Ghanchakkar

GHANCHAKKAR is a comedy/thriller directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, starring Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan.

The film revolves around Sanjay Atre, who receives a call to join two people; Pandit and Idris to steal a bank. Being a small time thief, he decides to end his career with this one last job worth 350,000. After pulling it, Pandit and Idris decide to keep the money Sanjay and only after three months, they will collect their respective shares of the loot. The only problem is that Sanjay has partially lost his memory due to an accident, and doesn't quite remember where he kept the money, but we don't even know if he's telling the truth, or just conning everyone.

Alright, the trailer of Ghanchakkar left me awaitng its release due to its premise and star cast. When the film released, I booked my ticket to see the film and it didn't quite live up to the hype I had created.

So let's start off with the plot of the film. From what I've written above, the plot seemed solid, yet when executed into a 2hr15m, the movie sinks.

I'm going to be honest with you; THIS FILM IS A DARK COMEDY. Yes, the trailer betrays you. Pandit and Idris are seen more comical in the trailer, but are much crazier in the film. And this movie isn't quite funny. Except for a few forced laughs here and there, it tries to keep you gripped to the plot. But we can never do that, due to the fact that no entertainment on-screen tends to bore a person. Inspite of the movie being quite alright, the film's BIGGEST flaw is the end. It is SUCH a letdown. I could have thought of tons of ways to make it better. After realizing the movie hasn't lived up to your expectations, everyone expects the ending to be a BIG one; one that you didn't even see coming from a mile away. But the director sticks to a very common one that literally irritates you. And later when you dwell upon the movie, you say to yourself, "What was the point of that movie?"

The acting was great; that I can tell you. Emraan Hashmi seems to be getting better with every movie he does. VIdya Balan was also good, but had much of a background role. And everyone else associated with the film did great. But it was wasted talent, as the plot played a spoiltsport.

In the end, GHANCHAKKAR is a pointless film. It builds up your expectations to a point where you watch the film and it just crumbles down to spots. It just proves that Bollywood is trying to hard to be Hollywood. The film would have been alright if the ending had a GREATER and more powerful twist, but it doesn't, so it makes you leave the cinema just disappointed.

GHANCHAKKAR- 5.5/10

Ten minutes into screenplay, you are annoyed with Vidya Balan's diction. Thirty minutes into screenplay, you are blown away by the script. Suspense mounts, and you want to finish the remaining 90 minutes in a flash. That is how Ghanchakkar gathers its viewers.

Emraan Hashmi is great with his portrayal while Vidya Balan troubled me a little. Her demeanor looked over-smart. The supporting cast is average, most of the time trying & failing to make us laugh. But, the plot is enough to keep us hooked.

It seems illogical at first and you may start guessing hell of a lot of ideas on what happened & what happens next, but the epiphany is truly enduring & clever. With a slow-paced second half, it makes us yawn for a while, but the climax will blow it off. The makers have meticulously written the play and that is why it is recommended. 6.5/10.

Music & songs are average, editing is good & overall, quite a funny film which doesn't use large amounts of vulgarity.

BOTTOM LINE: A comic experience that should be considered. Recommended!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Profanity: Strong | Vulgarity/Sex: Mild | Nudity: No | Drugs/Smoking: No | Alcohol: Mild | Violence: Strong | Gore: Mediocre

Ghanchakkar is a refreshing comedy revolving around a laid back criminal Sanju (Emran Hashmi) and his "fashionable" wife Neetu (Vidya Balan).

The film begins with the uneventful life of Sanju having to deal with his wife's bland food and his mother's doting phone-calls. Living a passive life and having somewhat given up his criminal days as a safe opening expert, he takes on a bank robbery job with Neetu cleverly pushing him into the decision.

Enter two seemingly unlikely scheming bandits Pandit and Idris the played superbly by Rajesh Sharma and Nimit Das who create the 'master plan'. The heist itself is brilliantly hilarious - Utpal Dutt's mask still cracks me up. After the successful robbery they decide to stay low for three months and forcefully give Sanju the responsibility of safekeeping the money.

Three months pass....and Sanju has lost his memory of the robbery...or has he? What ensues is determining who is scheming who! The film does lose its steam in some parts and would have done with some more threads but to the director's credit he still manages to keep the suspense and doesn't dumb the film down. Add to that Hashmi's poker face,which doesn't give much away, adding to the intrigue. Vidya Balan is also quite good as the dominating Punjabi wife.

The final act is surprisingly good for a Hindi film and keeps a few threads still open, leaving the viewer to interpret it in his own way. Overall a good effort, I certainly would recommend this unconventional comedy.

This one is definitely comparable to the 2007 Anurag Kashyap cult classic 'No-Smoking' If u love cult classics (like I do) you'd definitely enjoy this one.

Emraan Haashmi and Vidya Balan have rendered tremendous performances as a couple trapped right in the center of a web of uncertainties and misunderstandings. Their overall condition as well as their relationship as husband and wife is rendered even more suffocating and is stretched to extreme limits because of the constant watchfulness of the two gangsters played very convincingly by Rajesh Sharma and Nandit Das.

Nothing can be taken for granted in this film which starts testing your IQ and personality from the first shot till the very last frame...9 stars from this fan..Peace..

Finally a good movie after weeks of boredom. Engages you from very first seen and keeps you on the edge till end.

You will definitely laugh out loudly throughout the robbery scene. as the mysteries unfold your head will keep revolving. what to believe and what not, thats the question?

A really clean and simple thriller. no overdose of characters. no over dose of acting.just the right amount of 'forgetfulness'.

If you watch the movies to 'Enjoy' them, watch it. you will enjoy the acting, the plot, humor, comedy, simplicity and shortness of the story.

Have fun.