Film: Bangistan
Starring: Riteish Deshmukh, Pulkit Samrat and Jacqueline Fernandez
Directed by: Karan Anshuman
Rating: **
What it's about:
Bangistan is a fictitious country where the world religious conference is set to take place. Meanwhile, one Hindu and one Muslim radical group don't want peace and cordial relations between India and Pakistan and sent out two young men to create mayhem in Poland, the venue of the conference. But the two men decide to go in guise. Hafeez Bin Ali (Riteish Deshmukh) becomes Ishwarchand Sharma. And Praveen Chaturvedi (Pulkit Samrat) becomes Allah Rakha Khan. They meet each other and become friends. Till they discover each other's identities.
What's good:
The idea was interesting. Two guys of different religions pretending to be like the other. The characters are interesting and quirky. Each one is ready to become a human bomb and sacrifice his life. While Hafeez is tired of being abused at his job and wants some respect, Praveen is a struggling actor who wants fame at any cost. Few situations are funny. Like the one with the sheep. Ritiesh, who has done loud comedies in the past, proves he can act in a restrained comedy just as well.
What's not:
For a comedy film, it has very little humour. You go into see a light, funny film but you soon realise this one is too preachy and predictable to achieve that. The Hindu-Muslim angle has been done to often. If you pick a subject like that, you have to give the audience something new. This film tries to tip toe around everything, doesn't want to hurt sentiments on either side. It's so careful that it makes you care less. Pulkit does a brilliant Salman Khan take-off. While it makes for great laughs on a TV show, in a film, it doesn't work. Why see the copy when the original is running in a theatre near you. Still trying to figure out what Jacqueline was doing in the film. The songs in the film jar. And the climax disappoints.
What to do:
If you are looking for some Hindu-Muslim and India-Pakistan bonding film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a better option
