Film review: 'Ghanchakkar feels like a rushed effort

Film: Ghanchakkar
Cast: Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma and Namit Das
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Rating: **

Ghanchakkar opens on the right note. We are introduced to an odd ball couple - Sanju (Emraan) and Neetu (Vidya) who are polar opposites (his tied up hair and casual attire v/s her loud jarring 80's ensembles) living under the same roof. What starts as a heist to loot a bank in the middle of the night and share the prize money three months later ends up being the biggest adventure of their life.

Pandit (Rajesh) and Idris (Namit) are Sanju's accomplices who demand their share of the loot on the due date. But the story takes a serious twist when they realise Sanju is suffering from memory loss and unable to identify the place where he hid the money! From this point on, Ghanchakkar's script takes a bumpy roller-coaster ride.

While the premise is interesting, Gupta could have spent more time doctoring the screenplay. The second half springs up many loopholes that are glaring in your face with discrepancies. Sanju and Neetu's chemistry, especially their banter in the early first half seems forced. 

Pandit and Idris who have equal importance and footage in the story line are reduced to the side as the story progresses with its sketchy pace. Thankfully, we are with these characters from the beginning, rooting for them to triumph and deliver something extraordinary. Unfortunately their charm wears out soon enough.

Emraan look at ease even when he's wearing the obnoxious polka dotted night suit gifted by his OTT wife. There is a certain comfort level he seems to have reached with his approach towards playing any character. Similarly Vidya goes all out to play Neetu. Be it the guitar plastered on her short dress, or her style of holding the fork while digging into a plate of fried rice, Balan takes a risk that pays off. Both Rajesh Sharma and Namit Das are perfect candidates for these roles. Their camaraderie and banter is infectious.

The soundtrack isn't memorable, but the background score gives the film the right mood. Technically the film might have the right tone, but there is something amiss in its fabric. Ghanchakkar has a few memorable scenes, but on the whole it feels like a rushed effort.

Watch the trailer here: