Bachke Rehna Re Baba – loaded with entertaining moments

Rating:- **

If you have an appetite for masala flicks which throw logic to the winds, chances are that you may like BACHKE REHNA RE BABA for its sheer entertainment value.

Director Govind Menon follows the same path that David Dhawan followed at a point of time and made a success of his career. BACHKE REHNA RE BABA is aimed, out and out, at the masses/frontbenchers. There's skin show in abundance [courtesy Mallika Sherawat], ample glamour [Rekha], two funsters [Paresh Rawal, Satish Shah] and situations that drive you nuts.

In a nutshell, the director and his team of writers have one thing clear on their agenda: Entertain the viewer, no matter what!

Leave your thinking caps at home before you buy the ticket to this sex-comedy and you'd not feel disappointed. As a film that doesn't test your intelligence, BACHKE REHNA RE BABA works fine.

When it comes to conning millionaires, the aunt-niece team of Rukmini [Rekha] and Padmini/Paddu [Mallika Sherawat] are real pros. First, Rukmini leads them to the marriage path. Then Padmini lures them into seduction... and a hefty divorce settlement!

After that, it's on to the next victim.

Rukmini and Padmini play the games with a Punjabi big-shot [Paresh Rawal] initially, and then with a Sindhi entrepreneur (Satish Shah) settled in Mauritius.

The one rule that must not be broken is never ever to fall in love, but lo, Padmini loses her heart to Raghu [Karan Khanna], a rich restaurant-owner.

Before long chaos sets in. There's a dead body to tackle. What’s more, the jilted Punjabi businessman lands up uninvited. Padmini feels torn between her aunt and lover now turned husband…

Director Govind Menon borrows heavily from director David Mirkin's comic caper HEARTBREAKERS [2001; starring Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt]. And the Indianized version does tickle your funny bone at places.

Menon merges liberal doses of sex and comedy in the narrative, but the glue that holds the film [in most parts] is the choice of actors to carry off the roles. The execution of a few comic sequences does stand out. What’s more, the film is also high on the sex quotient. However, there are times when the comedy falls flat.

Anu Malik’s music is in sync with the times. 'Sharafat Chhod' [Mallika's introduction] and 'Tera Husn' are two erotic tracks that have been filmed imaginatively. The title track is also foot-tapping. Cinematography [Thomas Xavier] is eye-pleasing, with the lensman doing justice to the babes as well as the beaches [of Mauritius].

BACHKE REHNA RE BABA belongs to Rekha, who delivers another knockout comedic punch as the protective mausi. Her outfits and makeup are exemplary. Mallika Sherawat may not be great shakes as an actor, but the lass oozes tremendous sex appeal.

Paresh Rawal doesn't get much scope in the first half, but stands out in the latter half. Satish Shah is outstanding, handling the role of a Sindhi tycoon with precision. Karan Khanna needs to loosen in front of the camera and also work on his physique.

On the whole, BACHKE REHNA RE BABA is a masala entertainer aimed at the masses.