Cast: Akshay Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever, Neeraj Vora, Milind Gunaji, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Urvashi Sharma, Manoj Joshi, Asrani, Makrand Deshpande, Aruna Irani, Tinu Anand Director: Priyadarshan
Producer: Akshay Kumar and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd.
Music: Pritam
Rating: *1/2
Facts first – Priyadarshan has had 13 Hindi releases in the last five years. And of these, just four were hits. Just to add to it, his last hit was 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' (12 October 2007). More interestingly, all these films, except 'Kanchivaram', were remakes or 'inspired' versions of some other movies. Clearly it has been too long that the director has been resting on the acclaim and commercial success of 'Hera Pheri'. And the fact that he makes three to four movies every year is not helping the case either. With 'Khatta Meetha' he hits another low.
A remake of Priyadarshan's own Malayalam film, 'Vellanakalude Nadu' (1983), 'Khatta Meetha' is just an example of bad filmmaking. The screenplay does not evolve, neither the characters. It is just plain frustrating for the viewer as the film drags without any movement in the storyline and there's too much noise.
'Khatta Meetha' was supposed to be a satire. This is neither a drama, nor a satire. The film starts with the collapsing of a bridge for which brothers of the protagonist, Sachin Tichkule (Akshay Kumar), are responsible. But they bribe their way out. Sachin is a small-time contractor unlike his brothers who have loads of money. The story drags around Sachin's struggle and shows how being an honest man does not work when it comes to handling the bureaucracy and he gets dishonest too. That, however, does not bring an end to his failures. In the meantime the director lets go off the problem with which he started the story in the first place – the bridge collapse.
The dialogues are good but that cannot help a failing screenplay. The songs are added at the least required situations, and neither are they worth an ear. Another problem is that the film almost looks like an attempt to please his cast. Everyone gets ample scope to prove their skills. Sadly not many of the scenes were required. The editor does a shoddy job by retaining all the unwanted scenes. Also, the costumes are bad!
As mentioned, all actors get a chance to prove their mettle. Some get it right, some don't. Rajpal Yadav is good and so is Kulbhushan Kharbanda. While Akshay Kumar does his best, he too gets over-the-top and irritating. Ditto with Johnny Lever! Trisha fails to add up to the character of a strict commissioner much, as she looks like a young college girl forced to work in the position.
In no way does 'Khatta Meetha' look like a film made by a director who has made 80 films till date. Certainly not from a director who got a National Award barely a year back for 'Kanchivaram'. This one is a rather amateur product which is best avoided.
By Noyon Jyoti Parasara / Sanskriti Media & Entertainment
