Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?

Genre: Comedy

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Konkona Sen Sharma, Paresh Rawal, Satish Kaushik, Akhilendra Mishra, Sanjay Mishra and Viju Khote

Director: Ashwani Dhir

Showing at theatres near you

KATHMANDU: A don (Akhilendra Mishra) gets surrounded by the goons of his rival gang when he is about to threaten an old man. The old man then saves him pretending as if the don is his servant named — but obviously — Ramu. This is one of the very few genuinely funny scenes of Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, if only director Ashwani Dhir had stuck to more of such humour instead of inserting all those typical emotional scenes which have been done to death in many Bollywood movies.

As the name suggests the movie revolves around the whole idea of having a guest at home, how a modern nuclear family — where both spouses are working — fears having guest at home. However, Puneet (Ajay Devgn) and Munmun (Konkona Sen Sharma) want some guests to arrive as their son keeps asking why don’t anyone come to stay at their house. The little boy’s wish comes true when Lambodar Bajpai (Paresh Rawal) comes looking for his nephew Papu.

Though excited at first, soon Puneet and Munmun realise why their friends and neighbours dread the word guest. Their whole lifestyle changes — not at all for good — as their uncle keeps bossing them around. But he gets well acquainted with other people from the locality. Every time the couple tries some tricks to send their guest away, they land up in some trouble or the other.

The concept and story of the movie is new and had the full potential to be a light hearted comedy, but the director/writer have not done that. The emotional and high-on drama before the climax and the climax itself is a total cliché. However, the casting is superb as the movie has all those character actors who are excellent at their job.

The lead pair are neither too impressive nor do they bore you. The movie belongs to Rawal, who is perfect for his character of this old man from village who is obnoxiously funny. An amazing actor, Rawal yet again proves his talent at balancing the thin line between being funny and irritating.

The songs are the weakest part of the movie and one hardly remembers them after the movie. While it is the dialogues — which are fresh — that is the strongest point of this movie.

Worth a watch especially

if subtle comedy appeals

to you.