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Besharam Rating: ****/*****
Director: Abhinav Kashyap
Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Pallavi Sharda, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu
Kapoor, Javed Jafferi and Amitosh Nagpal
The film is different even within the genre of 'action-comedy'. Expect to see herogiri, dialoguebaazi and thod-phod interwoven with romance.
Orphan Babli falls in love with Tara Sharma (Pallavi Sharda) and decides to mend his ways for the girl. Also, hot on his pursuit are older cop couple the Chautalas (Rishi and Neetu).
What's good: There is a line in the climax that Babli says, " Yeh Khoon karaba apna style nahin, yeh toh sirf apna talent batana tha. That's it."
These lines basically sum up this film. This is Ranbir's experiment to see whether he can successfully do the films that Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar have knocked out of the park. Can't blame him for trying to do something different. And talented he is, because he does it as well as his seniors.
But do Ranbir's audience want him doing this? That is the big question. However, having said that there is no denying that he is the glue that holds this film together. He is in every frame. And he does this new genre unabashedly. He proves there is nothing he cannot do. He shows off his versatility (and butt cleavage! A dig at Saawariyaa and Sanjay Leela Bhansali?)
What I love about Besharam is the references and nods to various Hindi films from Gaddar (Rishi trying to uproot a hand pump to beat up the baddies) to Mr India (Babli's gang of orphan kids) to Sholay to DDLJ (the doggie romance with the track Tujhe Dekha Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam playing in the back). There are many more. Makes you wish the entire film was in that spoofy space. Rishi and Neetu play the endearing couple to perfection. Amitosh Nagpal is superb as Babli's friend.
What's not: There is a lot of mismatch in Besharam. The leading man and leading lady together look odd and lack chemistry.
The house/locality that she lives in, and the car she drives don't come from the same pay scale. And finally the climax of the film doesn't go with the rest of the film. Makes you wonder if you walked out for popcorn and walked back into the wrong screen.
Some scenes go on and on... beginning with the first scene when Babli and his friend are running away from the cops. Almost all the fight scenes are too long. Okay, the audience gets it: Ranbir doing dhishum dhishum for the first time, still... Tara hates Babli but falls in love with him quickly because they are on a road trip, which requires a song. Speaking of songs, there are just too many! And lastly, action hai, drama hai, romance hai, thoda emotion bhi hota toh achha hota.
What to do: Watch it if you enjoy action-comedies.