Twelve super sexy Priyankas. One Guinness book entry. One award winning director. And lots of publicity. Nothing can salvage this headache generator. Maybe the configuration of the stars was just not right!
So what's What's Your Rashee? all about?
Remember Mr Yogi on Doordarshan? Years back Mohan Gokhale had successfully lived this character on our telly screens - A NRI who comes to India to get married. And in each episode, Mr Yogi visits a different girl. Add a little bit of nonsensical, illogical twist of the Zodiac to this, and you'll get Gowariker's all new recipe for disaster – What's Your Rashee?
Harman (Hurman S.) Baweja plays Mr Yogesh Patel. He lives in Chicago. Studies MBA at the University, works part time at a firm and is a DJ by the night. His family lives in Mumbai. And when in trouble, they summon Yogesh back home.
Now Yogesh has to get married within 10 days. So, the boy decides to meet only 12 girls – one from each Rashee (Zodiac sign). Don't ask me why. Just go and get your hands on this book that Yogesh reads. Titled 'What's Your Rashee?' this book apparently preaches that women can be broadly categorised into 12 groups (the 12 zodiac signs). Impractical? Laughable? Wait! There's more!
So now Yogesh Patel, a seemingly normal and practical guy starts looking for a wife. And there's a story in every meeting. Filled with bittersweet emotions, every episode is meaningful. Some bring hope, some touch your heart and some are just plain funny or outrageous.
So why does the film give you a headache?
Try watching 12 episodes of Mr Yogi back to back in a crowded theatre, with the AC in full blast and oh did I forget to mention, at least one song in each episode. You will want to wash your face, fast forward bits and parts, pause it in the middle to make a cup of tea and so on and so forth. Unfortunately, with What's Your Rashee? you can't do any of those.
The film is over three-and-a-half hours long and has too many songs which the audience could have lived without. In fact the song and dance sequences however nicely done will begin to pi** you off towards the end.
After two hours of the first half, numerous songs (by that time you have given up counting) when you finally get to breathe fresh air, chances are you will also want to leave the building. Because deep down you know that when you go back, nothing much is going to change. Yogesh Patel will still meet the other six girls and something or the other will happen in each case. The only thing that might get you inside is the curiousity to know which girl he finally marries.
But even that, I must warn you, is not incentive enough. Primarily because the moral of the story makes the so called 'choice' irrelevant. It takes out the zing from what could have been the most attractive part of the film.
Other things you might look for in the film…
Most of us will start identifying with our Rashee involuntarily as soon as the film starts. We'll wait till that particular Priyanka appears on screen. To tell you the truth, most of us might just end up being disappointed. Every Priyanka is a different woman under different circumstances – it has nothing to do with her Rashee!
The second thing we'll all look out for is Priyanka. 12 roles. 12 different characters. And Priyanka puts life to each and every one of them. Whether it's the strong independent Libra girl or the meek, submissive 15-yr-old Capricorn, Priyanka brings out their mannerisms extremely well. Even in a song where all Priyankas dance together, she brings out their basic characteristic by doing the same step in 12 different ways. Awesome work!
Harman, poor Harman. Something must be awfully wrong with his Rashee. The boy is a good actor, has great screen presence, is good looking and his dance moves can surpass even Hrithik Roshan's. This film is all his. It's his story that we see on screen. He is the hero of this picaresque story. And hey, he justifies the character pretty well. He obviously can't be Mohan Gokhale (Mr Yogi will always be him), but Harman in his own way gives life to this sweet, simple, funny and at times pathetic Yogesh Patel. Despite all this and more, the actor has ended up with a hat-trick (2050, Victory and now this). SIGH!!
Rashee is no Jodhaa Akbar. It is not even Lagaan. So don't expect Gowariker to build lavish sets where it's not required. Rashee is more like a Swades in that way. It's about simple everyday people who live in simple flats in Mumbai and visit the marine drive or Haji Ali at the most. No Neeta Lulla designs or Tanishq special collection jewellery to steal your breath either.
At times one may feel that Gowariker is better off doing period films that require a big scale production. Everyday films are just not his cup of tea. The problem? He makes it too normal. Too 'everyday'. There's a tale. But there's no twist to it. There's a heart. But it doesn't have erratic BP. Rashee is too simple… almost mundane like everyday life.
VERDICT: It's too long. Too inane. And at times, very boring. Buy the DVD, in parts if possible but there's no way you can sit through it in the theatre.
RATING: 2/5
No comments:
Post a Comment