Bunty aur Babli (2005)
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee,
Director: Shaad Ali
Music Director: Shanker Ehsaan Loy
Synopsis: An attempt at light hearted frolic that sadly misses the mark
Reviewed by: Faiz Khan

 

Shaad Ali's previous film, Saathiya, was a masterpiece of simplicity, taking the cliched old-style love story and moulding it into an enchanting and thoroughly involving film populated by ordinary characters facing ordinary situations. Some of that charm has found its way into Shaad Ali's new offering, Bunty Aur Babli, where he attempts to emulate the Manmohan Desai entertainers of the past and create a hilarious caper in his own style. Sadly, he falls well short of the mark. The result is a half-baked film that never really knows where it wants to go.

Rakesh, better known as Bunty (Abhishek Bachchan), has no interest in a conventional job. Instead, he dreams of striking it rich through one of his many entrepreneurial schemes and, determined to pursue that dream, leaves home in search of finance. Meanwhile, Vimmi, aka Babli (Rani Mukherjee), runs away from home rather than submit to an arranged marriage, hoping instead to enter a beauty contest. Fate brings the two together and, frustrated by their inability to achieve their ambitions, they embark upon a series of increasingly elaborate scams simply to survive.

None of this is remotely believable but then this is hardly serious cinema. Nor is it Bonnie and Clyde, the film that appears to have provided the initial inspiration, although beyond the basic premise it bears almost no resemblance to it. Neither is it Badlands. The frustrations and failures of our two protagonists are never really felt and, before long, Bunty and Babli have somehow become celebrated con artists, effortlessly swindling people out of their money whilst enjoying every minute of their criminal exploits. Somewhere along the way, and seemingly out of nowhere, the two decide to get married.

All this takes us to the interval, after which we are introduced to the disgruntled police officer Dashrath (Amitabh Bachchan), determined to capture the notorious duo. Unfortunately, everything from this point onwards is entirely predictable and the prospect of father pursuing son never develops into anything particularly interesting. In fact, Amitabh Bachchan's arrival only slows the film down even further. We are then subjected to a lacklustre song featuring both Bachchans and Aishwarya Rai, clearly intended to generate excitement but serving instead as an ideal opportunity for a much-needed toilet break. From there the film simply limps towards its rather pathetic and utterly predictable climax.

The biggest problem with Bunty Aur Babli is a screenplay riddled with holes. The realism that made Saathiya so engaging is almost entirely absent here, save for one or two brief flashes at the beginning. The sequence involving the sale of the Taj Mahal is amusing in theory but surprisingly dull and almost completely devoid of laughs. The liberties taken by the screenplay are so extreme that the audience is expected to accept the whole affair as little more than a fantasy caper. Such excesses may have worked perfectly well in the Manmohan Desai films of the past but, in today's cinema, they simply fail to convince.

More importantly, those Desai classics, whether Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish or countless others, were packed with warmth, energy and above all humour. That humour is sorely lacking here. The climax merely reinforces the impression that this is never really a film about its characters or their trials and tribulations but simply a caper desperately trying to generate laughs, and failing rather miserably in the process.

Shaad Ali's direction never provides the film with the zip or momentum it so desperately needs and one is constantly left wondering exactly where it is heading. The film itself seems confused about what it wants to be. It is neither full-blown slapstick nor a serious drama. Instead, it settles rather uncomfortably into the middle of the road.

Abhishek Bachchan continues to mature with each successive role and brings a softness and charm to Bunty that gives the film at least a flicker of life. Rani Mukherjee, on the other hand, proves more irritating than engaging. Amitabh Bachchan passes muster in a role that asks very little of him. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is also something of a disappointment. One or two tracks are hummable but, with Gulzar providing the lyrics, one expected considerably more.

One expected much more.

On the whole, an extremely disappointing film.