Movie Review: Ghanchakkar (Hindi)

Emraan Hashmi-Vidya Balan starrer Ghanchakkar ran high on expectations prior to its release and rightly so for many reasons: Rajkumar Gupta, the director of Aamir and No One Killed Jessica, the lead actors' unconventional pairing which worked wonders for The Dirty Picture and finally the trailers and promotions (with the cast appearing in outlandish clothing) that promised something of a wacky romantic comedy. But it seems we have been taken for a ride!

Lazy and crazy!

Because the movie is nothing like the promos. And if Ghanchakkar has been met with mixed reactions, I would put the blame squarely on its misleading promotional strategy. A story about an expert lock-picker (Emraan Hashmi as Sanjay) losing his memory months after a bank heist, and in the process failing to recollect the location where he had stashed the loot, is an interesting idea all right. His accomplices (played brilliantly by Rajesh Sharma and Namit Das) are naturally livid and suspect him of trying to run away with their share. Eventually they stay at his home and unwittingly endure the idiosyncrasies of his loud-mouthed ultra-modern wife (Vidya Balan).

Rajkumar Gupta sets his crazy tragicomedy with just about a handful of characters (seven if you want the specifics!) and the atmosphere, devoid of usual escapist entertainment, needs some getting used to. By not resorting to any sort of slapstick laughs or vulgarity or your typical song-and-dance routines, the narrative focuses solely on the frustration of the protagonist who is on the brink of losing his sanity. And as Sanjay's misery hits the roof, trust becomes an issue. Can he count on his own wife? Or his best friend?

The tension explodes in a twisty open-ended climax and when the simplicity of the unravelling hits you, you cannot help but smile at its wackiness! Of course, the movie is not without its flaws. The pace takes its own sweet time and the wafer-thin plotline is stretched beyond limits. It could have worked much better as a short film or somesuch. Bolstered by first-rate performances from the cast, Ghanchakkar deserves applause for trying something new. Go in minus the hype and expectations, you are sure to come out surprised!