Review: Not much beyond Shah Rukh's name

Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu (U/A)
Director: Makarand Vinayak Deshpande
Cast: Pritika Chawla, Sanjay Dadheech, Choyoti Ghosh, Afzal Khan, Nagesh Bhosale, Makarand Deshpande
Rating: **

Theatre actor Deshpande is often seen playing the local goon with that mischievous streak to his personality. And Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu, whose story, direction and screenplay are credited to him, is no different.

Coming from a theatre personality, Shahrukh Bola Khoobsurat Hai Tu is clearly an experimental film that explores the magic that Bollywood and its stars have on its fans from the lowest classes. It’s there in the title, and repeated incessantly throughout the length of the film, the influential power that Shah Rukh Khan has on Laali (Chawla), a flower vendor.

Laali and her folks are unable to decide if she is beautiful or she has turned beautiful after Khan’s out-of-the-blue compliment at a traffic signal. Never mind the reason, even neighbour and book vendor John (Dadheech) falls in love with the suddenly ‘khoobsurat’ Laali.

There is a love triangle. Remember Khan’s Devdas? Shahrukh Bola... has the Devdas John and Paaro Laali while hooker Champa (Ghosh) is Chandramukhi. But our Paro is not crazy about Devdas while Chandramukhi will get laid, beaten up, and even kill for his attention.

The film moves at a dreamy pace and has many a superfluous character, the most awkwardly sticking out being Deshpande himself as the psycho bhai Salim Hatela. Deshpande is clearly smitten by Khan’s voodoo and you can see Deshpande’s vision unfolding on Laali’s face.

Chawla and Dadheech’s acting skills stay with you. Ghosh’s prostitute act personifies unrequited love and revenge impeccably. Apart from Khan’s name, the film has nothing much to boast about, but that does not undermine the intention of showcasing the power of stardom on the masses. It’s plainly overdone, however, to say the least. A more subtle approach may well have had an impact, making space for itself in the cluttered Bollywood.

Perhaps it's best to wait until the film airs on television. A trip to the multiplex may just not be worth the time or money.