Andhra Pradesh

For the multiplex audience

Of choices: A still from ‘Sorry Bhai!’

Film: Sorry Bhai!

Cast: Chitrangda Singh, Sharman Joshi, Sanjay Suri, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani

Director: Onir

Of late Bollywood has been entering forbidden territories with amazing regularity. Here Director Onir, who made us cry with “My Brother Nikhil”, wants us to smile with a story that many middle class Indians would find contemptuous. A brother falls in love with his elder brother’s fiancé. Some years back such subjects were considered ideal for an offbeat telefilm. Now they are made for the multiplex audience.

Onir follows the latest trend: take the audience down the illicit route, wrap the plot in laughter and sell it in the name of being progressive. And as always, a foreign setting shuts up the need to address societal issues. Over the years Bollywood hunks have had plenty of choice in girls. In this movie, Onir twists some staple ingredients of masala movies to suit the multiplex tastes, and it is the girl who is in command and gets her way. The guys are a little too confused to make up their mind!

No complaints, but for heaven’s sake give us some rationale for these switches in morals.

As the story unfolds in lush Mauritius, a girl and a guy who have known each other for five years are about to get married. The boy’s family is invited from India, but as the girl gets to know the family members, she realises she is made for the younger brother. Reason: The elder one is no longer the idealist she knew five years back in college. Well, they say love knows no reason, but still, the build-up to her change of mind is too sketchy and sudden.

To his credit, Onir has kept the surface frothy and the mood leisurely so that you hardly feel like going into details like the feasibility of the plot. Add to it some well-thought out lines, where the double meaning strikes well above the belt! Then he has got some competent actors to make the flimsy look real. Shabana Azmi as the mother, whose values come in conflict with the choice of her sons, has given an effortless performance. Her synergy with Chitrangda Singh takes the traditional ‘saas-bahu’ relationship to the girl-talk level! In Shabana’s company, Boman Irani is back in form after some forgettable performances. Sharman Joshi has proved once again that he is capable of increasing his appetite with the size of the pie he is offered. Sharman is appealing - one of those quiet types who, given a chance, talk a lot. Sanjay Suri is required to be subdued, and we know he specialises in it. Chitrangda is the centre of attraction, and she has taken to Aliyaah with flair. In fact, she has picked up from where she left off in Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi. Watchable!

ANUJ KUMAR

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