Review: 'Mumbai Mast Kallander' moves at a small-town pace
Though Mumbai is the underlying theme of the film, the story could have worked anywhere else in India. In fact, the Mumbai connection seems unnecessary and forced.
Film: Mumbai Mast Kallander (U)Director: Aman MihaniCast: Mohsin, Muzzi, Shilpa Shukla, Teenu, Rajesh Vivek, Shanker Sachdev, Ashraf-ul-Haq, Rajender SethiRating: **So Chak De’s bitchy Bindiya Naik (Shukla) is back as Rhea in Mumbai Mast Kallander. The one recognisable face is joined by a wannabe actress friend Maggie (Teenu). Rhea runs a beauty salon owned by a certain Mr Raheja (Sethi).There are also the village simpleton brothers Ram (Mohsin) and Shyam (Muzzi), petty criminals aspiring for Don-like status. Their dreams bring them to Mumbai, where they are hired to work as henchmen for Bade Bhai (Vivek), a spiritually inclined, yoga-practising ringleader.The story revolves around the kidnapping of Raheja’s son Adi, a spoilt brat. Raheja wants him kidnapped to bring him in line, Rhea and Maggie want to kidnap him to extort money from Raheja, and Adi wants himself kidnapped to pay off a debt. It may sound convoluted, but the introduction of characters in the beginning makes it easier to follow the plot.But the story moves so slowly that you look around to see if anyone else is yawning with you. The whole first half is used up just to introduce the characters and their desperate situations.Though Mumbai is the underlying theme of the film, the story could have worked anywhere else in India. In fact, the Mumbai connection seems unnecessary and forced.
The cast tries hard to show its desperation as go-getters in Mumbai but fails miserably. The director is so chary in exploring the chemistry among the lead pairs that much of the romance is seen only in dream sequences of songs.Of the lot, the Amitabh-crazy don Shahenshah steals the show. Over the top yet funny, he mouths Bachchan’s dialogues with tears in his eyes and a gun in hand. Shukla should explore her range with stronger, more challenging roles. Teenu as Maggie is clearly overacting and her dream (in the film) of winning an Oscar looks like a questionable goal in real life. Male lead Mohsin’s acting skills are impressive, while Muzzi has good screen presence.Debutant director (and producer) Aman Mihani has made a forgettable attempt with Mumbai Mast Kallander. Reasons to go catch this one in a theatre are too few and far between.You could wait for its television release without missing too much.