Nautanki Saala
Year: 2013
Director: Rohan Sippy
Cast: Aayushman Khurana, Kunal Roy Kapoor, Pooja Salvi

Director Rohan Sippy’s sole success so far had been Bluff Master and that came way back in 2005. So the pre-watch feelings are mixed about his teaming up with Vicky Donor-fame Ayshman Khurana in Nautanki Saala.

It is said to be an adaptation of a French comedy called Apres Vous. So how does this French ‘nautanki’ fare in its Bollywood avatar?

What’s the plot?

A young and reasonably successful stage-actor (Ayushman Khurana) accidentally crosses path with a guy (Kunal Roy Kapoor), who is about to commit suicide in the middle of the night. The actor saves the man and comes to know that the suicide attempt was because of that man’s recent break-up with a girl-friend (Pooja Salvi)!

The actor, a kind-hearted do-gooder ready to go to any extent to help people, now decides to bring together the separated couple. So first, he props up the suicidal man by making him the lead actor of his popular play and next, he decides to pay a visit to the girl at the eye of the storm. When he finds out that the girl has moved on to a new boyfriend, he decides that he has got to do something to change the romantic equations. The only way he can think of is to stage a real life drama! As he treads on this needless treacherous path, he risks compounding his own romantic and professional life at every step. Will he succeed in his foolhardy mission?

What’s hot?

·         Ayushman Khurana, the actor, continues to impress with yet another natural portrayal of a young kind-heart! The portrayal more or less just carries forward the Vicky Donor- persona.

·         Kunal Roy Kapoor is good as a shy suicidal person, always ready to go on a self-pity trip. But at times, he overdoes the sad puppy trick! The Marathi touch to the character is well-managed by him.

·         Some really funny sequences and some really long smooches!

·         Nice music. Once again, Ayushman Khurana, the singer, impresses.

What’s not?

·         Slow and patchy progression.

·         Humor lacks punch and at many places, it feels forced.

·         Needless melodrama in the end.

·         Pooja Salvi’s perpetually confused heroine looks hot but fails to strike any emotional chord, because of uneven characterization.

Verdict

Rohan Sippy has tried hard to make Nautanki Saala into a sweet, intelligent rom-com with a male bonding theme in the background. He has even succeeded in parts. But for the want of better comic material and better paced narrative, the film ultimately ends up as a likable but average fare!