Just misses the century, but surely a stylish innings

99
Cast: Kunal Khemu, Soha Ali Khan, Cyrus Broacha, Boman Irani
Director: Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK
Rating: ***

Just short of a solid round figure, the number 99 might seem imperfect, particularly to a batsman. But there is something right about the film that goes beyond a mere number. It comes when film releases have been few due to the ongoing issues between distributors and exhibitors. The movie, set against the backdrop of cricket match-fixing, is calculatedly released during the IPL. And directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (Flavors) dish out a fairly stylish product.

The film revolves around street-smart Sachin (Kunal Khemu) and his rotund partner Zaramud (Cyrus Broacha). When their shifty cell-phone racket is busted, their inelegant getaway leads to the bust-up of a Merc, which gets the owner bristling with anger. The owner, a bookie/gangster (Mahesh Manjrekar, well cast) gets Fit and Fatter to pay back by working as his debt collectors. This leads them to Delhi and into silly situations involving a compulsive better Rahul (Boman Irani), a hotel employee (Soha Ali Khan), a betting maestro (Vinod Khanna) and a small-time money lender Kuber (Amit Mistry).

The film is set in 1999-2000 and revolves around the controversial South Africa-India series. Where the film gets lost is in establishing the plot, gaining momentum and slipping in unnecessary side plots (like the friction between Rahul and his peeved wife). Though technically slick (Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography and peppy background score and music) and witty (super Delhi-bashing dialogue like “every girl in Delhi is called either Neha or Pooja”), 99 lacks a singular shining moment.

There are some smart performances that make 99 worth watching. Amit Mistry as Kuber, the Delhi ‘bhai’, is excellent, a ‘fattened’ Cyrus Broacha will thrill his fans, Manjrekar is funny; and Khemu is passable.

After Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye!, Dilli 6 and Dev D, Delhi seems to be firmly in fashion. The filmmakers manage to get the characters pretty much right. But a stronger lead, tighter script and a snappier edit would have taken 99 close to 100, which is the difference between a memorable innings and a forgettable one.