wtf! Ajab prem is fab

Funky. Funny. Fictional. Familiar. Filmy. Flimsy. First grade. Fresh. Formula. Flawed. Fast-paced. Fantasy. Feel good. Far fetched. Fantastic. I know these are more F words than one finds in a Shobha De Novel but it’s my way to describe a movie as unique as Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

APKGK (as it is called here onwards) marks return of Raj Kumar Santoshi – the funny man who tickled our bones.... oops the man who tickled our funny bones with Andaz apna apna many years ago. His other ventures like Ghayal, Ghatak Damini, Lajja & Khakee have all been impactful films where his vision clearly outshines strong performances which he is known for. In APKGK however it’s difficult to say who is a bigger winner – the puppet - Ranbir or the puppeteer - Raj Kumar Santoshi.

In APKGK, the duo R&R (Raj Santoshi & Ranbir) bring alive a protagonist who is naive at the core but clever on surface like so many of us. He is champ of his own game but loser in real sense. His world is mundane and small but he is larger than life as everything revolves around him and his deeds. This is what makes APKGK different.

Now coming to the story, well there’s hardly any but it ain’t the case of regular Bollywood funda of the makers wanted to make something else, but script turned out different, stars threw tantrums and finally film ended up without a real story. It’s an integral part of the experience where Prem’s kahaani was to be ordinary if wasn’t set in his quirky crazy world. So story takes a backseat and we venture into Prem’s world, his ability to laugh away his Dad’s ire, his need to be leader of the loser clan, his love that is unspoken and his brilliance of being himself. Clever screenplay does the trick.

Narrative is as zany and unique as Prem’s insanity – that keeps the film from being a sad, dramatic – loser in love tale that Tusshar Kapoor is a posterboy of. A talking statue in middle of the town narrating the most bizarre love story while a journo cleans the droppings off his back – beat that. If that’s not chuckle worthy bizarre – get your sense of humour back on guys – David Dhawan variety tales of infidelity and Priyadarshan’s supposed ensemble cast sit com’s do not a funny film make

R&R bring to us hilarity in clean fun manner without dragging like the mother using her charm on father to save son in her hema malini style seductive voice and father singing to please her – such cuteness, Ranbir wearing katrina’s top and meeting the prospective bride’s family, villains and Ranbir’s planning of same attire for same kidnapping task , the non veg eating scene, job scenario as halwai’s assistant, climax fight at villain’s den - all bring a big time chuckle. Intelligent dialogues, First rate music and few well handled emotional moments along with Katrina (who says more than 10 lines in a movie for the first time I guess) all make APKGK – a must see even if its a one time watch for most people.

Editing is patchy, background music cool, cinematography inconsistent, art direction is class, choreography and costumes are above average too but AGKPK shows how when a director is true to the subject and a producer understands the tone of the movie to use it in marketing, what great results come in. The movie made me forget the woes of a hard day at work and surely was entertaining in true sense. As far as those who measure originality by story – dudes, jaane tu ya jaane na also had a cliché plot, so did guru at the face of it but great technical team, actors and effective marketing made these films distinct and memorable. Lets say that ajab prem and his ghazab kahaani both get a thumbs up from me... Kudos R&R, filmfare is awaiting you J