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Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Satish Shah, Bipasha Basu
Director: Sajid Khan
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 1/5
Our brain isn’t a detachable object that we just put in our closet on a hanger and go then head out to watch a film. So it doesn’t really make sense when it’s said ‘leave your brains at home,’ to watch a particular film. Figuratively, it’s meant that ‘too much’ attention and calculation shouldn’t be executed on mind-less comedies otherwise they aren’t as funny as they’re supposed to be. Bollywood has had a track record of such films from the No.1 hits of Govinda to the now Akshay Kumar (or so in his recent past years).
Govinda is missed and Kumar needs to step up his game, especially after delivering comic blockbusters such as Hera Pheri & Garam Masala. Now, let’s talk about this old trend of Bollywood that takes it up quite a notch with Fox Studios’ Humshakals. There was the Seeta Geeta, Ram Aur Shyam this time its Ram aur Ram aur Ram along with Riteish, Ritiesh, Riteish and Saif, Saif, Saif. Yes literally, if you can add them up we have 9 main leads who are the same 3 people – so a triple role by 3 individuals – the first time for any Bollywood film!
A good comic always knows how to accept his faults and joke on himself – Sajid Khan very boldly accepted that Himmatwala was definitely a fault and even joked upon it in the film. Funny moment – definitely accepted! Besides one or two other moments, especially the scene where each of the lead actors; Khan, Deshmukh & Kapoor act as women and seduce their counterparts, who in turn are them (their humshakals), not much was available to actually commend on comic timing or even slightly funny. Sajid Khan goes all over with this repetitive directive venture of trying to be funny and again fails miserably.
Humshakals revolves around the story of Ashok (Saif Ali Khan), a rich fart and his friend Kumar (Riteish Deshmukh) who just follows him around. Their evil mama (like we have never heard of those) has an evil plan to take over the entire wealth of Ashok. So he along with his evil scientist friend turns them into dogs, kind of literally as well as figuratively. In addition to being sent to a mental hospital, where they find their Humshakals, Ashok & Kumar (same names as the originals) they find another set of Humshakals created by the evil scientist. So it’s three times the evil script of unbearable comedy and acting.
Just when you thought that Saif Ali Khan has proved himself in all sorts of films as a lead actor, he does it again – takes the proof away from us. His comedy was forced and not convincing especially the parts where he is portraying the role of a mental character. Ram Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh do a better job than Khan and are truly funny at some points. The not-so-leading ladies are there to look stunning and they do just that! Chunkey Pandey does what he does best – gives us those few minutes of laughs for the screen presence he’s given. Satish Shah was missed and makes a good comeback with his role as the psycho warden officer.
As per my introductory statement, for Humshakals, you should leave your brains as well as yourselves completely at home and rather watch reruns of Kyunki Saas bhi Kabhi Bahu thi. The film can genuinely receive a single star for the minimal comedy provided by Ram Kapoor and Ritiesh Deshmukh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BVqi-zha2A&feature=kp
