Gali Gali Chor Hai

Starring: Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mughda Godse, Annu Kapoor

At: PVR & others

Rated: 4/10

Considering that corruption is a hot topic of discussion in the country these days, it is not surprising that a movie is made on the same subject. The only problem is that public bashing on the plight of the common man may not go down very well with most people, especially when the protagonist prefers to bribe his way out of most situations rather than stand his ground.

But then the movie is about why the aam aadmi is forced into bribing — corrupt police, corrupt politicians and a system that is apathetic to the common man. The real problem with Gali Gali Chor Hai is that it attempts to make fun of the misery common man faces. The sad part is that it fails miserably to induce even a single smile, let alone a titter.

Not that this is the first time that Bollywood has taken potshots at the plight of the aam aadmi — there was a TV serial Office Office and a film based on the same — Chala Mussadi Office Office that talked about how the public is taken for a ride by the system.

The difference between Gali Gali... and these movies/serial is that the movie appears to cram a lot of things into it — a seedy Chhanno song, the terrorist angle, the cop-politician nexus and how the Judiciary is corrupt to the core.

One waits for the hero to wreak havoc but all that he manages to do is end up buying his way out of all the trouble that has befallen him.

The only saving grace of the film are Satish Kaushik and Annu Kapoor. Akshaye Khanna who is seen on the silver screen after a long gap fails to impress.