Friday, February 11, 2011

Patiala House



Rating : 2/10
Release Date : 11th February, 2011
Time : 147 minutes
Director & Writer : Nikhil Advani; Co-writer : Anvita Dutt; Music : Shankar, Ehsaan Loy
Starring : Akshay Kumar, Anushka, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple, Armaan Kirmani, Prem Chopra, Soni Razdan, Tinu Anand, Hard Kaur, Jeneva Talwar


Tripe, balderdash and poppycock

This is about a promising cricketer (Akshay), an Indian origin British citizen, who is told by his autocratic father (Rishi) that he cannot play for England. This is about him leading the next 17 years with a face as long as a cricket bat, working in a convenience store set up for him by the same father. This is about some ten other assorted characters who are forced by the same father to do what he wants them to do rather than what they wish for, but funnily enough they don’t blame themselves for not standing up but blame Akshay instead. And all this changes once Anushka enters their lives and the England team lies in tatters.

This is a film steeped in melodrama. Violins play in the background at every opportunity. Rivers of glycerine flow at the drop of a hat. Every occasion is filled with pathos, no frame seems complete until someone is not shown to be sad, morose or oppressed.



This is also a film steeped in illogicality. Why, if his Dad is so adamant about him not playing for England, is he not able to play for India ? Or at least the counties ? Many people make a career out of just that. If someone hasn’t played competitively for 17 years and is aged 34, what odds would you offer for him to be selected ? Could you imagine someone playing for the national side and yet keeping it a secret from his father ? And how come papa ka ladla isnt married (at 34) when is father happily goes around fixing other people's marriages ?

And then there are other questions I would beg to ask. Why should I, as an Indian, cheer for someone who wants to play in an England shirt ? Even more, why should I, as an audience, feel anything, any sympathy or sense of camaraderie with a person who clearly lived 17 years of his life without a backbone, became the butt of his relatives jokes, lived with drooping shoulders and a face to match ? Why should I care about him ?

Its no surprise then that nothing excites, not the songs (which aren’t that great) nor the cricket (very clichéd coverage) nor any of the side characters. The few moments of fun in the second half come when they’re trying to keep his selection a secret from the Dad, but that lasts barely 5 minutes.


Dimple is wasted. Anushka and Akshay have zero chemistry. Rishi looks the part. The rest are ok



The movie is made with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. It is clichéd in every aspect and lacks body and soul. Found it very difficult to sit through and am going to probably have to watch another one tonight just to get this out of my head.

6 comments:

RamtaJogi said...

Thank you for the review. I didn't expect much from Mr. Nikhil Advani. Have you seen Kal Ho Na Ho? I don't know how it became a hit.

I don't know how any producer will put money behind this guy after seeing all his work. (Chandni Chowk To China, Salaam E Ishq)

RJ

GaurravDhar said...

None of the cast members deserve a mention, as they're hardly any better or worse than each other, while Logic and Bollywood formula films have been eternally divorced, this script could've been far more sensible if not believable if re-visited in time.

Monts said...

AT times you go to a movie just cause u wanna stop thinking about whats happening in yours...this movie did that for me even if it was as crappy as you make it out to be :)
I liked it !!

delhi said...

Must see..today morning i saw its review..and i like the reviews..

Anonymous said...

Very few sports-based movies are enticing enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Sadly Patiala House does not feature in those few. Also, I too have the same questions as yours.

Diksha de Sousa said...

I think the movie was fun, it had all the elements - emotion, cricket and comedy....I liked it!