The new Andaz Apna Apna
Posted by Anindita Ghose on Sunday, November 8, 2009
The generation of movie goers that upheld Andaz Apna Apna (1994) as the heights of unabashed cinematic ridiculousness might have another one to consider. Ajab Prem ki Ghazab Kahani is another gem by the same director, Rajkumar Santoshi. I wasn’t aware of this directorial connect when I came up with this hypothesis. And that, in my world, makes this hypothesis extremely meritorious. Andaz Apna Apna will always hold a place of pride and certain quirks and phrases that it made popular—such as bandar ke sar par tarbooz—will always stay put. Ajab Prem…doesn’t match up all the way. There are several sequences that are simply not silly enough to justify themselves. As in, there are moments in the film that aspire to be part of a real, meaningful narrative. Those parts are just wrong. But the movie promptly reverts back to craziness and all is fine again.
Random notes on the film:
1) You should see it for the above reason and also because the Lounge film critic has good things to say about it.
2) Very early on in the movie, Ranbir Kapoor is seen dancing with what looks like the entire cast of the Ramayana. This has to be a promise of good things to come, right?
3) Katrina Kaif is super cute in her pastel summer dresses. Her accent is justified by casting her as someone called Jennifer Braganza. And she also pulls it off as an actress in large chunks of the film.
4) Ranbir Kapoor has shed his annoying affectations and snobbery to make for an endearing, hapless hero (with an added speech disability for effect).
5) Close on the heels of Kaminey, this movie also has a lead pair that stammers. And
Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor are terrific together. Super.
6) Jesus Christ makes an appearance in the film complete with lamb et all. Keen observation will have you notice that his car ( Yes, Jesus out on a drive) says Good Shepherd.
7) When you starts seeing the film, you’ll think it’s Goa. But it’s not cause the action moves to Goa only AFTER. Lesson: Keep all thoughts of geography aside while watching.
8 ) Two great songs in the movie: Tera Hone Laga Hoon (Atif Aslam) and the one shot in what look like the Colosseum and the Pantheon with Katrina Kaif quite befitting as a Greek goddess.
9) Very smart and understated product placements by Pepsi. You don’t come away feeling like you sold your eyeballs to the evil corporate machinery or that film producers think you’re plain stupid ( remember Saridon and Cadbury’s in Parineeta?).
10) Thanks to Katrina’s hairstylist, the fringe is going to make a comeback with college girls in Bandra.
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You have defiled and defecated on andaz apna apna and ought to be ashamed in playing a part to promote mediocrity by latching it onto a great piece of cinema. This movie could not hold a candle to andaz apna apna. If you as a movie critic are not sagacious enough to see subtle differences separating comedy from tripe then let me be the first, but I am sure I will not be the last, to suggest a thorough appraisal of your career choice.
I welcome an ad hominem approach.
Dear Battousai,
For someone who uses phrases such as ‘ad hominem’, surely you know what ‘consider’ and ‘doesn’t match up all the way’ mean?
the other song with the colosseum and pantheon et al is also by atif aslam. that man has the midas touch. whatever he sings, turns to gold.
Its really as good as andaz apna apna….
After Andaz Apna Apna i liked this movie only of rajkumar santoshi…
Good Good movie like Andaz Apna Apna…
Are you kidding me??
Andaz Apna Apna was a classic. This movie is ****.
Maybe it has some lively moments. But most of the jokes are predictable.
Go get a life and please do not compare junk movies to some of the all time best.
I believe you understand ‘ridiculous’ and ‘funny’ to be synonymous. AAA is a what people call a ‘funny’ movie. ‘Luck’ is a ridiculous movie. There are many kinds of funny. Woody Allen-funny, AAA-funny, Seinfeld-funny. Ridiculous, in effect, implies indigestible. You can’t watch a ‘ridiculous’ movie more than once. If you can it’s either ‘funny,’ ‘weird’ ‘absurd.’ ‘trippy.’ etc etc–aka positive.
Given that you’ve drawn such a tenuous link between these words, i understand how you speak of AAA and APAK in the same breath. That’s like comparing MJ’s ‘Bad’ with his ‘Blood on the Dance Floor.’ They are diametrically opposite albums. ‘Blood…’ isn’t the “new” ‘Bad.’
Dear Anindita Ghosh,
I am aware that you did not equate the two precisely equally, however I only wished to point out that perhaps you should hold fast to higher standards of journalism, rather than giving unabshedly predictable and fatuous reviews.
Surely the utter asinine nature of not only this movie, but that of most of the escatologically excruciating products of Indian cinema has not escaped your attention. You yourself admit with one sentence that a movie is sub-par, however with the next you steamroll through your own very valid point and end your syllogism on a positive note. I can only gape askance at such a somnambulistic approach.
Excellent English Battousai even if it is quite clearly an attempt at grandstanding.
I have not had to look up words in a dictionary for a while now but after reading your piece I had to look up two words that I had never heard before. Finally I have learnt something new from these Live Mint blog pages where the quality of writing by the columnists is usually sub-par.
Battousai,
Battousai I have only one thing to say to you.
“Baqwaas band kar!!!!!!!Naqli angrez ki aulad. Dictionary band kar and get a life!!!!!
lida