HINDI CINEMA is booming and how, mammoth star-cast, larger than life production-design and an ensemble script; but where is the story line?

  

However, are the audiences complaining?

  

Not quite, given to the thunderous welcome, ‘Welcome’ received at its premier show. By the looks of it, writer-director Anees Bazmee has created new hit.

  

The peril is, with the new-find mantra for success – comedy, filmmakers have stopped experimenting with subjects. Yes, ‘Welcome’ too has an underlying message, which comes across very feebly towards the end – Buraayee achchaayee se hamesha chhoti hee hoti hai; but did the audiences receive the message?

  

The film tells the story of two families; a straight family headed by Paresh Rawal out to hunt for a sanskaar waali bahu for his nephew Akshay Kumar.

  

A crooked family headed by a crook Nana Patekar out to hunt for a shareef-khaandaani ladka for his sister Katrina Kaif.

 

However, both the families are still hunting for the right match, after about 500 rejects!

  

Enter Anil Kapoor, a dhandha bhai of Nana; he sets his eyes on Akshay and they plot to get Akshay hooked onto Katrina.

  

Paresh will have none of it and he asks his saali Mallika to pose as Akshay’s match, fixed by his mother in childhood.

  

Feroz Khan who is the big boss of underworld and commands respect from Nana and Anil, gives his verdict in Mallika’s favour; hence, the conflict.

  

However, since Akshay and Katrina are in love; Paresh relents on the condition that Nana should give up his life of crime.

 

How Akshay hatches an entire plot to get Nana on line (give his life of crime) forms the entire second half.

  

The story is inane and if you apply logic, you will be one disgruntled audience. However, if you forget logic and enjoy the tomfoolery and slapstick you will enjoy this story pieced together by very many gags; some done to death, some not so original.

 

The film is set lavishly in India, South Africa and UAE. Except for Ooncha Lamba Kad, none of the songs leave a mark.

 

Akshay Kumar is his usual self. Katrina looks pretty, though she needs to loose the oodles she has put on. Anil Kapoor is aptly cast. Mallika and Paresh have limited roles and have done a fair job. Vijay Raaz enacting the part of a film-director makes his presence felt. In spite of a very miniscule role, Feroz Khan is his usual debonair and flamboyant self. That brings us to the real hero of the film, Nana Patekar, cast as an underworld don hassled to get his sister married; he is in the groove after a long time. His ‘control’ brings the house down. In fact, his sketch (he once aspired to be an actor) builds quite a few comic moments; particularly his ‘breakdown’ scene with Paresh.

 

Directorially, after No Entry, Anees Bazmee is standing on a not so welcome foundation (read script); though the script and the plot had the potential to be a blockbuster. It’s an average fare, which is already a hit with the average audience.