My review of Phata Poster Nikla Hero

Bhai, Poster toh phata hai hero bhi nikla hai. And that hero is the renewed Shahid Kapur. He is confident and entertains and acts like a superstar in this movie. He was wasted in “Mausam” (his last film I saw), directed by his extra-ordinary actor father Pankaj Kapur. However, the film itself is just a little above average stuff. It falls short of being a real good time pass – just like Rajkumar Santoshi and Tips’ last film together “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”. Both are quite similar films in treatment, look, overall feel and even have a similar story/screenplay DNA.   

(Image for representation purpose only)

Vishwas Rao (Shahid) is a mamma’s boy. He will do whatever his mom says. She sends him to police recruitment camps, where he ensures that he doesn’t get selected. He lands up in Mumbai for the same reason, but once there, one event leads to another, and he is (mis)taken as a policewallah by his mother, and social activist Kajal (Illeana D’cruz). There is a deadly yet funny gang, and he unwillingly gets involved in their business. His mother finds out, gets a shock and falls ill. Now, he must restore her ‘vishwas’ in him as a good man. I don’t think it’s hard to predict the story from here, so I will not say much.    

There are some really hilarious sequences in the film, more towards the end of the film. But the film drags in between and has a very ordinary storyline throughout. My biggest disappointment with the film were: First, Mukesh Tiwari – he plays the ‘most dangerous’ villain in the film, but fails to be convincing. His ‘Golmaal’ image (continued in “Chennai Express”) just doesn’t let you believe that he is a deadly/dangerous don. And mind you he is supposed to be dangerous, and not a funny don like Saurabh Shukla – who does a good job again. He just doesn’t suit the role. I believe Mukesh and Zakir (Husain) should have swapped their roles, and then it would have worked. Second biggest disappointment is Rajkumar Santoshi himself. What is he doing when he makes films like APKGK or PPNH? Should we stop expecting good films him like ‘Ghayal’ and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’? I am not saying in the story line, but in totality, in completeness. Why does he always come with formulae comedy films which come across “old wine” and half-baked. There is no novelty in PPNH – except for a few laughs. The film is totally a formulae film, with action, songs and item numbers ‘fitted in’ at well spaced out durations (even if some songs don’t make any sense).

Padmini Kolhapure is good given her role. 

Illeana D’cruz is pretty, and does justice to her part, which is complete opposite of her last character of ‘Shruti’ in “Barfi!” The experience southern actress will find her niche in Bollywood as well. She fits the bill.

(Image for representation purpose only)

Music is okay with just two good numbers: “Agal Bagal” and “Rang Sharbatan Da”. Except “Agal Bagal” other songs bore you in the movie. They are ‘unnecessary accessories’ which reflect producer and director’s lack of confidence in the story/film.

In a year, where we have seen movies like “Lootera” (with melodious songs), “D Day” (with just two extraordinarily shot and juxtaposed songs), “Madras Café” (with daringly no song), “Shudh Desi Romance (with nice, well suited songs)”, this is quite an average stuff (except Shahid). And this doesn’t have SRK who can pull off an average film like “Chennai Express” to over 200 crores.

Still, if you need a light family outing, you can go for it. In between, you can take calls, chat among yourself as you won’t miss much. Meanwhile, I will keep wondering why did Shahid not do “Shudh Desi…”, and try to catch up “The Lunchbox”.

Rating: ***