Movie Review: De Dana Dan

De Dana Dan: Loud and Lengthy, Rating: 2.5 out of 5*,
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy, Manoj Joshi, Rajpal Yadav, Vikram Gokhale, Johnny Lever and Neha Dhupia, Director: Priyadarshan

Nitin Bankar (Akshay) is a frustrated driver cum house help of a rude rich lady, Archana (Archana Puran Singh) in Singapore. His best pal, Ram Mishra (Shetty) who is a courier delivery man is not happy either. Both have rich girl friends, Anjali (Katrina) and Manpreet (Sameera) respectively. In an attempt to get rich quick and marry them, both Ram and Nitin devise a plan to kidnap Archana’s pet possession, her doggy Mulchand. But their kidnapping plan goes awry and leads to many misunderstandings. To add more chaos, Manpreet’s wedding preparations to a shady businessman Chaddha’s (Paresh Rawal) son begins in the same hotel where Nitin and Ram are hiding after their kidnapping fiasco. Confusion and misunderstandings multiply ten fold when a contract killer, Kala (Johnny Lever), his underworld don boss Maamu (Asrani), Anjali, Anjali’s father (Tinnu Anand), Indian Ambassador (Vikram Gokhale), a bar dancer (Neha Dhupia) and Policeman (Sharat Saxena) too land up in the same hotel. What happens after Nitin accidentally gets locked in Chaddha’s hotel room cup board is what the rest of the film all about.

If you have ventured into the cinema hall expecting a repeat of Hera Pheri considering it’s the same team of director Priyadarshan along with his trio of Akki-Sunil-Rawal then you will be in for a major disappointment. In fact Rawal doesn’t share a single frame with Akshay and Sunil all throughout the movie. But at the same time one needs to appreciate Priyadarshan for being plot centric than falling for the populist trap of getting them together. However, he takes a lot of time to establish his characters in the initial reels. Once the entire cast is assembled in the hotel, then the film picks up speed. The second half is lot better than the first one despite Akshay and Sunil taking a back seat. It is almost like watching Malamaal Weekly where character artists take center stage and even successfully pull it off. The climax however with the water tank bursting and a Tsunami of sorts coming inside the huge star hotel, though extremely well shot was not needed. It is like the same old Priyadarshan climax where everyone is running behind everyone but this time in a flooded hotel. You also wonder why Priyadarshan makes almost his every character speak loudly while delivering their dialogues. The sequences that have you literally rolling on the floor with laughter are – Akshay’s monologue about his drudgery filled life working under his lady boss, Johnny Lever’s chloroform marathon, Sunil Shetty catching waiter Rajpal Yadav sneaking drinks, the dog napping sequences and Vikram Gokhale caught in a mess with philandering allegations. Pritam’s music doesn’t impress barring the ill timed Paisa Paisa song.

Akshay Kumar is at his home pitch in any Priyadarshan comedy and he is in top form yet again. But we do miss him in action when he gets locked in the cupboard for a good 30 minutes. Sunil Shetty gives him terrific support. Paresh Rawal is mostly relegated to screeching at the top of his voice. Manoj Joshi though screechy as well, impresses more. Both the girls Katrina and Sameera have nothing much to do. Its actually Neha Dhupia who not only looks super hot throughout the film but leaves you mega impressed with her no holds barred act. Archana Puran Singh and Aditi Gowitrikar look ultra glam and deliver the goods as well. Shakti Kapoor, Asrani, Tinnu Anand and Sharat Saxena lend good support. However its Rajpal Yadav and Johnny Lever who leave you laughing your guts out with their antics the most.

De Dana Dan is no Hera Pheri but has its howlarious moments. However, with a running time of 2 hours and 45 minutes it over stays its visit for a comedy. Check it out if you are willing to suspend your belief and keep your brains aside for that long.

--SAMPURN