Dekh re dekh: Black comedy in all it's elements

Welcome to Sajjanpur left us in splits (but gently). A village tale amidst all its trials and tribulations couldn't have been better made. And now the black comedy Dekh Re Dekh (DRD). Village tales certainly are fun. You don't need stars to make a go

CJ: kalos

Tue, Jul 21, 2009 16:53:53 IST

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WELCOME TO Sajjanpur left us in splits (but gently). A village tale amidst all its trials and tribulations couldn’t have been better made. And now the black comedy Dekh Re Dekh (DRD). Village tales certainly are fun. You don’t need stars to make a good movie. You need a good story and actors. DRD scores in these two departments and viola! a superbly crafted movie comes about.

Eons back, Anand Mahendru had made a popular TV serial Dekh Bhai Dekh. When he found there is a movie coming up by the same name, he filed a petition in Delhi HC. The Court ordered the filmmakers to change the title. At such a short notice, the change was from bhai to re. That doesn’t make any difference to a good movie. Despite this minor change, the movie stands on its own.

Mahendru would do well to remember he made a ‘serial’ and that was decades back. And does he hold the rights to the title forever? Even after 10 years, movie titles are repeated. The time span and different medium makes Mahendru come across as a silly fellow out to gain some mileage. He hasn’t been in news after the serial .

Anyways, let’s get back to the comedy/crime movie. Needless to say, it was engrossing. I laughed loudly most of the time. I didn’t feel sleepy nor had the urge to use exit door to escape a boring fare.

The story has the backdrop of a western UP village. At the centre is the femme fatale Gracy Singh (Babli), who doesn’t take long to successfully transform from housewife to homicidal beauty. Reminded me of James Hadley Chase’s Holga Rolfe series.

Gracy’s husband and in-laws ill treat her and she is outlawed from their house. Left on her own, she takes recourse to evil. If they can be bad, she can be worst. And she is good at being worst. She needs money to lead an easy life and so do three others, whose help she seeks. She is out to con them too.

Her friend Siddharth Koirala (Shyam), a kabadiwala’s son needs money to secure a good job. Raghubir Yadav (Yadavji), a politician needs money to become a MLA. Vijay Raaz (Charan), a petty crook of course needs money. They join her to steal the temple idol. They perform the heist and that sets the ball rolling. Their double crossing begins in right earnest.

After stealing they take refuge in a haveli, where a weird old woman resides. She displays the jewels and what else does Gracy needs. She may as well get a chance to use the poison she carries on her self. She is no mean p(r)etty woman. She is deadly with a capital D.

And there is Asrani (Lala), Virendra Saxena (Pooran) and Aroon Bakshi in supporting roles. If greed and getting rich quick is to be seen to be believed, then this is the movie to watch out for. Destiny plays its own role.

If Gracy was purity personified in Lagaan, she can teach Bindu or Lalita Pawar a lesson or two in cunningness here. It is a change worth watching for. After Lagaan much was expected from her. But she didn’t land with big movies. This role is definitely worth biting into.

Siddharth is strictly okay. But Raghubir and Vijay are top of the tops. They shine even in crudity. The credit along with them goes to the dialogues too. Well penned and equally well delivered.

As I said earlier, no big stars, no big setup but superb story, excellent performances and equally well directed. Dialogues are the work of a genius that keep your mouth perpetually open (to laugh). The movie makes you sit up and watch and be involved. Watch out for a truly great climax.

Don’t think much to decide on to watch this movie. But don’t leave your brains behind at home. This movie is it. Don’t waste any more time. The movie is worth a ticket in black. The movie will keep you in splits. No split decision about this. Happy viewing guys and dolls. And you don’t need to thank me. If you enjoy it, go view it again. Happiness and laughter are needed again and again and...

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