'Dum Maaro Dum' lacks 'dum' but is mildly entertaining

Film: Dum Maaro Dum (A)
Director: Rohan Sippy
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Prateik Babbar, Rana Dagubatti, Bipasha Basu, Aditya Pancholi, Govind Namdeo, Anaitha Nair
Rating: ***

 

A hot South phenomenon: check, Bollywood A-lister: check, critically acclaimed actor in a supporting role: check, hot item number: check, skin show and steamy scenes: check, controversial subject: check, hype factor: check check check.

 

If Arindam Chaudhari’s theory that a film that has all of the popular appeal factors will do well holds any ground, Dum Maaro Dum has got to be a winner. However, the film leaves a lot to be desired.

 

Lorry (Babbar) needs cash to finance his degree at an American University and to be with his sweetheart (Nair) who’s already there on a scholarship. His friend Ricky suggests a quick way to make the money and Lorry agrees to be a drug-mule. Joki (Dagubatti), a musician, is watching from the sidelines as Lorry packs his bags and prepares to take off. Joki seeks redemption for his ex-fiancée Zoe (Basu), a drug mule, who got sucked into the system by trying to save Lorry. Lorry gets grounded by ACP Vishnu Kamath (Bachchan) who is out to clean out the drug operations in Goa.  

 

What follows is Joki’s struggle to prove Lorry’s innocence and Kamath’s struggle to find Michael Barbossa, a much feared criminal whose real identity hides behind terror and murder.

 

Barbossa, who is holding an astronomical amount worth of drugs is an aide to Lorsa Biscuta (Pancholi), a Goan businessman who plays godfather to the many international drug lords operating in Goa. Assisted by Mercy (Muzammil) and Rane (Namdeo), Kamath sets out on a dangerous trail making equally dangerous enemies. Enter Zoe, who is now a Mona Darling to Biscuta’s Don. 

 

The plot is thick enough and the almost predictable twists and clichéd turns which could dilute the plot are executed well with a non-linear narrative. Sippy throws in a few sleek scenes to make it a good looking package.

 

So far, Dum Maaro Dum sounds like a decent recipe for an almost thrilling entertainer. What messes it all up is the cast. While we don’t expect much from the Bachchan scion, expectations were high from the other two male leads. Babbar has been lauded for his last two performances (Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na & Dhobi Ghat) and Dagubatti is a southern heart-throb (only a film old, but he’s promising, I was told). The male leads end up competing to deliver a terrible performance. I find it difficult to say whether Babbar’s flat, bland portrayal of an innocent boy is more cringe-worthy than stone-faced Dagubatti’s wannabe tough but softie at heart Joki. Basu hasn’t been the most emotive actress in Bollywood, and she lives up to the reputation. Among the supporting actors, Namdeo is particularly enjoyable as a sidekick to Kamath. Pancholi’s portrayal of the terrorising Goan drug mafia king-pin ends up looking like a tharkee, comical businessman who happens to have power by fluke.  

 

While bad performances and clichéd sub-plots dilute the essence of the film, Dum Maaro Dum manages to be entertaining in parts and is worth a watch simply because it’s a refreshing offering among the mediocre comedies like Thank You, FALTU and 3 Thay Bhai.

 

PS: What did the Goans find so offending in the film? If anything, it seems like a tourism promo!