Movie Review: Patiala House

Director: Nikhil Advani
Producer: Bhushan Kumar
Mukesh Talreja
Krishan Kumar
Twinkle Khanna
Zoeb Springwala
Cinematography: Santosh Thundiyil
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hard Kaur, Prem Chopra

C: Ek Baar Chalta Hai

2011 has brought in a lot of excitement. But one of the most exciting and awaited event of this year is the ICC Cricket World Cup … Movies based on the world cup is inevitable … Nikhil Advani combines the excitement of cricket with the melodrama of a family nok-jhok. This is probably a good way for the producer to make an impression in the box office.

Introducing to you Patiala House as a joint Sikh family, consisting of sons, daughters, ghar jamais and cousins, homing various talents. Unfortuntely, none of them could live their dreams, reason being the bigoted and adament Rishi Kapoor.

Times change, people also change but Gurtej Singh Khalon aka Bauji (Rishi Kapoor) wasn’t made out of the changing material ..The movie is about Bauji developing hatred against the goras after a horrid incident of his mentor (Prem Chopra) getting killed under a racist attack … This triggered a sense of deep pride and bauji started fighting for the cause of Indians residing in Southall, finally making it an Indian friendly country.

Pargat Singh Khalon aka Gattu (Akshay Kumar), then a kid, knew only one way and that was his bauji way. Puppet like, he follows his baujis orders instead of following his heart- being a pace bowler for the England Cricket team. Gattu, supressing his desires, is content taking care of his Bauji’s provisional stores. The younger generation of Patiala House, holds him responsible for their individual sacrifices.

Anushka Sharma aka Simran, a chirpy and energitic young girl, along with her brother Zee, wittness Gattu losing himself and with the combined effort of the entire Patiala House, gets him to join the England Cricket Team, against his Bauji’s wishes.

Patiala House, in every possible way tries hiding the truth from Bauji until the cover is blown by Gattu’s brother. This news didn’t go well with Bauji which in turn led to him disowning Gattu. Soon the father realizes that his son was at such a stage where the entire British nation is dependant on him for their victory.
Nikhil did a pretty impressive job on the direction front. The film consisted of various emotions in the right proportion. The Cricket cast was very real with Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs, Kieron Pollard and the legend Nasir Hussain making special appearances. The cricket scenes wasn’t as thrilling as Laagan or Iqbal, but it did serve the purpose. Manan Sagar’s editing was good but could have been better. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy’s music was apt for the film, Akshay Kumar was very convincing as a cricketer, Anushka Sharma, a natural actor that she is, did a brillant job, not to forget the flawless acting of Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia combined.

The film is over all an eye watering yet fun-filled family drama.

Janta janarthan ka kya grade hai????

A: Wah! Kya Film Hai :) , B: Paisa Vasool , C: Ek Baar Chalta Hai , D: Bakwaas , E: Poora time Waste :(