Slapstick falters again! The much delayed 'Nehle Pe Dehla' has finally seen the light of the day. This has come at a time when the aura of cinema has completely changed. Once again the viewers are requested to forget their thinking caps to watch and enjoy the show. Besides, the viewers are requested not to expect anything special from their favorite actors as the project was materialized at a time when they hadn't met with their respective super stardom. Despite its low profile hype, the film's biggest USP proves to be its high-profile star cast but the concept is too outdated. 'Nehle Pe Dehla' charters the path of David Dhawan style of slapstick comical cinema where two crooks mastermind the ideas to befool their enemies for wealth.
Director Ashok Chandhok who worked as an assistant to David Dhawan might have materialized the concept in late 90's but unfortunately it faced roadblocks in its pre-production and release. The success barometer of such comedies lies in its comical quotient and to a large extent in comical timing of the actors. It fails on both accounts and never delivers the needful. The A-list actors might create hype among multiplexes but the rush will be limited to the first three days of the release. Thereafter, it will add to the series of late releases and flops and then disappoint actors as well as the director.
Audiences have viewed the same comical drama in all Govinda-David Dhawan films but in 'Nehle Pe Dehla', the comical zing is completely missing. Rumi Jaffery's dialogues are neither hilarious nor crisp and fail to tickle funny bones.
click for larger view
It was earlier titled 'Jimmy Aur Johny' named after the characters of lead actors -Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan. Unfortunately, the year has opened for them with below average results of 'Eklavya' and still worse with 'Nehle Pe Dehla'. The concept was too stale that neither of them felt the need of promoting the film. Their earlier two ventures ('Parineeta' and 'Eklavya') were full of aesthetics and were well supported by melodious music and daunting background score. Their third offering 'Nehle Pe Dehla' walks on wafer thin storyline with disappointing musical scores. The biggest disappointment lies in the predictability of the events and the weak screenplay that never lives up to the standards of deserving comical entertainment.
'Nehle Pe Dehla' is a comical entertainer where two small time crooks (Sanjay Dutt and Saif Ali Khan) use a dead body (Shakti Kapoor) to acquire wealth. The concept may sound interesting but the treatment is below average. Director Ashok Chandhok tries to mince all the comical formulas into one package but overall the results are disappointing.
click for larger view
It was seen before in films like 'Ek Aur Ek Gyarah', 'Haseena Maan Jayegi', 'Deewana Mastana' etc where the comical duo's buffoonery lands them in trouble but their heroics wins them their lady love. The film fails to offer novelty but works with an indifferent plot. In all successful comedies of David Dhawan, the comical quotient has been high with brilliant comical timing of actors. Both the leading actors have delivered their finest comical work in 'Dil Chahta Hai' and 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S' but their talent was underplayed with poor scripting.
click for larger view
'Nehle Pe Dehla' opens up with the introduction of two lead protagonists - Johny (Sanjay Dutt) and Jimmy (Saif Ali Khan). Johny is fond of expensive watches, so he deceives big shop owners through his con acts. On the other hand, Jimmy is professional thief who steals at night. They land up in jail and plan to get richer. They encounter with one dying drunkard man (Avtar Gill) at roadside where he discloses the secret of an astronomical wealth of Rs 300 million. The dying man was manager of crooked hotelier Balram (Shakti Kapoor), who has hatched a murder along with his terrible trio (Mukesh Rishi, Asif Sheikh and Shiva). Sonia (Bipasha Basu) is Balram's niece and has big plans to open a hotel in Mauritius and for this she needs the huge Rs 300 million.
click for larger view
She is accompanied by her best friend Kim (Kim Sharma) at the hotel. Jimmy and Johny's con acts succeed in deceiving Balram by entering his hotel as waiters. Predictably, Johny falls for Sonia's charm while Jimmy is besotted by Kim's innocence. Balram tries to physically eliminate his niece but his plans fail. In hot pursuit to acquire colossal wealth, Balram plans to kill Jimmy and Johny through his three deadly friends. In return they murder Balram for wealth and then plan to kill Jimmy and Johny. All their plans fail and finally they seek the help of a "tantrik" (Supriya Karnik) to know the secret of hide-about of Balram's wealth. The film ends with slapstick comical work where the heroes win over villains.
click for larger view
After viewing the film, one wonders why reliable actors like Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan or Bipasha Basu accepted such a film. It's a proven fact that comedies work better than other formulas but even they require sense of mellowness of scripting and treatment. The comical sequence works briefly but overall it fails. Sanjay Dutt's con acts in watch showroom sound prankish and hard to believe. Saif Ali Khan's stealing act is borrowed from his role in 'Tu Chor Main Sipahi'. It's sorry to see both brilliant actors losing their sheen with under-scripted roles. Their stealing act in Shakti Kapoor's office sounds prankish and their love chemistries never germinate properly. Bipasha Basu delivers a miniscule performance where she is denied of singing and dancing. The actress who has been a hot selling property has been completely underutilized. Kim Sharma gets more footage with a couple of body gyrating beach songs. She has displayed he physical assets without inhibitions but the sensuality is missing. Shakti Kapoor delivers a mechanical performance. Mukesh Rishi is at his villainous best while Asif Sheikh and Shiva irritate with their silly acts. Neha Dhupia and Shweta Menon are completely wasted in itsy bitsy item songs.
Choreography (Bosco-Ceaser) appeals the most in hot beach numbers. Action (Mahendra Verma) is apt for the situations and offers some chilling moments. Music is pathetic and disappointing and at many times sounds too jarring for ears.
Director Ashok Chandhok has failed to materialize strong line up of actors in this shoddy comical act. The film was released with zero hype and there were no big hopes from it. It will hardly face any competition from RGV's 'Nishabd', but still its box office prospects are feeble and poor.
