This was my Mother's Day treat. After an exceptional lunch at Busaba ( sizzling Vietnamese fish with tamarind sauce!!!!), it was time to head to Inox and catch 'BADMASH COMPANY' with the girls. They loved it... I loved it.... but found the ending totally illogical in an otherwise well scripted film. I mean... come on.... this was about a guy who wakes up to the 'goodness and truth' within himself, after being a successful conman. Great! So what does he do to establish his credibility and woo back the pregnant girl friend, make up with his men friends, regain his estranged father's respect, console his long suffering mother and impress a distressed Maamuji? Does he virtuously stick to the straight and narrow? Does he demonstrate a genuine change of heart? Does the sinner become a saint? Naaaah. Naughty, naughty Karan indulges in some pretty obvious, pretty devious insider trading ( in America, at that), and everybody cheers!!!
If one can possibly overlook this major plot flaw , the rest of the film is pretty watchable and all the performances are above average. My favourite was the guy who plays a Sikkimese constantly mistaken for a Chinese, with such ease , plus oodles of charm . I also lked Vir Das playing a lecherous, oily Sindhi bijnessman forever chasing blondes. Shahid is Shahid ( more than competent). He puts in a convincing performance.... but here's a request from his young female fans - please visit a dentist asap and get those lower jaw, hopelessly discoloured front teeth fixed, they look truly awful in close ups. As for Anoushka Sharma pairing up with Shahid, this is one jodi Rab definitely didn't make. Though their on screen chemistry works just fine ( forget the clumsy kissing-wissing), she towers over Shahid and looks Amazonian in most scenes.
Will the film crack the 'Housefull' record? Unlikely. It is almost intelligent.
Oh.... I possessed several Bleeding Madras shirts and skirts as a teenager, so that was a great touch!