DHOONDTE REH JAOGE
‘THE PRODUCERS’ IN BOLLYWOOD
by Vishal Verma

A UTV Motion Pictures & Bindass Presentation. Producer: Ronnie Screwvala. Writer- Director: Umesh Shukla. Genre: Comedy. Target Audience: General.

Starring
Paresh Rawal...... Raj Chopra
Kunal Khemu...... Anand Pawar
Sonu Sood...... Aryan Kapoor
Soha Ali Khan...... Neha Chattopadhayay
Deepal Shaw……… Secretary.
Hrishita Bhatt………… Bollywood Actress.
Johny Lever...... Parvez Asharraf

Technical Analysis
The bollywood screen version of Mel Brooks' hilarious satire of the business side of Hollywood is here. ‘The Producers’ featuring standout performances by Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel is certainly Brooks finest, as well as funniest films.

It later inspired the immensely funny boradway play of the same name & then in 2005 another screen version by Susan Stroman, starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, & Uma Thurman.

Shukla’s DRJ’ is just an average take.
But for Indian audience, this Umesh Shukla’s inspirational spoof on Bollywood works - more than half the time, primarily in the second half & that’s because the source material is funny and flamboyant.

Yet it's the Mel Brooks directed original that's faster and more energetic.

The original had a flop braodway producer along with an accountant getting the deranged pigeon-owning Nazi responsible for writing their certified Broadway disaster "Springtime For Hitler." & in Shukla’s ‘DRJ’ we have pro Pakistani writer Johny Lever writing a disaster ‘ solay se lgaan tak ‘ for the producer. 

Remaking Mr Brooks' first and some say best film was always difficult and that’s the reason why it’s so theatrical. As a movie, the new helmer Shukla remains distinctly locked into that formulaic song-and-dance showstopper style and lacks the cinematic inventiveness of today’s new entrants say Zoya, Farha or Advani ( whatever be the faith, be it Salam – e –Ishq or CC2C he has done a far better job in song picturisation).obviously, the songs don't travel.

The story of a bollywood producer ( Paresh Rawal) whose love affair with bankruptcy is becoming popular day by day meets the shy, self-effacing accountant (Kunal Khemu – the kid has really grown up), who has a theory that, with imaginative bookkeeping, you can make a fortune out of a flop, is the same as it ever was.

So you have a Basanti ( Soha Ali Khan – passable) being rescues by a happening Kumar ( Sonu Sood- impressive… reminds of Amitabh in early 70’s from some angle) from Ramgarh to Punjab, to Lahore & then a 20 20 cricket match between India & Pakistan for a funny climax.

The movie has some real good punches in dialogues & there are moments of fun & frolic but that comes after a long wait when half the reels are exhausted.

Technically better with first rate production values, the movie scores 2 & ½ out of five, one for the performance by Paresh, Khemu, Johnny (good to see the entertainer back) & Sonu who impresses. The other one for the fun during the second half & quiet deservingly the last half for at least trying to make us laugh by some innovative techniques and the choice of inspiration in this troubled times.

The Story
Dhoondte Reh Jaoge is a spoof on the industry itself. Raj (Paresh Rawal) is  one time super hit producer now surrounded by line of flops & his money lenders. He meets a chartered accountant Anand (Kunal Khemu) They hatch a plan to raise big money to produce a feature film and then actually make it at a pittance amount. In fact, they decide to make it so badly that audiences would reject it on the first day of its release. Anand and Raj believe this would give them a foolproof chance to decamp with the remaining huge amount they've raised for the making of this venture.

 But the film turns out to be a huge hit. Now the financers and distributors are after Anand and Raj for their chunk of shares from the huge profit.

Promotion
Promotion has been fair with interesting promos & posters generating some interest. Media Awareness by Spice has been reasonable.  

Business Analysis
Even after trying to be tickle our funny bones from different angels, the movie overall lacks consistency and the fun part stars after the interval, lack of face value, no hit number & not much buzz in public has resulted in a below par opening & its not likely to get any better. The movie will anyhow perform better in single screens.

Other Credits (As available)
Cassettes and CD's on T –Series. Lyricist: Jalees Sherwani & Shabbir Ahmed. Music Director: Sajid & Wajid. Media Consultant: Spice. Reviewed at Famous Preview Theatre, Mumbai on March 05, 2009.

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