BADMAASH COMPANY
Essentially a low-rent and less hearty ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ or any ‘heist’ or ‘colour of money’ stuff that lacks originality and innovations but ‘bleeds’ with ‘style’ and quality acting.
by Vishal Verma

A Yash Chopra Presentation of an YRF films production.

Producer: Yash Chopra & Aditya Chopra
Story – Helmer: Parmeet Sethi (debut)
Genre: Con drama
Target Audience: General



Starring

Shahid Kapoor...... Karan
Anushka Sharma...... Bulbul
Meiyang Chang...... Zing
Vir Das...... Chandu
Anupam Kher………..Karan’s father
Kiran Juneja……………….Karan’s Mom
Pawan Malhotra…………………Jas Mama
Jameel Khan…………………………….Sindhi importer








Technical Analysis

This con ‘dye’ by debutant writer helmer ‘Parmeet Sethi’ still can,t wash the colour of failures of the premium bollywood production house YRF with ‘Badmaash Company’ which adds to the list of Bollywood disappointment diaries (probably 4th in a row), the same for Shahid commercially.

,Badmaash Company’ is a film about guys in haste who wana smell money as soon as possible, the movie has a ‘real’ feel to it. Efforts can be seen in first timer Parmeet Sethi’s attempt which is more authentic towards being a drama which ironically runs on a handsomely budgeted thriller lane that ‘steals’ the movie’s prospects to be a crowd-pleaser if they could be induced to see it, making it difficult for  connecting this film to its natural constituency in today's theatrical marketplace.

Having the identifiable emotions of today’s youth, ‘Badmaash Company’ is ruled by Shahid Kapoor as you can easily make out there’s a genuine love of performing behind it. Sahid makes a true honest attempt to lit up the film, fails but manages enact a character with a rich psychology. Proving that he can find the shadings in every hue.

Anushka looks pretty and her chemistry with Shahid is striking. Meiyang Chang has the zing while Vir Das is quite impressive. Anupam Kher and Kiran Juneja along with Pawan Malhotra are competent as ever.
Dialogues are entertaining, some truly spectacular shooting in Bangkok and USA where the scenes between the gang is likable but despite all the fun, however, the thorny questions raised by the debutant con flick which borrows real life incidents like the ‘Madras bleeding’ of the 60’s, the home loan scam in America which pulled its economy down and the import strategy of Indian importers etc to make a ‘con’ movie. The absence of innovations and creativity in the con which is the genders basic requirement is it major drawback. The writer doesn.t pens con on his own for the film and on top of that this gang is never in news or discussions in police headquarters that kills the excitement of the audience who starts believing that nobody is bothered whether this guys steal or they fight the ignorance of this basic factors in a con movie is troubling. The wealth, power, and privilege that allow Shahid to effortlessly trade it in for a new con down the line are given a free pass.

Musically not a bad selection of tunes by Pritam Chakraborty. The movie has superb production values.
,Badmaash Company’ idea might be of scamming, fast bucks, self inventory, friends, wealth and friendship which starts with a voice over that makes it feel like an autobiographical drama, all this mistakes and the little regard for suspense or audience sophistication needed in a con movie makes it score 2 out of 5.



The Story

BADMAASH COMPANY is set in the 1990s in middle class Mumbai, of four ordinary youngsters (Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Meiyang Chang and Vir Das), who came together to start an import business of things longed for by yuppie Indians. What made their venture such a stupendous success was the fact that they found a way to beat the system and soon became the undisputed kings in their business, realizing their one dream of making quick money is by doing all the wrong things the right way.

Living the life of champagne wishes and caviar dreams, the four friends discover that to make a business successful, you don't need big money. All you need is a big idea. All is well and hunky dory till one day the four maverick entrepreneurs are forced to shut shop.



Promotion

Averagely marketed, the movie’s indoor and outdoor publicity looks good, anyhow audience should have been involved with some schemes and techniques. Media promotions has been limited which has restricted it’s awareness. Musically also though tunes are not bad but they lack the ‘hit’ element. Adding more woes to the wounds.



Business Analysis

Debutant Parmeet Sethi’s attempt is more authentic towards being a drama which ironically runs on a handsomely budgeted thriller lane that ‘steals’ the movie’s prospects to be a crowd-pleaser.

Opened with a very average 30% and no chance of a positive word of mouth, ‘Badmaash Company’ adds to the list of Bollywood disappointment diaries, probably 4th in a row both for Yash Raj Films and Shahid commercially. Post theatre results in satellite, dvd’s would be better.



Other Credits

Executive Producer: Aashish Singh. Cassettes and CD's on YRF Music. Lyricist: Anvita Dutt Guptan. Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty. Background Music: Julius Packiam. Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor. Choreography: Ahmed Khan. Editor: Ritesh Soni. Screenplay: Parmeet Sethi. Sound: Dwarak Warrier and Debasish Mishra. Dialogue: Parmeet Sethi. Costume: Mamta Anand and Ameira Punvan. Publicity Designs: Fayyaz Badruddin.  Reviewed at Yash Raj studios on May 07, 2010.

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