BAJATEY RAHO: A small film that limits itself in being a regular DVD film [2/5]

In literal sense, ‘BAJATEY RAHO’ could be taken as a term used notably in North India for conning people vigorously. But in another, it could also represent our very much Indian spirit to celebrate life uncontrollably. Titled as the same, Shashant Shah’s slice-of-life 'Punjabi at heart' comic caper finds its framework foundation on both the grounds but unfortunately fails to impress with a half-cooked storyline and a strictly ‘wannabe’ emotional laugh-riot, clad in a look & feel borrowed from Dibakar Bannerjee’s one of the bests KHOSLA KA GHOSLA.

Sabharwal, played by Ravi Kishan, is a name of crime syndicate that deals in making illegal money from every potential sector like education industry [I call it that because it sure is manufacturing materialistic supplies that are totally in demand on a conveyor belt manner], production of synthetic food items using harmful chemicals and in the most easy money making venture banking with chit-fund kind of concepts that incidentally end up being a cheat fund.

An unfortunate honest man ends his life after being victimized for the bad man’s sinister acts and now, his family [Headed by the impressively presentable Dolly Ahluwalia as his widow, Tusshar as his son and the powerful combination of Vinay Pathak & Ranvir Shorey as their friends in need] has nothing to lose & left much to do except striking back with a solid plan to rob the robber.

From the plot mentioned above to the earthy-rustic characters that has lingo and jargon of a typical Delhiite, from the ‘been there-seen that’ settings to the ‘I see it coming’ regular casting, there is not a single chance that you won’t recall your ‘KHOSLA KA GHOSLA’ experience that still tends to seize your mind with matter of the fact wit in the situation & extremely amusing characters. Well, that could easily have gone in favor of the film but the problem is that it could never remove the tag of a ‘wannabe’.

Even in a short duration of 107 min, if you can not embrace yourself from putting unnecessary romantic track with songs, you seriously need to think of going back on writing table again & again till you do it right! The only time I felt an uncontrolled pleasant stretch in my facial muscles was when Vinay Pathak dressed & sounded as a ‘Narendra Chanchal’ look-like singer, goes for a devotional parody of ‘tainu main love kardaan’ from the forgettable ‘Desi Boys’…and some of the scenes having Dolly Ahluwalia ruling out everyone else in the frame.   

At the end, it is a small film that doesn’t dream big in its approach and limits itself in being a regular DVD film. There are moments to cherish and relish you when in dull mood but not enough to rush to the nearest theater. [2/5]