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Saturday, November 27, 1999

A surefire entertainer

MEETA BHATTI  
NOVEMBER 26: Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) is no ABCD (American Born Confused Desi). He is an NRI (Non Reliable Indian) though, who has never been out of India, let alone Mumbai. A conman with (with the golden heart) in search of a 50-lakh booty, Sanju dons the tag of Sanju Shastri, a relative of a richer than the rich family. Here everyone needs nothing but soul-change. So in comes the Rajesh Khanna-esque Bawarchi no 1 to short-change them in the guise of `Sanju Curry for the soul'. Shivani (Urmila Matondkar), the downhearted motherless girl, is the main dish in need of spice to make her smile. In the process, Sanju strikes a rapport with everyone in the family -- Anjan Srivastav as the father who is forever playing chess; sons Ashok Saraf, Jatin Kanakia and Om Puri (Shivani's father); Farida Jalal as mother and the bhabhis in Himani Shivpuri and Supriya Sachin.

Somehow Bollywoodwalas knows that joint families never fail to strike a chord. This one knocks very close to the heart though. Seasonedwith healthy comedy (enough of Govinda's laugh-a-minute obscene gestures), the film has Sanjay Chhel taking centrestage. And also Babubhai (Dog-Sasha). Not only has Chhel recreated the Rangeela magic, he has come up with some never-heard-before quips. Interspersed with Paresh Rawal's ad-mad witticism (he talks, walks, screams only ads), Johny Lever's run-of-the-mill jokes and Sanjay Dutt's exceptional performance, Shivani not only learns to smile, she falls in love with him. But for a helpless kid, Sanju (he loves children) has to run away with the loot -- an excuse for the lame Master Vishal Solanki to walk again. A hint of Satte pe Satta.

While Sanjay Dutt has more than managed to add heart to the character, Urmila is the usual fashion designer's delight. Jatin-Lalit's music is foot-tapping -- especially the Sophia Haque Punjabi number, besides the title song and Sanjay's O Shivani. Sanjay Chhel's script is no great shakes, but with his screenplay, dialogues and direction he hasarrived. A sure-fire entertainer after a long time.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


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