Review: 'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge'

'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge' is a pleasant surprise. The movie is non-stop nonsense, but with a story.
Come to think of it, you walk into 'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge' with zilch expectations, almost sure that you're going to devote 3 hours of your precious life to a film that would soon be forgotten the very next day itself.

Okay, now let's forewarn you... Don't wear your thinking caps for this one. This film is plain silly. It has a ridiculous storyline [two good-for-nothing desperate to make a flop film], the most ludicrous jokes [Paresh Rawal, Johny Lever and gang], the most tacky sets... yet, this film works. It entertains and most importantly, makes you laugh at the right places.

Feeling morose or low? Has the global meltdown and recession hit you like a ton of bricks and you need a break? Try out 'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge'. It's silly, but quite funny!

Anand [Kunal Khemu] and Raj [Paresh Rawal] are, perhaps, the two most extreme individuals that have walked the city of Mumbai. While Anand is a chartered accountant, Raj is a film producer.

They hatch a plan to raise big money to produce a feature film and then actually make it at a pittance amount. In fact, they decide to make it so badly that audiences would reject it on the first day of its release. Anand and Raj believe this would give them a foolproof chance to decamp with the remaining huge amount they've raised for the making of this venture.

But the film turns out to be a huge hit. Now the financers and distributors are after Anand and Raj for their chunk of shares from the huge profit.

In films like 'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge', the emphasis is not on story, but on the entertainment quotient and the film works on that level. The jokes are quite funny at times and the witty dialogues do the trick as well.

But you can't shut your eyes to the deficiencies in this project. If the first hour succeeds in transporting you to ha-ha-land, the film dips in the second hour, but picks up speed in the pre-climax, at the big nite -- the premiere screening of the film. Ample time is devoted to the film made by Paresh and Kunal, funnily called 'Solay Se L'Gaan Tak' [yep, that's how it is spelt]. The spoof on 'Sholay', 'D.D.L.J', 'Gadar' and 'Lagaan' are simply hilarious.

Director Umesh Shukla may not be a proficient technician, but he succeeds in keeping your eyes glued to the screen for most parts of the film. His choice of actors is perfect. Sajid-Wajid's music is of fast-forward quality.

Paresh Rawal and Johny Lever steal the show with their impeccable comic timing. Both excel in their respective parts. Kunal Khemu is a revelation. Very likable. Sonu Sood plays the moody and tantrum throwing star to perfection. Soha is completely in sync with her character. Dilip Joshi [as Soha's uncle] is top notch.

On the whole, 'Dhoondte Reh Jaoge' is silly, but quite funny. A film that offers laughter in the garb of mindless entertainment. It might just work with people who are looking for some time pass fun, without taxing the brains.