Review: 'Patiala House' is a big fat Punjabi wedding of cricket and Bollywood

Film: Patiala House (U)

Director: Nikhil Advani
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma and others
Rating: ***

 

Autocratic patriarch Gurtej aka Bhaujiof the Kahlon clan in London’s Southall is scarred by the racist attacks in England. Over the years Bhauji’shatred for the goras has only amplified because of which he turns Southall into a self-sufficient mini-Punjab for all the Sikhs in pardes.

 

The family members are subdued, so much so that no one dares to utter a misplaced word before Bhauji. The members all vent their frustration on Bhauji's eldest son Parghat Singh Kahlon aka Gattu (Kumar), who was forced to give up a bright cricketing career because Bhauji wouldn’t let the chap play for England. If only Gattu had stood up for himself then, the rest ponder.

 

At 34, however, life throws Gattu a second chance, which he is coerced into taking up by cousins who see Gattu as the only way out of Bhauji’s tyrannical rule in Patiala House. Bubbly Simran (Sharma) plays the driving force behind Gattu’s decisions and also his love interest.

 

After a string of puerile, hee-haw comedies like De Dhana Dhan, Khatta Meetha, Action Replayy, and Tees Maar Khan, Kumar has made a wise choice with Patiala House. You can see the resurrection of Hindi cinema’s original Khiladi as he puts up a fine performance as the restrained Gattu, a talented pace bowler. It's after a long time indeed that you do not see Kumar jumping all over the place, cracking lame jokes. It’s a welcome change.

 

Director Nikhil Advani injects so much drama into Patiala House that it has the power to moisten your eyes at times. Having co-written the story with Anvita Dutt Guptan, Advani brings out the best in Kumar as well, something we haven’t seen in a while. Much of the action comes in the lead-up to the highly predictable climax. But it’s a delight to watch cricket stars like Andrew Symonds, Graham Gooch and Kieron Pollard.

 

Sharma is chirpy and endearing as always, not very different from her last year’s super-hit turn as Shruti Kakkar in Band Baaja Baaraat. The cousins, who include rapper Hard Kaur, are all lovable, but none is effective enough to leave a mark. Kapoor is domineering, but all the singing and dancing at the big fat Punjabi wedding in the house brings out the fun person in Bhauji. Wouldn’t returning to India have been a wiser choice than changing the whole of Southall? This question bothers you every time Bhauji is being difficult. Kapadia is impeccable as the mother torn between her husband and son. Oh so filmi!

 

For a Bollywood- and cricket-crazy country, Patiala House seems like a dream that marries both off with aplomb... patialvi style.