Ghanchakkar

Remember that guy from Khosla Ka Ghosla – Munjal? Khurana’s (Boman Irani) sidekick / Secretary.  The guy who does the dirty work for Khurana.  For those who aren’t aware of who played that character (and I am quite certain that most people in India wouldn’t know his name) it is a guy called Rajesh Sharma – one of the finest supporting actors in India currently.  This time around he plays Pandit.

Pandit looks like your average Munimji (book keeper) from Zaveri Bazaar in his safari suit and pouch that is held under his armpit.  He, along with Idris (Namit Das) decides to approach Sanjay Atre (Emraan Hashmi) who is a thirty something ex-con with a specialty of cracking safes.  Why do Pandit and Idris need him? Because they plan to run a bank job for Rs.300 million ($5 million these days).

 

Sanjay has given up his life of crime and lives with his over the top wife Neetu (Vidya Balan) who spends her time interpreting what is latest in the world of fashion through the latest magazines.  The result is a Punjabi woman who looks like a clown most of the time.  But that being kept aside, she does want a new bigger house and therefore allows Sanjay to run one last job.

 

The job is done successfully with some hiccups.  The trio agree to meet 3 months later @ Sanjay’s place to split the spoils. They do so only to find out that Sanjay has been hit by a car in the interim and is now suffering from retrograde amnesia.  The rest of the story is about how they trace their steps backwards to get their hands back on the money – a job that is much tougher than stealing the bank.

 

Rajkumar Gupta’s earlier movie was an intense drama about a case that had the entire country up in arms (read Jessica Lal).  Ghanchakkar is a dramatic transition from that perspective.  And one that Gupta doesn’t go through very smoothly with.  While he gets most of the male cast to do their job, Vidya Balan sticks out like a sore thumb.  The sad part is that I say this not because of her outfits but her inability to put on a Punjabi accent.

 

Emraan Hashmi – and I will say this always – is one of the most under rated actors of our time.  Give him a half decent director and he will deliver the goods.  Gupta is definitely much more than just half decent.  Namit Das is as usual hyperactive and his the right casting for the role of Idris.  The sad part continues to be finishing – editing, consistency, attention to detail etc. etc. etc. (Sigh!). Fun watch but maybe just once.  5 on 10.

 

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClncY3AQxeg