Chal Mere Bhai (2000)
Starring: Sunjay Dutt, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor
Director: David Dhawan
Synopsis: Mindless, meaningless and vacuous entertainer
Reviewed by: Faiz Khan

 

Chal Mere Bhai is the latest David Dhawan instalment in his long line of mindless, meaningless and vacuous "entertainers", offering very little that is genuinely new. Having said that, it is really no better or worse than most of his previous efforts. The only question is just how much of the same formula audiences are prepared to take. Time will tell whether the film proves successful. My suspicion is that it will enjoy moderate success, although having previously lambasted Biwi No. 1 as dreadful only to watch it become the biggest hit of the previous year, perhaps I should be a little more cautious with my predictions. Maybe audiences are not yet ready to tire of these almost plotless, frivolous ventures.

The plot, if one can call it that, concerns two devoted brothers. One is a hardworking businessman (Sanjay Dutt), the other an aspiring actor (Salman Khan). Both eventually fall in love with the same girl (Karisma Kapoor), who comes to work for their company. That, in essence, is all there is to it. When the elder brother is chosen as the prospective groom—completely unaware that the girl is actually in love with his younger sibling—the aspiring actor gives the performance of his life and sacrifices his own happiness for the sake of his brother.

It all sounds dreadfully melodramatic but, fortunately, it never really becomes so. Instead, the film is padded out with song after song, seemingly inserted simply to stretch the running time.

Sanjay Dutt, in a refreshing departure from many of his recent performances, spends the film neither furrowing his brow nor slicking back his hair in a permanently menacing pose, instead giving a sincere and likeable performance. Salman Khan has now elevated making a complete fool of himself on screen into something of an art form, and he does it exceedingly well. Hats off to him because he really is very funny—both intentionally and unintentionally. Karisma Kapoor is equally good in what is essentially a plum role and once again demonstrates her natural flair for comedy. She looks particularly attractive throughout much of the film in her simple kurtas but, unfortunately, dons one of the strangest costumes imaginable during one of the many song sequences.

Keep it simple.

The music is pleasant enough—zippy rather than outstanding. The title track, sung by Leslie Lewis and Shankar Mahadevan, is undoubtedly catchy, although the later version performed by Sanjay and Salman themselves is considerably less successful and quickly becomes rather tedious. "Chori Chori" is already a hit and "Meri Neend Jaane Lagi Hai" will probably follow suit. My own favourite, however, is Salman's wonderfully irreverent introduction song, "Mere Baap Ki Biwi".

Nothing remotely offensive here.

The kids enjoyed it.