Film Review : Dostana (2008)

Dostana: is a laugh riot, Rating: 3 out of 5*

Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Bobby Deol and Kirron Kher.

Director: Tarun Mansukhani

Set in Miami, the film revolves around a male nurse, Sameer (Abhishek) and a hotshot photographer, Kunal (John Abraham). Both are on the look out for an apartment and coincidentally end up landing at the same house at the same time. But the landlady refuses to take two hot macho men into her home that also houses her young niece, Neha (Priyanka Chopra). To not let of the opportunity they pretend to be gay.

After Neha moves in, very soon the trio gets friendly and inseparable. According to Neha, she becomes one of the boys and the boys, as she says, are one of the girls! And just when you think this is one happy and gay friendship in comes the twist and turns. Both the guys realize that they have feelings for Neha and each of them wants her to himself. Both of them then try to outdo and outwit one another ending into a big fight. But ironically, Neha takes the fight as a lovers' tiff! Now just when the two are about to reveal the truth, in walks Abhimanyu (Bobby) Neha's new boss. He starts showing extra affection for her and she too starts reciprocating. This comes as threat for the two lover boys. They then hatch a plan to get rid of Abhimanyu by resorting to all sorts of pranks to get rid of from Neha's life by hook or by crook. Their plans succeed to some extent but they end up losing her in this bargain. How they win her back forms the rest of the film.

Coming from Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, Tarun Mansukhani's directorial debut is a good mixture of Karan Johar's stamp of glossy class and a new age director's hatke treatment. Technically the film definitely stands amongst one of 2008's best. The screenplay is truly innovative coupled with some great one-liners. There is not a single dull moment throughout the film as it keeps you in splits always. The scenes involving Boman Irani (in a gay role) are a laugh riot. So also are the scenes between Abhi-John and Abhi's mom played by Kirron Kher.

Vishal-Shekhar's music is already topping the charts and the picturisation of songs take it one notch higher. The opening track shot on Shilpa Shetty at the beautiful sun kissed Miami bitches provides great eye candy.

Abhishek in first out and out comedy role is brilliant. His self deprecating humor style has turned out very good. John who has never looked so hot before also shows great comic timing. Priyanka apart looking extremely gorgeous throughout does a nice job. Bobby underplays his part well. Kirron Kher is now type cast as the loud Punjabi mom. She does the same old routine that she been doing in such roles. Boman is fun to watch. Sushmita Mukherjee as Priyanka's aunt appears wasted.

All in all it's a fun film not to be missed if you truly want to enjoy a love story with a 'twist.'

--SAMPURN