Kartik Aaryan’s massy entertainer Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Ronit Bose Roy, Sachin Khedekar, Sunny ...
Kartik Aaryan’s massy entertainer
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Manisha Koirala,
Paresh Rawal, Ronit Bose Roy, Sachin Khedekar, Sunny Hinduja
Rating: 3*
Rohit Dhawan attempts to adapt the official remake of Allu Arjun’s blockbuster ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ (story and direction Trivikram) and somewhat succeeds by making it pacy and adding the emotional and comic moments. What Rohit does is that he does not copy the entire film in toto but makes some changes - some clap-worthy massy scenes in the original have been omitted here, added some of his touches and does not play too much on the comedy aspect which he could have definitely done. He has kept a check on the time unlike the original which ran into nearly 170 minutes long. However, the story reminds us of the 70s & 80s - separated at birth kinds. What stands out is Kartik Aaryan’s performance. First, this is his first attempt at a full mass-oriented entertainer. We see him in an action avatar for the first time. And second, his comedy is first-class and plays to the gallery beautifully.
The story starts with two children born on
the same day - Bantu (Kartik Aaryan) to Randeep Nanda (a fine Ronit Bose Roy)
and Yashu (a graceful Manisha Koirala) and Raj (a superb Ankur Rathee) to
Valmiki (Paresh Rawal in a so-called negative comic avatar). Valmiki is jealous
of Randeep as they had started their careers together but overnight Randeep
becomes rich by marrying wealthy Aditya Jindal’s daughter Yashu whereas Valmiki
remains where he was and this injects jealousy in Valmiki who under some
peculiar situation swaps the babies which leads to Jindal’s heir Bantu being
raised by Valmiki who ill-treats him at the smallest of things and Raj being
raised by Randeep and Yashu. The film then focuses on how Bantu who wants to be
a lawyer meets Samara (a stunning Kriti Sanon) who runs a law firm and how
destiny plays a part in him meeting his actual parents despite Valmiki
preventing Bantu from entering the Jindal house for the past 25 years.
The climax is not the usual one and it tugs
at one’s heart. There are some fine emotional performances from Manisha Koirala
and Ronit Bose Roy. The entry of the business rival villain Sarang (Sunny
Hinduja) adds a lot to the plot.
Sachin Khedekar is adorable as Ashok Jindal.
Rajpal Yadav as Inspector Yadav in a cameo raises laughs. Sunny Hinduja is
passable as Sarang. Rakesh Bedi as Samara’s father and Debattama Saha as
Bantu’s sister are wasted. Pritam’s music scores in the title song and the post
credit scenes has the famous ‘Character Dheela’ song.
‘Shehzada’ though not quite like the
original, manages to entertain, not letting you think too much.
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