Directed by: Rumi Jaffrey
Produced by: Nitin Manmohan, Sangeeta Ahir, Prakash Chandnani, Sanjay Punamiya
Story, Screenplay and Dialogue: Momukshu Mudgal, Rumi Jaffrey
Starring: Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mugdha Godse
Rating: **1/2
Followed by some marketing antics, like special screening for Anna Hazare in his town Ralegan Siddhi, the latest Bollywood offering Gali Gali Chor Hai did manage to make some noise and anticipation for itself and bringing the wait to an end, the film released today. Let us find out through this review if it is worth a watch.
Image: Akshaye Khanna from Gali Gali Chor Hai Movie Still
Story:
Akshaye Khanna is a bank cashier, Bharat, who refuses to give away his house as office to a local MLA at the time of elections. As a result the angry MLA pulls some strings and police starts pressurizing Bharat through a fake case and asks him to come to court to claim an old table fan which was supposedly stolen from his house years ago. As for any common man in India the first step to bureaucracy starts with bribes, and in the process of taking the fan back, which ironically wasn’t his at all, Bharat ends up spending a fortune. And this is pretty much what makes the script of Rumi Jaffrey’s Gali Gali Chor Hai. However this political satire never falls short on coming up with funny situations and dialogues to make you laugh.
What worked:
First half of the film is extremely funny, single screen audience and the quintessential common man of India will find himself in accordance with various dialogues. Comic situations are as well in abundance. Bharat always gets the role of Hanuman because the role of protagonist, Shri Ram, is always reserved for MLA’s younger brother, Sattu Tripathi. And as Sattu as well holds grudges against Bharat, because of whole house-office-election thing, he cuts the chord of Hanuman in the running act and instead asks Sugreev to bring the Sanjeevani. Akshaye Khanna, Anu Kapoor, Murli Sharma, and Amit Mistry have all performed really well. A Veena Malik item song too is present for eye candy lovers.
What didn’t:
I found Second half’s pace a little slow. Also the comical chord that director struck in the first half was lost somewhere post interval. Shriya Saran and Mugdha Godse are thoroughly wasted; makers used them as showpieces. The film’s a little stretched toward the end, which makes the climax a little amusing.
Verdict:
The initial agenda with which makers set out to make this film was indeed achieved. Gali Gali Chor Hai got successful in conveying what happens to a Aam Aadmi when he takes on the system. We at FilmiTadka give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
