Phata Poster Nikhla Hero
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Ileana D'Cruz, Padmini Kolhapure
Rated: 5.5/10
This one is an out-and-out commercial film that is bound to keep the audience entertained for the majority of the 146 minutes. Not that there is a problem if the director wants to ensure that the viewer is able to keep the real life troubles at bay and enjoy the reel life hero act out a few antics that will tickle the funny bone.
The surprise factor is that the movie has been written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, who is known to make serious drama like Ghayal, Halla Bol and China Gate. Not that the latest from the Santoshi kitty is lacking in anything — it is definitely a masala movie made with the intention of keeping one glued to the seat.
So, unlike some of the bawdy comedies that Bollywood churns out from time to time, this one makes a conscious effort to stay away from making lewd remarks to draw laughter. It is the schoolboy charm that Shahid Kapoor uses with wide-eyed innocence that will make one chuckle. Added to that are other characters — Darshan Jariwala as the joint commissioner of police, Saurabh Shukla as the baddie and Sanjay Mishra as an aspiring writer — who lend their support in delivering a mixed bag of goodies.
There are songs including an item number with Nargis Fakri and a pole dance — Jaane Na — done rather brilliantly by Shahid, one can probably sit through the entire movie just to watch the myriad expressions on his face that flash in less than a minute or so. Then there are some action scenes — a combination of what one will expect to see in a Salman Khan movie like Dabangg. Though Shahid may have prepared himself to do dhishoom-dhishoom, they sit rather ill on a chocolate boy face. luckily for him and the movie it doesn’t take away the fun element.
The movie may mark as a comeback for Padmini Kolhapure. As Shahid’s mother (looks too young to play his mom) — an honest auto driver, she gives the traffic cop fine for having broken the red light the day before (making sure that the viewer is in no doubt of her honesty) — she brings out the mere paas ma hain emotion (a la Deewar) which will bring a tear or two. In fact, Phata Poster... is an amalgamation of a number of movies. One will catch glimpses of Dabangg, Singham and even Rowdy Rathore with Shahid wearing rather colourful clothes, of course when he is not in police uniform beating up the goondas.
Despite the fact that it is rather easy to make comparisons with other movies, this is able to stand on its feet due to the freshness that Shahid brings to his character — an ordinary boy who dreams of becoming a hero but fate has other plans for him.
Even though Phata Poster... may not be in the same league as Santoshi’s earlier attempt as romantic comedies like Andaaz Apan Apna (1994) and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), he has managed to make a film that will appeal to the janta who is looking to forget the worries and the tears that the price of onions are bringing to his eyes.
This one makes for a one-time watch.
