I can slowly see Hindi films evolving and taking more chances with their content and characters, something it hasn't done in thirty years. With the release of films like Black, Hazaaron Kwaishein Aisi, Raincoat and now even Bunty Aur Babli you can't help but appreciate the effort, even if the results vary.
Bunty Aur Babli is in no way a breakthrough. It has its color, loud music and spoonfuls of melodrama like the thousands of Hindi films that preceded it. However, it also has a pair of anti-heroes as the leads; Bunty and Babli are lovable criminals that love crime. The sheer exuberance of the characters as well as the actors is one of the main selling points of this film.
The music is likable, though the shooting of Chup Chup Ke looks exactly like that of the song "Saathiya" from Shaad Ali's previous film. It could have been removed. The item number with Aishwarya Rai is practically forced into the screenplay with a pair of pliers, and could also have been removed.
The movie also unnecessarily milks a scene between Amitabh Bachchan and his son, Abhishek. The two get completely drunk and have a boring, drawn out conversation about love that may leave you squirming in your seat. What a waste. This was meant to be a mesmerizing scene, as it's their first time acting together, but it instead becomes a good time to take that bathroom break.
However, those gripes are minor compared to the rest of the film. Abhishek Bachchan gives a good performance, and hams it up like a pro. Rani Mukherjee is further cementing her stature as one of the few true actors in commercial Hindi cinema. She handles the humor (check out her catty fight with a Miss India contestant) and the melodrama with ease. Amitabh Bachchan is a cool cat. All of it works well because no one is taking it too seriously. It's pure entertainment.
All in all, I'm glad we're seeing popular films that shy away from the love triangles, characters that are too perfect to be human, and poor production values. Bunty Aur Babli falls into none of those traps. Yes, it falls into several others but it's still a step forward!
Bunty Aur Babli is in no way a breakthrough. It has its color, loud music and spoonfuls of melodrama like the thousands of Hindi films that preceded it. However, it also has a pair of anti-heroes as the leads; Bunty and Babli are lovable criminals that love crime. The sheer exuberance of the characters as well as the actors is one of the main selling points of this film.
The music is likable, though the shooting of Chup Chup Ke looks exactly like that of the song "Saathiya" from Shaad Ali's previous film. It could have been removed. The item number with Aishwarya Rai is practically forced into the screenplay with a pair of pliers, and could also have been removed.
The movie also unnecessarily milks a scene between Amitabh Bachchan and his son, Abhishek. The two get completely drunk and have a boring, drawn out conversation about love that may leave you squirming in your seat. What a waste. This was meant to be a mesmerizing scene, as it's their first time acting together, but it instead becomes a good time to take that bathroom break.
However, those gripes are minor compared to the rest of the film. Abhishek Bachchan gives a good performance, and hams it up like a pro. Rani Mukherjee is further cementing her stature as one of the few true actors in commercial Hindi cinema. She handles the humor (check out her catty fight with a Miss India contestant) and the melodrama with ease. Amitabh Bachchan is a cool cat. All of it works well because no one is taking it too seriously. It's pure entertainment.
All in all, I'm glad we're seeing popular films that shy away from the love triangles, characters that are too perfect to be human, and poor production values. Bunty Aur Babli falls into none of those traps. Yes, it falls into several others but it's still a step forward!