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Review
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Shakalaka Boom Boom: Not Bad
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5 *
Cast: Bobby Deol, Upen Patel, Kangana Ranaut and Celina Jaitley
Director: Suneel Darshan
Synopsis: AJ (Bobby) is the reigning Indi-Pop sensation in New York City. He meets Ruhi (Kangana), an aspiring singer and falls for her. But before he could express his love for her, Reggie (Upen) an arrogant but talented upcoming musician not only shakes AJ's confidence as a musician but also snatches away Ruhi. With media co-ordinator Sheena's (Celina) help Reggie starts making the right moves to make it to the top. AJ starts sensing danger to his position as his own loyal recording company plans to launch Reggie in a big way.
An insecure AJ vows to destroy Reggie's career and starts playing manipulative games. Sheena also joins hands with AJ after she is discarded by an ambitious Reggie. AJ and Sheena sabotage Reggie's first album. After being declared a huge flop, when everyone starts distancing themselves with Reggie, AJ befriends him and wins his confidence. Reggie has no idea that all this is a part of AJ's final salvo to wipe out his name from the music industry. Finally, luck plays an important role in changing many equations and the real talented one amongst the warring two emerges as the winner.
Acting: Bobby is a revelation in a role with grey shades. He not only looks dapper but also excels in his act. Upen irritates with ex-pressionless acting. He makes a hat-trick of sorts of making a bare-chested entry. Any other talented actor in his place would have helped in heightening the riveting drama in the second half. Celina appears as a glorified vamp and as usual overacts. Kangana (in a different look) doesn't dissappoint.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
Direction: Finally, Suneel Darshan makes a film that belongs to the current times and not resembles an overused melodrama of the 70s. His choice of subject is commendable. But one fails to understand why he has set his film in the US while the entire shooting of the film appears to be done in Johannesburg . But to his credit he has held the second half together well with events unfolding rapidly.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
Script: Darshan's script appears loosely inspired from Hollywood film, Amadeus (1984) based on two warring musicians. It has its moments of drama in the second half but the first half is a little over the top at times. Anurag Kashyap's dialogues carry a punch at some places. The Bobby-Upen first meeting at a studio has turned out well and so are the music sessions between the duo in the second half. But Bobby's private talks with his music guru (Govind Namdeo) appear repetitive.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
Music: Himesh Reshammiya's music could have been better for a film that tells the story of two talented musicians. Barring the title track, by Himesh himself and Akriti, the rest don't match up to it. Upen's entry track, Dil Lagayenge gives us a feeling of Deja vu. There is a Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi style song marathon which is good. Thaare Vaaste is just about passable. Viju Shah makes a comeback after a long time and delivers a good techno background score apt for the film's theme.
indya.com rating: 2.5 out of 5
-- Abhijit Mhamunkar
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