Bollywood Adda

Cast: Zain Khan, Swini Khara, Sarika, Jackie Shroff, Lilette Dubey, Saurabh Shukla, Vijay Raaz

Director: Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj

The child actors have an excuse - they don't know any better, they can't tell a good script from a bad one. But what excuse do Sarika, Jackie Shroff, Lilette Dubey, Saurabh Shukla and Vijay Raaz have? What are they doing in this puerile piece of nonsense called Hari Puttar - which you should have guessed from its television trailers, is a shameless and blatant rip-off of Home Alone!

Ashamed as I am to admit it, I couldn't sit through this entire film, I walked out during intermission -- and believe me, even the first half was too much to take.

I'll get to the kids in a bit, but let's talk about the older actors first: Why does Jackie Shroff look like he's run away from rehab; what's with the indecipherable dialogue delivery and the tortured acting? What's with Lilette Dubey making a joke about her ten-year-old nephew walking in on her changing her clothes? Why does Saurabh Shukla have that Medusa-like wig; and can't he get his flatulence problem examined by a doctor, especially if he needs to crouch down every few seconds and let out a burst of gas?

Hari Puttar stars Zain Khan in the title role of a precocious adolescent who's left behind at home by accident when his family takes off on holiday. Also left behind, and giving him company this weekend is his little cousin Tuk Tuk (played by Swini Khara, who you might remember as the annoying tyke who played Amitabh Bachchan's over-smart little friend in Cheeni Kum). It's the same old drill. The kids protect themselves and their home from being broken into by a pair of thugs in search of some computer chip.

I can't think of very much to say about this film, except that it doesn't work on any level - as a children's film, or as a comedy, because none of the characters are endearing, and because its plot is too juvenile even for five-year-olds who'd rather watch Tom & Jerry reruns which are more enjoyable.

I can't believe it took two directors to make this film. If you ask me, Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj who are credited with directing Hari Puttar need to go to film school right away.

And the kids in this film should just go to school.

I can't rate this film. That's beyond me. I called a friend who watched the entire film to ask if the second half got any better. I was told it didn't. If you still want to find out for yourself, the risk is all yours to take.

Rating: 0 / 5 (Such Trash!)

by ibnlive.com