Review: Rishi, Neetu revive the magic in 'Do Dooni Chaar'

Film: Do Dooni Char (U)

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh-Kapoor, Archit Krishna, Aditi Vasudev
Director: Habib Faisal

Rating: **1/2

 

When a hit yesteryear jodi comes together on screen after almost 30 years, there is bound to be interest. Do Dooni Chaar brings together real-life couple Rishi and Neetu as the loveable Dilliwale Mr and Mrs Duggal.

 

A realistic yet amusing take on the life of a school mathematics teacher and his family’s aspirations of having a better standard of living, Do Dooni Chaar will remind you of your many teachers who will never leave the classrooms of your memory.

 

Santosh Duggal (Kapoor) is trying hard to makes ends meet; he teaches in a school after which he privately coaches students. Kusum (Singh-Kapoor) struggles with the arithmetic of homemaking. Kids Payal (Vasudev) and Deepu (Krishna) dream of a luxurious life, a life that their teacher father will never be able to afford. Deepu finds a way to fulfil his dreams by betting on cricket matches. “Main failure nahin hoon,” yells Santosh throughout the film. If only the children could believe him.

 

Tight-budgeted life drags on as Santosh jets off on his scooter, ‘Duggal Express’. Fed up of nosy, taunting neighbours and a sister married off into a materialistic family, the Duggals decide to buy a four-wheeler. The family leaves no detergent packet unopened to realise its car dream. Yes, they buy cartons of washing soap, tediously opening each all night in the hope of winning a car as a prize. Car loans, EMIs, down payments are bumps the Duggals need to pass to own that dream car.

 

A series of events puts the integrity of a teacher and parent to test. Predictably, you know a teacher will always choose the right way and emerge honest and victorious. Do Dooni Chaar ends on a happy note and leaves you smiling. The story idea is great and debutant director Habib Faisal portrays a realistic Delhi middle-class family, fighting demons of materialism, dishonesty, consumerism and corruption. The characters are easy to identify with. The middle class and the teaching community are going to love this pragmatic unfolding of day-to-day challenges.

 

Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh are a treat even after all these years. Kapoor's comic timing is spectacular, while his better half looks adorable. The parents make a great pair, as do the brother-sister pair of Krishna and Vasudev, who display contemporary sibling rivalry without overacting. The convincing newcomers are kids to watch out for.

 

Sadly, the film takes the whole of the first half to establish the characters and their traits, to a point where it seems the filmmakers are trying to say the same thing in different ways. They probably weren't sure if they should show respect to teachers or expose the evils of consumerism and materialism.

The music seems out of place and jarring at points. But the song Maange ki ghodi is enjoyable.

Though the film carries underlying messages of honesty and respect for the noble profession of teaching, it does not sound preachy or demand sympathy for the protagonist family. The light-hearted mood of Do Dooni Chaar makes it realistic yet enjoyable.