Yamla Pagla Deewana - Movie review

Director: Samir Karnik
Writer: Jasvinder Singh Bhatt
Music: Pyarelal, Anu Malik, RDB, Sandesh Shandilya, Rahul Seth, Sanjoy Chowdhary
Cast: Dharmendra, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Anupam Kher, Nafisa Ali, Johnny Lever, Puneet Issar, Kulraj Randhawa, Himanshu Mallik, Sucheta Khanna, Emma Brown Garett

Rating:4/5

In today's times when films like No Problem and Tees Mar Khan proclaim to be synonym for sheer entertainment, Yamla Pagla Deewana gives us hope that no brainers can still be made using some grey cells. Only audience doesn’t need to use them as often and the Deol men make sure they walk happy back home.

YPD is the story of a Vancouver-based banker Paramveer (Sunny Deol) who wants to reunite with his long-lost father Dharam (Dharmendra) and his younger brother Gajodhar (Bobby Deol).

But there is a slight problem. The father and son are the biggest conmen in Banaras. Still, they willingly accept Paramveer into their fold but only to exploit his muscle power to serve their con games.

Meanwhile Gajodhar falls in love with Sahiba (Kulraj Randhawa), a beautiful 'Punjabi mutiyaar'. As their romance reaches its peak, her brothers arrive and forcibly take her away.

Paramveer saves the day with a crazy plan to win the girl back for Gajodhar which leads them to the rustic heartlands of Punjab.

What follows is a rollercoaster ride showcasing the Great Indian Joint Family, Eccentric Relatives, Marriage Mayhem, and a classic case of Mistaken Identities!

The entire film is an ode to the Deol charisma of the yore and manages to recreate it despite a clumsy first-part and a bit slow script by Jasvinder Singh Bath, who gave a bit too much screen time to Bobby's Gajodhar.

Director Samir Karnik needed to spruce up the first half though the story redeems itself post-interval when the action shifts from Banaras to Punjab.

As three brawny charmers, Deols cover-up narrative's flip side with their rustic, earthy Punjabi humor and impeccable chemistry. It’s an adorable combination of a gentle hulk, a prankster lover-boy and a seasoned thespian.

Despite Sunny and Bobby’s funny antics it is yet garam Dharam’s vintage magic which grabs the most eyeballs. His histrionics are still smooth as an old wine and make the movie a fun watch.

Kulraj Randhawa is pleasant. Sucheta Khanna as her Canada-loving cousin is funny. Anupam Kher makes you laugh as usual at times. Mukul Dev gets the best one-liners. Johny Lever is funny in a brief role. Nafisa Ali is graceful as ever and Amit Mistry does well.

What YPD really lacks is the crisper writing and the better music though Tinku Jiya the item song is a big hit.

All in all, Yamla Pagla Deewana is an age-old lost-and-found tale with which Deol men will finally find that one elusive hit and their box-office charisma which they seemed to have lost over the years.

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