Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hard Kaur, Jeneva TalwarDirector: Nikhil Advani
Producer: Bhushan Kumar, Twinkle Khanna
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Rating: ***
Akshay Kumar and Nikhil Advani's last outing together, 'Chandni Chowk To China' (2009) is amongst the most ridiculed disasters of Bollywood. Akki has been having a bad run at the box office for a long time and Advani has never achieved the success he saw with his debut film 'Kal Ho Na Ho'. So, one enters 'Patiala House' saying a silent prayer. While the movie has its predictable moments, it's the restrained drama, superlative performances and ability to tug the right heart strings that make you like this movie.
Aspiring cricketer, Pargat Singh Kahlon aka Gattu (Akshay Kumar) is a second generation Sikh, living in Southall, London. He is compelled to drop his pace bowling ambitions thanks to his domineering father, Gurtej (Rishi Kapoor). Gurtej aka Bauji has his reasons for hating anything British thanks to racist attacks his community bore in the mid '70s. Bauji is not just the patriarch of their big joint family but also the Sikh community of Southall. So allowing his talented cricketer son to play for England is akin to a huge insult for him. Now all of 34, Gattu is a shadow of his former self, a docile son of his father and has no ambitions whatsoever. The younger members of the family have curbed their personal ambitions fearing Bauji and the example of Gattu always offered for the same. However, destiny offers Gattu a second chance to play for the English cricket team as the selections for T20 World Championships are on. While he declines the offer upfront, he is coaxed into it by neighbour Simran (Anushka) who nurses feelings for him. She even gets the younger lot of Gattu's family to push him for a rebellion. What follows next as Gattu goes for the 2nd chance that life throws at him forms rest part of the story.
In a film and cricket loving country, emotional high drama or a good game of cricket always finds its takers. Advani succeeds to quite an extent in doing a merger of both. He and his co-writer Anvita Dutt Guptan avoid succumbing to melodramatic situations and convey the plot's high points effectively. The flashback sequences of racial discrimination have been kept short and efficient. Good detailing is also seen in them with changing hues to depict varied period zones. But importantly, the climax doesn't become a typically 'filmy' cricket match finale with unbelievable heroism on the field performed by the hero. But amongst the flaws are the initial slow pace and certain amount of predictability that creeps in in the second half. Certain cinematic liberties taken keeping Bauji unaware of Gattu's match performances also appear a bit farfetched. Advani also takes a safe route of avoiding showing an India v/s England cricketing clash in the World Championship.
Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy always deliver their best for Advani. Their 'PH' soundtrack is refreshingly non formulaic in its sounds, with an enticing mix of both Hindi and Punjabi genres.
Akshay, after a string of disastrous performances, finally gets it right. Putting up a restrained act, he manages to get his emotions across even through minimal dialogues. Rishi Kapoor seems to be on a roll, first 'Do Dooni Char' and now 'Patiala House'. The reason that you don't hate his character despite being the root cause of all the drama in the film is because of the conviction he lends to his hate for anything British. Anushka Sharma carries the necessary spunk required for her role. Dimple Kapadia is good. Amongst the ensemble cast of actors playing Akshay's family members, the most impressive are Jeneva Talwar and the kid playing Anushka's brother. Ex-English cricket team captains Graham Gooch, David Gower and Nasser Hussain making their Bollywood debuts lend some credibility to the plot. Unintentional laughter is guaranteed, hearing Hussain speak in Hindi.
Watch 'Patiala House' for the return to form of Akshay Kumar. If watched with minimal expectations the film offers quite a pleasant surprise.
By Abhijit Mhamunkar / Sanskriti Media & Entertainment
