Cast: Neha Dhupia, Rajat Kapoor, Sanjay Mishra, Amol Gupte
Director: Subhash Kapoor
Director: Subhash Kapoor
Lately Bollywood's revolving around and reflecting topical themes. 'Phas Gaye Re Obama' perhaps tops this genre. The story is that of global economic meltdown or recession and its stark effect on the US and Europe in particular and other parts of the globe. Director Subhash Kapoor has at the center of the plot a bankrupt NRI businessman who returns to India to do better financially. As usual, Subhash spices the story with romance and humor to entertain the viewers.
NRI businessman Om Shastri played by Rajat Kapoor is a victim of the US recession. He returns to India in a desperate bid to save his home and his lifestyle. CUT - to India - a local gang, led by Bhaisahab played by Sanjay Mishra, also suffers from recession in his kidnapping and extortion work in India. He too needs money to salvage his reputation! Both the recession-hit guys meet when Om decides to visit his hometown to sell off an ancestral property. Bhaisahab's gang kidnaps him to improve their finances in the midst of what they call "mandee". But when Om tells them about his US bankruptcy and the fact that he cannot even afford a ticket to return to America, the gang sympathizes with him. But Om surprises everyone as he decides to make money for all of them.
TWIST - addition of a local gang-leader, one Gabbar Singh named Munni. Bollywood's pretty actress Neha Dhupia plays Munni. JUMP - we discover another big gangster in the plot, Amol Gupte, who is a local minister and runs a very well organized kidnapping and extortion cell. In critical analysis, we find too many jumps and twists in the plot of an otherwise entertaining light-hearted film that also has some strong points. On the lighter side, Gabbar Singh with her assistants - Priyanka, Deepika, Preity - who feast on males make for a funny story! On the rough and not-to-funny side of the film is an English coach who keeps correcting the language of a large number of grown-ups. One does feel the movie is quite weak in terms of content. But, then the performances make up for it.
The dialogues are repetitive and not catchy! Actors do a good job delivering them. For example, a question asked in the film. 'Where has this evil of "mandee" come from?' Reply: 'From America.' They story does correlate politics of recession with crime. There's US President Obama's trauma, former US President Bush's goof-ups mixed with Om Shastri and Bhaisaheb's bids to make huge money and the gimmicks of Neha Dhupia and Amol Gupte. All are victims of Obama's regime. Rajat Kapoor in the role of Om Shastri is excellent. Neha Dhupia as Munni provides enough fun. Amol Gupte as the corrupt minister and Manu Rishi playing Bhaisahab are brilliant indeed.
Overall, a funny movie!