~~~Pappu's love story~~~. Review on Pappu Can't Dance Saala

Vinay Pathak was my sole reason for watching this movie. The actor had impressed me earlier with his unique style and performance. The name of the movie was giving a feel of a romantic or musical comedy so I didn't hesitate to get up early (read 10 am) and rush to the theater for the morning show.

Pappu Can't Dance Saala is a story of Vidyadhar Acharya (Vinay Pathak) who recently came to Mumbai and working as a medical representative. He finds difficult to adjust to the speed and values of Mumbai, the city and struggling it in his little ways. It is a story of Mehak Malavde (Neha Dhupia) as well, where the girl left the conservative family and village to make it big in the dream city of Mumbai, but as of now struggling as a chorus dancer. In Mumbai, accommodation is the first priority and both of them find their shelters in a building which is exclusively reserved for sales tax officers. Thanks to their different characters and values they soon start fighting each other. Now, it is a love story, you know how....love, hate, misunderstandings and adjustments...

The movie had a terrific first half. Vinay Pathak simply excels in the first half. Neha Dhupia too was impressive. The writing is very good where it has created some interesting situations and some brilliant dialogues. It gave a promise of an excellent film, but my writing mind was thinking that don't they already come to a climax there with the tea? Then, I thought, probably the writer has something else in mind which can lift the movie to another level which I can't imagine. Sadly the second half slows down the procedures moves in the pretty commercial direction, stale and cold. The writer has let down the plot and the director in the second half. The writer tried to add an additional layer to the story but it simply didn't work. If the story moves slow in the second hour, only a super climax could have lifted it to the first half's glory, but here the climax was pretty average, which made sure that the film don't reach the height it could have reached. Despite this, it is a good effort, if we compare it to many meaningless movies around where at least it has a very good first half and an average second half!

The movie is more close to Chalo Dilli in its content. Meeting of the two worlds, appreciating beauty and respect each other. In fact I can appreciate Chalo Dilli better after watching this movie. Then, it is too late where I already told my say.

Vinay Pathak is quite good in this movie. It is a joy to observe Vinay Pathak acting his skills out when it is demanded by a script and he did exactly the same, did his role well, though the role was demanding only in the first half. If anyone will celebrate this movie, it is Neha Dhupia. Neha have a good reason to smile for this author backed role. The director (Saurabh Shukla) knows her limitations and he covered Neha well in that account, means to make the performance of Neha impressive and competitive. After a point, the movie focuses completely on the leading pair to leave the sub caste unimportant. The only other actor who made an impression is Rajat Kapoor. The actor is in full bloom and I wished he had a more important role. Never mind, even in this small role as the choreographer he makes his mark. Naseeruddin Shah has been wasted in an unimportant role and Sanjay Mishra was there just as a guest.

Cinematography of the movie is good.

Some songs are very good where some are good. Choreography is average.

Very good first half and performance by Vinay Pathak & Neha Dhupia are the positives of the movie where weak screenplay in the second half the major flaw of the film.

The movie is a good one time watch but it may not reach the expectation you set in the first half. There is no great dance to begin with, so what is the big deal, if Pappu can't dance? By the way, do I have to say that Vidhya is been called as Pappu in the movie?

My rating : 2.75 stars