Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Hindi)

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

Producers: Yash Chopra, Aditya Chopra, Director: Shaad Ali, Writer: Habib Faisal, Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Lara Dutta, Bobby Deol, Amitabh Bachchan

Plot: some kind of a love story, Verdict: All style, no substance, Box office prospects: Yashraj fans will feel completely let down, Rating: 1 star

For the first half hour of the film, Alvira Khan (Priety Zinta) from Pakistan and Ricky Thukral (Abhishek Bachchan) from Bhatinda, India bump into each other at a rail station café in London bore you to yawn down relating their respective love stories. And just when you think, you should stretch out and have a nap, kohl eyed daddy long legs (Bachchan Sir) strums his way in. Twang; twang goes his double guitar and all the whites on the station join in synch in a vigorous dance interlude. Flirting, cavorting and swaying in the patch work jacket, Bachchan creates a ripple. But don’t worry the story swings back to the boring twosome yet again and their love saga continues with Lara the la-di-dah Parisian and Bobby the Richie rich lawyer playing their respective fiancés.

Post interval, the proceedings perk up a wee bit with Bobby turning out to be a mom’s boy and Lara, an abuse spewing sex worker and not the fancy fiancés that they were been made out to be . Plenty of play acting and posing later the foursome come face to face at a dance competition conducted by a cleavage flaunting Asha Sachdev and wigged ‘n dentured yesteryear henchman Sudhir in southall, UK. This competition is tackier than anything you have seen in your neighborhood.

Of all the performers, it is Lara who plays her role with complete ease and charm. Bobby is appealing as the nervous nail biter who comes into his own the moment he hits the dance floor. And please you can never forget the dancing Jack sparrowesque Bachchan who has no role except strumming and shaking a leg to the title song which is replayed throughout the film till you feel you were in the disco and start tapping your feet.

Well packaged, well placed, and well organized – this is a contrived packaged for the NRIs, but then for all its technical and marketing excellence- the film has no story, no cinematic moments and no memorable performances that make a Yashraj flick. Wonder what Shaad Ali was thinking when he made Abhishek swing Preity over his knees hold her in that awkward position till the trolley shot wound up in the climax! What is the cinematographer doing- swinging his camera high up and then down and then round and round….. Like a roller coaster cum Ferris wheel ride for most of the time making you feel almost giddy.

The solitary star this star studded bonanza has been awarded is for Vaibhavi Merchant’s seductive steps and enticing choreography. The only thing you can remember after watching the movie is to shake it like Daddy dude and swing your finger spiraling up to the oft-repeated title track.

Director Shaad Ali disappoints, the writer botches up the plot and the cast doesn’t do much to rise above the glitzy morass they are caught up in.