So, how does one describe DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL? Let's just say that the comic caper promises laughter and entertainment unlimited. Expectations run high as you wait for DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL to unleash, but let's assure you one thing: What you'd achieve is umeed se dugna!
Put your hands together, roll out the red carpet and blow the conch shells for one of the best comic capers to hit the screens in recent times. The film charters the same path as producer Firoz A. Nadiadwala and director Vikram Bhatt's AWARA PAAGAL DEEWANA, but the difference lies in the fact that DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL is a step ahead in terms of content, light sequences, performances and canvas.
If the year has witnessed the revival of the comic genre thanks to the success of KYAA KOOL HAI HUM, MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA, NO ENTRY and GARAM MASALA, it only cements further with DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL. Leave your thinking caps behind and we are sure, DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL is sure to make you deewana with its non-stop paagalpan entertainment.
DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL begins as a sweet romance between a boy-next-door, Karan [Shahid Kapoor], and the cynosure of the entire college, Tanya [Rimi Sen]. But the romance is short-lived since she happens to witness a murder [Om Puri, in a dual role] one fateful night. She's completely oblivious to the fact that the codeword to the secret formula is now with her in the form of a toy-parrot. The slain scientist's twin brother [Om Puri], a don, and his evil son want the codeword at any cost.
Tanya migrates to Dubai and even changes her name. She is Natasha now. Completely smitten by Tanya, Karan decides to trace her whereabouts and enlists the aid of a handsome investigator, Rocky [Akshay Kumar]. But Rocky ends up falling in love with her at first sight.
Meanwhile, Tanya's physically disabled friend, Sanju [Suniel Shetty], also has a soft corner for her and tries thwarting Rocky's attempts at getting close to Tanya. But the list of Tanya's suitors doesn't end here: There's another physically disabled person, Tommy [Paresh Rawal], who wants to marry Tanya.
The plot thickens as Rocky, Sanju and Tommy try to impress Tanya, by running down the other. The story takes a turn when the industrialist Tanya was engaged to [Aftab Shivdasani, in a cameo] surfaces in the end. Whom does Tanya choose? And what happens to the don and the secret formula?
It isn't the first time that someone has attempted to remake the immensely likable and successful THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY [1998; Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller. Rajiv Rai tried to interpret the story his way as PYAAR ISHQ AUR MOHABBAT, but didn't succeed. But Vikram Bhatt borrows the basic plot from the Hollywood flick and gives it a new color and feel altogether.
In fact, the two halves of DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL are a study in contrast and that's one of the prime reasons why it works. The first hour abounds in howlarious moments, with a dash of action and glamour giving the film that extra sheen.
In fact, the film starts off as a boy-next-door-meets-glam-babe story, but with the introduction of Akshay Kumar in the narrative, the film reaches at an all-time high. The film succeeds in not just making you laugh, but howl as Akshay, Paresh Rawal, Johny Lever and Vijay Raaz bring the house down in Dubai. In fact, at the end of the first hour, what you carry out of the auditorium are moments that'd be difficult to erase for a long, long time.
Vikram Bhatt changes gears in the next hour. From a comic caper, it changes tracks to a love story… sorry, multiple love stories. And though the pace drops at times and the comic quotient isn't as strong as the first hour, the outcome is thoroughly enjoyable as well. The dance competition between Akshay and Shahid, as the two vie for the attention of the same woman, is among the highpoints of the enterprise.
The portions involving the dog in the film, first involving Akshay and then Shahid, is bound to bring the house down. There's a lot of cinematic liberty there, but come on, DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL never claimed to be any sort of path-breaking cinema.
The climax is where the real action is, literally! The stunts in the sand dunes of Dubai leave you awe-struck as the men battle it out with the thugs. Even the finale, when the girl chooses her Mr. Right, is very interesting.
DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL is, without doubt, one of Vikram Bhatt's finest efforts. The director wasn't in form in some of his previous attempts [ELAAN, JURM], but he bounces back with renewed vigor and hits a boundary. Laughter is the most difficult emotion to capture on celluloid and Vikram does that with élan.
Anu Malik's music is of the popular variety, very much in sync with the mood of the film. 'Meri Jaane Jigar' and Akshay's introductory number 'Chakh Le' are two numbers that get a major boost thanks to the expert picturization as well. The dance competition track ['Aisi Umar Mein'] is another number to look forward to. But why did the makers chop off 'Maar Sutya' after the initial mukhda?
Kiran Kotrial's screenplay is tight, offering enough punches to the entertainment seeking moviegoer. Neeraj Vora and Abbas Hirapurwala's dialogues are first-rate, especially those delivered by Akshay, Paresh and Johny. Pravin Bhatt's cinematography is top class. The locales of Dubai and U.S.A. are a visual treat. Action scenes [Abbas Ali Moghul] deserve distinction marks. The climax stunts are simply breath-taking.
DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL belongs to Akshay Kumar. The actor goes on a rampage yet again and delivers a performance that's not at par but better than that in MUJHSE SHAADI KAROGI and GARAM MASALA. It wouldn't be wrong to state that the actor's performance is one of the mainstays of the film and will contribute enormously to the repeat viewing.
Shahid Kapoor underplays his part beautifully. While Akshay has a mass appealing role, Shahid is the sober type, the typical lover boy… and he is a complete natural. Not once does he make an effort to go overboard, living the on-screen character with precision. Also, he is simply electrifying in the dance number.
Rimi Sen is competent, but she needs to do something seriously about her styling. Otherwise, she does her part well. Suniel Shetty is a revelation. The actor displays his comic side like a complete pro. Actually, he should continue doing roles that go beyond his action image.
Paresh Rawal is a scene stealer yet again. His sequence with Suniel Shetty at the music video shoot is amongst the most memorable sequences of the enterprise. Johny Lever is superb, especially in the sequence when Akshay cooks up an alibi about Rimi, when Johny and Shahid set foot in Dubai.
Om Puri is excellent as the don. Vijay Raaz is truly funny as Akshay's sidekick. Suresh Menon is fantastic as the South Indian son of the don. Asrani and Rakesh Bedi don't get ample scope.
Aftab Shivdasani is hardly there for one scene. Viveik Anand Oberoi, as the sutradhar, is the only blot in an otherwise fantastic film. He tries to do an Amitabh Bachchan, but falls flat on his face.
On the whole, DEEWANE HUYE PAAGAL is a thoroughly enjoyable entertainer that works big time not just as a comic caper, but also for the gloss, music and stunts. At the box-office, it's a sure-shot hit!