to meet her. But Nanda confronts him again. Nanda tells Sarayu that Karan is in love with another girl and they are planning to marry shortly.
When Sarayu questions Karan about it, he reveals the truth about the challenge with Sonam. Sarayu feels betrayed. Sonam observes all this and tells Karan that he has won the challenge, for which her gift to him is Sarayu?s hand. What happens next?
The problem with SHART is that the story is difficult to absorb. Even this drawback could?ve been overlooked had the subject been treated with care. But in this case, the direction leaves a lot to be desired. Neither does the drama hold your attention after a point, nor does the comedy appeal.
Director Poori Jagannath has handled a few dramatic sequences well, but he ought to know that mere remaking of a South hit is no guarantee that the audiences in the North would take to it as well. Anu Malik?s music is average. Cinematography is just about okay.
Tusshar Kapoor tries hard to infuse life in his character. Gracy Singh does her part convincingly. Amrita Arora has her moments.
On the whole, SHART is a weak fare in all respects. At the box-office, its survival seems bleak.