With ‘Partner’ David Dhawan returns to filmmaking after 20 months, rejuvenated, reinvigorated and reconditioned to the new demands of the audience.
Partner
Direction: David Dhawan
Cast: Govinda, Salman Khan, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif, Rajpal Yadav
Rating:***
With ‘Partner’ David Dhawan returns to filmmaking after 20 months, rejuvenated, reinvigorated and reconditioned to the new demands of the audience. And yet he retains his typical David style with laugh-a-minute gags, saucy and sassy dialogues (Sanjay Chell) and songs that look like they came straight out of a comic book. Now, if only he could let go of his toilet humour.
Beginning with an animated child who grows to become the audacious Prem (Salman Khan) who as 'love guru' can get any man hitched with the lady of his choice it then zeroes in on Bhaskar (Govinda).
He is the country bumpkin type who has fallen in love with his boss, the amazingly pretty and rich Priya (Katrina Kaif) and doesn't know how to get to get anywhere with her. Prem teaches him everything right from dressing and dancing to minute honeymoon details while himself pursuing intrepid photo journalist and single mother Naina (Lara Dutta).
There is as much fun in the teaching process as in the learning. When Bhaskar breaks into a 'Sarkailo khatiya' dance watched unbelievingly by Prem who then teaches him how to move to ‘Just Chill’, it is pure fun. In fact that is one of the strengths of the film.
It takes the on-screen images of both the actors and then plays with them. So when Govinda is the nerd, he brings with him a thousand memories and when Salman plays the suave and smooth-tongued man-about-town, you instantly know where this is going. Take for example a couple of scenes in which Salman strips of his jacket and shirt while coolly smirking a 'I'm known for this' grin.
The laughter never stops even when a Don's (Rajpal Yadav) character is incorporated or for the brief interlude when Naina is peeved with Prem because she thinks he fixes up sleazy one night stands in his guise as 'love guru'.
Salman Khan and Govinda dressed in multi hued clothes that somehow don't look crass but add colour to the characters, are in great form. So well do they play against each other while retaining their own identities entirely that they are a treat to watch. This is a wonderful comeback vehicle for Govinda and Salman Khan gamefully shares equal screen space with him.
The girls have comparatively less to do but hold their own. Lara Dutta is maturing into a competent comic actress and Katrina is slowly getting the hang of acting.
The music by Sajid Wajid fits into the comic situations quite well and aided by some superlative dancing by all the actors comes across with much gusto. The best news though is that David Dhawan is back where he belongs, on the marquee.
indumirani@gmail.com
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