Runtime:- 2 hours 4 minutes
Starring:- Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vijay Raaz, Brijendra Kala, Srishti Shrivastava
Directed By:- Shoojit Sircar
Shootjit Sircar’s Gulabo Sitabo has already changed the OTT game by being the first Hindi film to opt for direct Digital release on Amazon Prime Video rather than wait for theatrical one in this pandemic. With Gulabo Sitabo, he has created an amusing satire on greed with this Hilarious Haveli ka Hungama!
Tenacious Tenant vs Laalchi Landlord
Just like the famous OG puppets Gulabo and Sitabo; who portray a man’s wife and his mistress always at loggerheads with each other, Ayushmann Khurranna’s Baankey and Amitabh Bachchan’s Mirza are always at war with each other.
This comedy drama is an endless tale of upmanship between a tenacious tenant, Baankey – Who Won’t Vacate, and the Laalchi Landlord Mirza Who Won’t Stop From Evicting Him!
So when a bathroom wall in the Haveli collapses after being kicked at by the exasperated Baankey, like dominoes…… it sets off an unexpected chain of events!
What is the Haveli Ka Hungama?
Infused with the old world charm of Lucknow, at the heart of the story is the Haveli – Fatima Mahal, that’s crumbling with forgotten, former glory!
Bogged down by family responsibilities, we have the Chakki-peesing wheat mill owner and tenant Baankey, who dreams of acquiring a flat for his family. He lives in this mansion with a host of other tenant families who’re also determined to not vacate the haveli. Ayushmann does a wonderful job of bringing out both the vulnerable and the brash side of the character.
However, the original Boss here is Mirza’s gentle, Urdu speaking wife – the 94 year old Buddhi Boss Begum (Farrukh Jaffar)! Just like the dilapidated mansion, she may seem frail and crumbly with one foot in the grave but she knows more than she lets on!
On the other hand, consumed by the Haveli ka Havas, we have Mirza who is just waiting for its owner, his own Wifey Dearest to Die like a Vulture, so he can swoop in as the Maalik. The Miser Mirza is also all about a quick cash fix – from pawning fixtures and haveli belongings to even stealing! Amitabh’s wizened look and grumpy air do the character justice!
But everyone wants their finger in this pie! Taking advantage of Baankey-Mirza’s squabbling – Enter Players with their Own Vested Interests; Gyanesh Shukla (Vijay Raaz) from the government’s archaeology department who wants to declare the Haveli as heritage property. He lures Baankey to his side by dangling the possibility of an LIG flat as compensation.
On the other hand, Mirza who’s hellbent on getting rid of his ‘parasitic’ tenants, and becoming the one true owner of the property to sell it and become rich, gets tangled with Christopher Clarke (Brijendra Kala) – a lawyer specializing in disputed property cases.
What Works
Ayushman-Amitabh’s bickering is very entertaining as Baankey-Mirza keep trying to outwit each other. We give Bonus Points to Srishti Shrivastav who plays Baankey’s sister Guddo – and gives justice to her tough, resourceful, smart girl act! Brijendra Kala-Vijay Raaz’s meddling characters in the mess, keep the story twisting.
Juhi Chaturvedi’s writing is witty, charming and satiric – delightfully exploring the Dominant Theme of Greed throughout the story. Kudos to the cinematography for beautifully capturing the ruined glory of lost times with the Fatima Mahal haveli!
What Doesn’t work
Our only gripe is the pacing of the story drags a little. Though entertaining, the build-up of the premise takes too long to establish. But we got to say, the surprising climax does have its pay-off!
Music Box
The quirky music composition by Shantanu Moitra, Abhishek Arora and Anuj Garg explores versatile styles and moods. The folk fusion complements the film’s tone very well. Our personal favourite is ‘Kya leke aayo jagme, kya leke jaayega’!
Hit or Miss?
This fun satire is also a quirky slice of life that effectively highlights how greed, and coveting what’s not yours is bound to land you in the wrong place. Definitely a fun watch for the squabbling chemistry of Amitabh-Ayushmann!
Gulabo Sitabo is available for streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
Rating:- 3.5/5