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Mithya

Movie Mithya Director Rajat Kapoor Producer Arindam Chaudhuri Music Sagar Desai Cast Naseruddin Shah, Neha Dhupia, Ranvir Shorey, Harsh Chhaya

By Sonia Chopra

Like the rom-com (romantic comedy), there�s another genre that�s infiltrating our screens these days � the crime comedy (CC). There are only so few characters that these films play around with � the deadly don, a simpleton stuck in the midst of it all, and the gangster�s moll who falls for the latter. All these clich�d characters find their rightful place in this stereotypical crime comedy. The only departure being that here, both the don and the simpleton are played by the same actor � Ranvir Shorey. So, when Deadly Don is shot dead by his own accomplices, they discover look-alike VK, a junior artist who dreams of becoming a real actor. They put unsuspecting VK in Don�s shoes and the story takes it from there. All�s swell till an unexpected event catches everyone unawares. The idea is unique and could have been developed into an interesting screenplay replete with wit and riveting turns. Here, it�s a good-looking film that�s hollow within and doesn�t leave you with much. It�s not funny enough to entertain you, not immersing enough to keep you interested, and not memorable enough for you to enthusiastically recommend it further. About the only saving grace is the cast that comprises the hugely efficient Ranvir Shorey. He gives a fabulous performance, even though it is saddled with too many expressions. The other regulars find themselves in the film too � Vinay Pathak, Saurabh Shukla and gang. Naseeruddin Shah as the evil back-stabber is superb. Neha Dhupia doesn�t have much to do except a few dialogues; she�s about ok. The comedy ranges from genuinely funny (note the scene where the gangsters try to click VK�s pictures but fail as something or the other keeps obstructing his face) to the unnecessary (shot of extracted teeth, if you please). The pace is a bummer too and the culprits are the careless editing and superfluous dialogue. Rajat Kapoor has said in his interviews that he had carried the film in his head for several years before he found someone who was ready to produce it. Surprising, because the director is capable of so much more. His Raghu Romeo was a sweet, sharp tale that had an excellent story and superlative performances. In comparison Mithya is seemingly more complex but its cardboard characterizations reveal its simplistic approach. The film is technically competent and the background music is notable. A word about our filmmakers� obsession with the underworld � it�s curious why they are so insistent on having an underworld angle, or setting stories against the underworld set-up; a novel idea once, it�s been done to death now! Funny and riveting in parts, Mithya is an average watch. One that you can recommend knowing that it won�t be a fabulous film, but it won�t be all that bad either.