Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani : A Review

Nearly 16 years ago Rajkumar Santoshi put his best foot forward with a comedy starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor. While even Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor and Viju Khote come to mind with the mention of Andaz Apna Apna, Rajkumar Santoshi doesn't necessarily induce a sense of hope. A shame, considering he probably gave us some of our best laughs. Since then though, he has stumbled through creative disasters, the names of which are better off left unattended to at this point.

With the suggestion that he may be able to recreate the magic once again with a fresh take on an old story sends most of us staggering into theaters this weekend.

And here we are. 2 and a half hours later. One word. Jaded.

Santoshi's latest, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, for starters, does little for the laughs. Once that's out of the way, we dawdle into finding reasons for actually taking the time for this one. Ranbir Kapoor is undoubtedly the industry's biggest hope and he falls flat on his face this time around. He's come out being both quite dumb and often, over the top. He has his moments, but he doesn't have the timing.

With the exception of Zakir Hussain as Sajid Don, a Crimemaster Gogo spin-off, Katrina Kaif, with due respect, is shockingly the most likeable aspect of this film. The one thing she certainly does get right is her timing and she does keep you amused for much of her scenes. Santoshi has an odd liking for shooting his song sequences very artistically, relatively speaking. They have a serious disconnect with the rest of the movie but his DOP does everything to show off a lovely Ms. Kaif. A small consolation for the randy viewer.

Barring the one riot in a soap factory or some such (Long story.), the movie allows a few strained giggles and a whole lot of shuffling in the seat. Cliche protagonists and the presence of a smattering of side actors and corresponding characters and the Ooty/Goa locales takes us back to a bad place in the early 90s.

There really is no story. Once the interval gives you temporal respite, you realise the writers felt like Steve McQueen's Capt. Hilts.

"Hold on to yourself, Bartlett. You're twenty feet short."

And a whole freaken movie, by the looks of it.

Special Mention: Upen Patel. We wonder, whenever we are both bored and our pressed to reluctantly consider one such as Upen, what's that language he mutters as buff crashes heavily against an overdose of steroids.