DEKH RE DEKH
Dark comedies are a nasty business
by Vishal Verma

A SEARCH Film's Production

Producers : Vivek Sudarshan & Ashok Chauhan
Director- Writer : Rahat Kazmi(debut)
Screenplay : Rahat Kazmi & Mushahid Husain Pasha
Genre : Dark Comedy
Target Audience : General

Starring
Gracy Singh...... Babli
Siddharth Koirala...... Shyam
Raghuveer Yadav...... Yadavji
Vijay Raaz...... Charan
Asrani...... Lala
Virendra Saxena...... Pooran

Technical Analysis

Filmmakers who attempt dark comedies are caught between two frequently conflicting forces: the lure of the box-office and the lure of cult status. One can see that push and pull in ‘DEKH RE DEKH’. Staying true to the dark nature, dark comedies in India can often mean box-office death; eg. ‘Darna’ series of RGV. Such films often alienate more sensitive audience members. On the other hand, dark comedies that drift away from their true nature find themselves wallowing in the abyss that is mediocre, uninspired comedy. They alienate their core audience while leaving the general audience unimpressed.

So, to attempt a dark comedy that can emerges as a success is like asking for Mumbai rain to shift to the Kalahari deserts. There are many comedies with bits of dark humor, but far fewer true dark comedies. When done right, the dark comedy is one of cinema’s most rewarding experiences.

But when it grows wrong then it spells doom for everybody involved. Unfortunately, Rahat Kazmi’s debut vehicle as a writer –helmer ‘DEKH RE DEKH’ force us to ask the following questions. Is it a black comedy that isn't dark enough? Or a dumb comedy that isn't brainless enough, or a gross-out comedy that isn't yucky enough?

How cheeky of SEARCH & K SERA SERA to release this confused comedy this week which is a pathetic bollywood update in the black & dark genre that features 4 losers who loot a murti of lord Krishna & then find themselves killing each other for extra share of the booty with hardly any logic & explanations.

Now this phenomenon has occurred time & again around the globe where cinema is watched. Even the choice cast of A list actors like Raghuveer Yadav, Gracy Singh & Vijay Raaz fails to turn this woeful humour into the scathing attack on those who love dark humour.

‘Dekh Re Dekh’ falsely advertised as a dark comedy, requires a near-lethal injection of laughing oxides to induce laughter. Like everything else in this bogus comedy, hampered by an ill-conceived script that mushily defines their characters, Rahat Kazmi along with his writing associate Mushahid Husain Pasha are ineffective in bring anything twisty in the said film. 

Whatever humor that gets extracted from this premise is provided by Vijay Raaz who seems repetitive but is still enjoyable. The problem stays till the entire first half, ‘Dekh Re Dekh’ doesn,t gives the impression that it will be a twisty comedy, instead it just goes on like a tele serial. The second half becomes a bit interesting but by this time its too late for anyone. First timer Rahat Kazmi chooses a tough genre & fails miserably. On top of that he wastes talents like Raghuveer Yadav & Gracy Singh. Siddharth Koirala needs more training either practical or theoretical. Production values are decent. Cinematography by Akash Deep is just passable. Musically a commendable effort by Shahdaab Bhartiya, Abuzar Nayab. Editing by Rajendra K. Mahapatra is innovative. The flick gets 2 out of five. One for Vijay Raaz & his repetitive brilliance. The second for its music.

The Story

DEKH RE DEKH is a confused comedy set in a small town in western UP; Babli (Gtacy Singh) a sweet, innocent but a very blunt girl, her marriage in a rich family has already turned into a nightmare and she is back home being DIVORCED... She has no option to start a new life. But a robbery involves her childhood friend Shyam (Siddharth Koirala) into her plan; Shyam also in need of money to bribe the minister for a govt. job. At this juncture one more character joins them, Yadav (Raghuveer Yadav) a struggling politician in need of money for his party fund to get ticket for election... All the three characters are very innocent and needy but they have no experience of robbery, so they plan to involve a professional thief in the mission and here starts the storm of humor and entertainment when the thief i.e. Charan (Vijay Raaz) enters into the frame.

Promotion

Promoted as a dark comedy, the outdoor & indoor publicity might do the trick for some. Media promotions have been reasonable. Anyways movies like this need a strong word of mouth which unfortunately ‘Dekh Re Dekh’ lacks as it doesn,t deliver those promise which are made in the tagline of the posters.

Business Analysis

Unpopular genre, lack of face value, competition from a Hollywood heavy weight series plus the confused narration by first time helmer Rahat Kazmi. ‘Dekh Re Dekh’ will find it very difficult to attract any legs & those who come will not be keen to echo any positive sentiments for the said film. Careers of those associated with this flick will have nothing favorable to add to their resume.

Other Credits

Executive Producer / Co-Producer: Mushahid Husain Pasha, Mujeeb-ul-hassan. Cassettes and CD's on K Sera Sera. Lyricist: Rashid Firozabadi, Dr. Moauzzam Azam & Sanjay Mishra. Music Director: Shahdaab Bhartiya, Abuzar Nayab. Background Music: Shahdaab Bhartiya. Cinematography: Akash Deep. Editor: Rajendra K. Mahapatra.

Sound: Subhash Sahu. Dialogue: Mushahid Husain Pasha. Media Awareness: Peter Martis (print). Dwapar Promotions (Satellite). Reviewed at Cinemax, Mumbai on July 16, 2009.

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