ATITHI TUM KAB JAOGE
A modern spiritual recall to the concept of Hrishida and Basuda cinema
by Vishal Verma

A Warner Bros Picture Presentation of a Wide Frames Films Production.

Producer: Amita Pathak
Co-Producer: Neelam Pathak Inspired by late Sharad joshi’s article ‘Tum Kab Jaoge Atithi’
Writer- Director: Ashwani Dhir
Genre: Comedy
Target Audience: General



Starring

Ajay Devgan...... Puneet
Konkona Sen Sharma...... Munmun
Paresh Rawal...... Lambodar Bajpai (a.k.a Chachaji)
Satish Kaushik………Producer
Akhilendra Mishra……………..Bhai
Sanjay Mishra…………………..Security Officer
Viju Khote………….actor







Technical Analysis

Warner Bros Pictures major summer offering should stuff its stockings in this exam month in Indian schools with a popular chocolate ad jargon ‘Pappu pass ho gaya’ . sappy in places with identified emotions and the Indian spirituality factor from the saying ‘Atithi Dev Bhava’ (Guests are the avatar of god) twined in this modern recall of Hrishida and Basu da the ‘papas’ of simple story tellers who always told stories reflecting the times and Indian values in the most touching and simple manner like in Khatta Meetha, Barwarchi, Golmaal, Choti Si Baat’ etc. this Paresh Rawal lead and Ashwini Dhir (One Two Three) helmed ‘guesty’ vehicle provides the comic a slick surface for a decent family outing in the story that posses quality family appeal.

Inspired from the noted Indian Hindi poet, writer, satirist late Sharad Joshi’s article ‘Tum Kab Jaoge Atithi’, writer director Ashwini Dhir smartly brings together many of the same selling points like in this changing times when you are busy with your routines and suddenly a visitor comes in without any info and asks you to adjust accordingly and in the meanwhile mixes comic strokes with some good messages about the magical power of a guest in Indian beliefs and the power of a family.

Paresh Rawal gets the opportunity to display his amusing wit with so ease and comfort, he farts in the film, gives his daily menu for lunch and dinner, forces the owners of the house Ajay and Konkana to sacrifice even the normal comfort of an air conditioner as he conquers their bedroom and at the same time gives gyan to them and their child on Indian values and tradition to the modern Indian family.
Ajay Devgan is commendable and Konkana is spot on in the movie which rides primarily on its emotional inputs and later on the spiritual angle where Aswini manages to capture the Indian heart by twining the popular Ganesh Chaturtthi festival with the guest coming thingie that gives the movie its much needed lift as it starts getting lost in those unwanted episodes like the police raid on the cheap hotel, Paresh Rawal’s too much of farting and a lazy start.

The entire mahurat shot where Paresh irritates Viju khote and Ajay’s reaction after Satish Kaushik’s outburst is a highlight along with the child taking gyan from Paresh and doing parikrama of the parents is another touching moment.

The climax is smartly done. The movie also scores in its technical finesse which allows the flick to score 3 out of 5.



The Story

Puneet (Ajay Devgan) and Munmun (Konkona), a married couple living in Mumbai. Their lives take an interesting turn when a distant relative, Chachaji (Paresh Rawal), turns up unannounced at their doorstep from a far-off village. The guest overstays his welcome, so much so that the exasperated couple comes up with various ploys to hasten his departure.




Promotion

Promotion in indoor/ outdoor has been decent. And honestly will work for the film slowly and gradually.



Business Analysis

This modern Hrishida and Basu da recall carries those popular bollywood elements and with the spirituality angle thrown in and a little luck, ‘ATKJ’ may show some figures despite the exam period. Nevertheless post theatre prospects are more rosy.



Other Credits

Associate Producer: Sanjeev Joshi. Cassettes and CD's on Junglee Music. Singers: Amit Mishra, Sukhwinder Singh and Ajay Jhingran. Lyricist: Irshad Kamil. Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty. Cinematography: Aseem Bajaj. Choreography: Raju Khan, Ravi Botalje and Ahmed Khan. Action: Jai Singh. Editor: Dharmendra Sharma. Screenplay: Tushar Hiranandani, Robin Bhatt and Ashwani Dhir. Sound: Subhash Sahu. Publicity Designs: Marching Ants. Media Awareness: Universal Communications. Reviewed at PVR, Phoniex Mills, Mumbai on March 04, 2010. 

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