~~~Half Dhamaal~~~. Review on Double Dhamaal

Sequels are the order of the day. A week after Bheja Fry 2, we now has Double Dhamaal, the sequel of Dhamaal which become an instant hit with its joke a minute outing in 2007. Before writing this review, I just read my own review on Dhamaal and can say the sequel follows the fate of most of the sequels, i.e. not meeting the expectations. It is difficult to chase a good runner or a record. That happens with Dhamaal too. Then, what if we watch Double Dhamaal without considering it as a sequel/ Does that entertains? Let us see.

The four jokers from Dhamaal (Roy (Ritesh Deshmukh), Adi (Arshad Warsi), Manav (Jaaved Jaafri) & Boman (Aashish Chaudhry), is waiting for an accident to happen in the dangerous pin curve and no luck comes their way. They attempt to trick people and loot but only ends up get trashed. Arrives, Inspector Kabir Nayak (Sanjay Dutt) , rich but this time without a police uniform. He has dropped his uniform to fetch money and honey. The four jokers now wonder how come the inspector became so rich even after donating his share of treasure. They are now on a spying mission. Jealous of his prosperity they decide to blackmail him to get a share in his business ventures. A drama is been created and now who is the victim? The victim(s) are ready to take a revenge, this time a hard one, Double Dhamaal.

The film has no great story where it is a 'who cheats the best' kind of comedy. The plot have some novelty in it but the screen play is shallow throughout, except in the climax where some interesting turn is been bought. If Dhamaal was laugh a minute comedy, Double Dhamaal is little lazy like the four jokers and can say it is Ada Dhamaal may be the right description. There is fun which will take the houses down especially in houseful theatres but the quality of jokes is poor and the situations are often repetitive. If Dhamaal was more a clean comedy, in Double Dhamaal the dialogue writers and director tries their best (or worst?) to give direct and indirect double meanings. Probably they thought since there is a double in the film name, this double too will get passed. Too bad! The first half was a bit better than the second where the fun took a back seat. The climax somehow sabotage a fall but on its lower end. The turn in climax I was expecting since I have seen a malayalam film 'In Ghost House...', and my expectations come true. Probably both the films have one common source, as usual, from Hollywood. (There are some in house jokes about Bollywood, some in good taste and some bad.)

Performance by Sanjay Dutt is not as spirited as expected. Still, his presence adds the much required stardom for the film. And does he pass a word to some junior superstars something in the line, 'before you are born, I was a superstar...' Ritesh Deshmukh & Arshad Warsi did their roles well with the extra dose of enthusiasm. Jaaved Jaafri as the best of joker from the group impresses. Aashish Chaudhry disappoints in the first half but in second half he compensated for that, especially in the woman costume. (The problem for the four jokers were that they had to appear in different costumes and the fun whatever small created don't get associated with the stars as the make up man worked overtime to make it perfect.) The director tried to use the glamour of Mallika Sherawat as a selling point and half succeeds in the mission where the costume makers fancy their luck but without imagination. Talented Kangna didn't have much to do in the small role assigned to her. Overall performance is good, but fall short of very good tag.

Cinematography is colourful.

Fun is the theme of the music but the film lacks a solid hit number. All of the songs go just average to good not above. 'Jalebi Bai' is the song which I liked the best but the cinematography and choreography of the song could have been better to make it better. (Mixing of English to Hindi is a practice which spoils most lyrics of recent bollywood songs and here too is no difference.) Choreography of the songs is average.

Overall, Double Dhamaal is a mass fun which may create a lot of laughter in houseful theatres, but will only create half the ripples of Dhamaal. It is a light heart mindless comedy to relax after a heavy weekend. It may not be as good as the prequel but an ok to good movie which tickles you in frequent intervals. Remember, you don't have to take your brain to the theatre and you don't expect to fill the brain-space when returning home as well.