Saturday, September 30, 2017
Judwaa 2
Two To Tangle
The original Judwaa, starring Salman Khan when he wasn’t a superstar and universal ‘Bhai’ was released in 1997, when many of Varun Dhawan’s fans were perhaps not even born. So they missed David Dhawan’s heyday, when he made a succession of hits either with Govinda or Salman Khan (the leading ladies were interchangeable, then as now). The films were mostly awful and derivative, but also entertaining in a ‘paisa vasool’ way for the masses. Those who expected a better class of cinema gnashed their teeth as they sat through the crass jokes and idiotic gags.
Today, when audiences are looking for some sensible cinema, Dhawan throws a remake Judwaa 2, with the same old formula—crazy plot, cheerfully political incorrect humour and general silliness. Today’s filmmakers might try the throwback film, like Mubarakan or Badshaaho, but Judwaa 2 is the real item; but for newer actors and cell phones, it could well be a rerun, instead of a remake.
So, rich guy Malhotra (Sachin Khedekar) gets smuggler Charles (Zakir Hussain) arrested, and for his trouble, he loses one of his new born twins. The kids were born conjoined and like many identical twins, each reflects what the other is going through, when they are in the same vicinity. Of course, in the film, this is used randomly in action and kissing scenes.
Raja (Varun Dhawan) grows up in the fishing community of Mumbai, so fights and flirts with equal ease (and dances to a song that goes Ganpati bappa morya, pareshan karein mujhe chhoriyan.) His twin Prem grows up with his parents in London, a timid, bespectacled fellow, who wants to be a musician.
Raja makes an enemy of tough guy Alex (Vivan Bhatena), so he and his lisping sidekick Nandu (Rajpal Yadav) escape to London, and the confusion starts. When Raja beats up someone, Prem ends up beating whoever is in front of him; when Raja kisses his girl Alishka (Jaqueline Fernandez), Prem ends up smooching Samara (Taapsee Pannu) or even her simpering mother (Upasana Singh).
Once the twins discover each other, the pace reduces, the comedy (such as it was) dries up, and the film moves to a forced and tedious climax. Judwaa 2 need not have had the bottom-slapping kind of crudity that it still does, the laughs at the expense of people with speech impediments or the needless ageism, it would still have worked with the young crowd.
Varun Dhawan with his energy and impeccable comic timing keeps the film afloat and he will get the teens in; to add some spice, Salman Khan makes a sporting guest appearance.
Labels: Cinemaah
