All that ever mattered for Indian filmmakers were a big cast and a great story. [break]
Of late, it rather seems Bollywood has grown a penchant for grabbing the finest cinematography, choreography and sound editing while the story remains run-of-the-mill.
Director Abbas Tyrewala’s latest release “Jhootha Hi Sahi” is the case in point. Tyrewala, a household screenwriter of Bollywood is famous for his screenplay in blockbusters like “Asoka (2001)”, “Munna Bhai MBBS (2003)”, “Salam Namastey (2005)” and “Om Shanti Om (2007)”.
Also a lyricist of almost a dozen Bollywood flicks, his directorial debut “Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008)” got himself a promising place in the pantheon of Bollywood biggies.
Starring: John Abraham, Pakhi Tyrewala, Raghu Ram, Manasi Scott, Anaitha Nair, Omar Khan, Alishka Varde, George Young, Prahsant Chawla, Madhavan, Nandana Sen
Directed by: Abbas Tyrewala
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rating: * * / * * * * *
So Hindi film buffs had great expectations from Tyrewala’s second venture, “Jhootha Hi Sahi”, but it sadly has little to offer besides some fine cinematography.
While a movie like Slumdog Millionaire, which had the slums of Mumbai and a game show to exhibit throughout the movie, had so much to show, recent commercial Bollywood flicks have nothing more to offer than telling you how London, Amsterdam, America and Switzerland look like.
Siddharth (John Abhraham) runs a bookshop with his Pakistani best friend Omar (Raghu Ram) called “Kaagaz Ke Phool” in London. A bespectacled geek, who turns a stammerer in front of good looking girls, Siddharth is already in a committed relationship with Krutika
(Manasi Scott) who controls his life. Omar believes that Siddharth is just forced into this relationship and doesn’t truly love Krutika.
Siddhartha’s house number gets accidentally listed in suicide helpline flier and soon he starts getting calls by people attempting to suicide. On knowing the reality,
Siddharth wants to volunteer as one of the representatives of the helpline service and starts advising people on how every second you live is of great importance.
Don’t you now feel that you are being reminded of Tom Hanks starred, “You’ve Got Mail?” “Jootha Hi Sahi” has many such instances in the film that makes it resemble the original Hollywood version.
After few days, Siddharth gets a call from a lady called Mishka (Pakhi Tyrewala – other half of the director Abbas). Like every night, Siddharth stops her from committing suicide. Soon they start to talk to each other over the phone and turn good friends who promise each other to be just phone pals.
One day Mishka lands in Siddharth’s bookshop and he recognizes her, but refuses to introduce himself as her phone pal, known as Fiddato to Mishka. During daytime, Siddharth decides to date Mishka as a stammering bespectacled geek and in nights he talks to her as a confident man counseling her to live her life to the fullest.
The cinematography of the film has no loopholes, which is accompanied well by the choreography and the screenplay and the soundtracks by AR Rahman is certainly a bonus which stays with you even after the movie is over.
John Abhraham does his best to justify his character and he indeed has matured much since “Jism.” Raghu Ram of MTV Roadies fame complements John’s role well in the movie. Nonetheless, he looks unfit for his caring friend character. Pakhi Tyrewala doesn’t seem new to Bollywood but her chemistry with John doesn’t crackle.
Screening at Jai Nepal, Kumari and Central Cinema.
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