The story? Well one has to understand that isn't a "sequel" in the true sense but a "follow-up" with the same characters chucked into a different scenario as sequels usually carry forward the character and also develop the lives of their characters further as well as the story. The best comparison would be to the JAMES BOND series-which had the same character in a range of different adventures! LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI just takes the characters of Munnabhai and Circuit and throws them in a completely different setting. This time round Munna (Sanjay Dutt) is in love with a Radio Jockey Jhanvi (Vidya Balan). Munna spends all his spare time listening to her and has given his heart to her. He aspires just once chance to meet her. When he hears that there is a competition on the radio about Mahatma Gandhi and the prize is a chance to meet Jhanvi, Munna and his trust side-kick Circuit (Arshad Warsi) cook up a few lies and Munna pretends that he is a history teacher Jhanvi invites Munna around to her house to give a history lecture to her dad and all his elderly friends who live with them as well. How does Munna get himself out of this mess? What's the right thing to do? Shall he tell the truth? At this stage the most unusual thing happens as Munnabhai comes face to face to Bapuji himself.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
In terms of a story Raju Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra come up with a winner yet again! The premise of the movie is simple but it's the thoroughly simple yet beautifully honest treatment that makes the movie work. The screenplay of the movie is simply brilliant and the movie moves forward at a breakneck pace keep the viewer engrossed in the story with plenty of non-stop laughs as well as a few tears right through. From the writing point of the view at this stage I would like to give a special mention and more an ovation to Raju Hirani. In today's times when directors are either busy ripping off Hollywood DVD's or remaking old Bollywood classics here comes up a refreshingly original movie that is NOT inspired from anything at all and this freshness exudes from the movie in every scene and also works huge in the movies favor. All one can say to Raju Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra is keep up your creative thinking as once again you've perfectly captured the MAGIC(only word to describe it) of MUNNABHAI!
Raju Hirani is a GENIUS! Every second time director of late with the exception of Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra and Ashutosh Gowraiker has disappointed me in recent times from Farhan Akhtar to John Matthew Matthan to Shaad Ali. but Raju Hirani lives up to expectations despite the huge expectations he is burdened with and the main comes out triumphant! The seamless manner in which he directs the movie is immaculate and his command over comedy and drama both is exemplary. He catapults the simplest scenes into something effective and without being loud or screaming "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!" and delivers a movie that simply cannot be ignored. No doubt he is completely comfortable with the mettle he is directing and where most directors would find the perfection opportunity to get preachy given the movies theme, Hirani merges the message of the movie with the main purpose of any-to entertain and engross the viewer and the comedy never lets up and the movie never gets too heavy. Like the first-it would be unfair to slot LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI as just a mindless comedy as the movie goes way beyond the barriers of a typical laugh riot of the Priyadarshan or David Dhawan brand and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI is a more socially conscious film than the first. Without a speckle of doubt Hirani has created something that will go down in Bollywood history and also created a franchise where the potential is just endless given that the creativity doesn't stop. His strength lies in his simplicity, he manages to convince the viewer in today's times Gandhi's principles are relevant even in everyday situations. I recently read a comment that even Karan Johar could've directed the emotional scenes in Munnabhai MBBS to the same affect-well I have to say I HEAVILY and whole heartedly disagree. Where I find the emotional scenes in a Karan Johar type film completely contrived and unable to strike a chord with the viewer for the most.. the emotional scenes here are just so sweetly and simply done you just fall for them, once again due to the simplicity and honesty factor.
There are many scenes that remain etched in the viewers minds and alone demand a rewatch, these include.
. ALL of the scenes between Munnabhai and Circuit which is no doubt the backbone of the movie. . Munnabhai winning the competition over the phone . Munnabhais initial meeting with Jhanvi and the preparation before hand including the entire scene in the toilet . Munnabhais first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi . Munnabhai getting the old mans son to visit him on his birthday . The scene where Munnabhai slaps Circuit followed by the scene where he apologizes to Circuit. This scene IMO is the scene of the movie and a million dollar scene at that. . Munnabhai going on the radio and helping various people overcome their problems with "Gandhigiri" are just delightful. The scene with the old man and the corrupt official had the cinema in an uproar of claps and whistles!
The performances in the movie are of a high order and the entire cast deserves applause.
Raju Hiranis dialogues are trendsetting just like the first. The Mumbaiya Lingo used by Munnabhai and Circuit has no doubt become a phenomenon of sorts and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI further builds on that. Old favorites like MAAMU, BOLE TOH are back as well as new ones like GANDHIGIRI. The amount of wit, thought and hilarity that has gone into writing the dialogues is evident in every frame.
Also a special mention to Raju Hirani-the editor as well as he keeps the movie short and sweet with a superlative narrative compared to other Bollywood films.
Sanjay Dutt LIVES the character of Munnabhai in every inch.every scene...every aspect of the movie and comes out with flying colors. Dutts delivery, timings, body language are all just superb. He seems completely at ease playing Munnabhai and looks every inch a "Mumbai tapori". His screen presence is just electric in every scene. Dutt is an actor who never loses his star power-yes he may give box-office flops but once he has himself a worthy project, superb role and a plum director there is just no stopping this actor and Munnabhai is a perfect example as Sanjay Dutt has immortalized the character of Munnabhai and I can imagine no other actor playing this role! Just witness the scene on the radio where he tells Jimmy Shergill about how one day his dad just passed away (yes-REEL LIFE imitating REAL LIFE) is enough to move the viewer to tears. The amount of pain and sadness in those soft eyes is just amazing and as I have always said Sanjay Dutt is one HELLUVA actor in an emotional role, his key strength being his eyes.
If Sanjay Dutt has immortalized Munnabhai, then Arshad Warsi too does the same with Circuit. One cannot imagine Munnabhai without Circuit and Arshad is once again mind-blowing as Circuit. I would go as far as to say Arshad Warsi is one of the FINEST comic actors in Bollywood today. His comic timing and facial expressions are unmatched and the actor relishes his part with total glee. It is evident that Warsi saves his best for the Munnabhai..and he betters his performance here from the original! KUDOS to Arshad Warsi!
At this stage I would like to mention the chemistry between Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. Bollywood has long seen chemistry between actors be it Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra/Vinod Khanna/Shashi Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Saif/Suniel Shetty and so forth but the chemistry shared between Dutt and Warsi is just amazing (no other word can describe it). The manner in which the two actors just bounce of one another so perfectly is just excellent and although their pairing is rather mis-matched from their looks to their style together they make one HELLUVA JODI.
Vidya Balan gives a great follow-up after her performance in PARINEETA. After a rather traditional debut in PARINEETA, she plays a contemporary role with equal success and is total whiz! The girl is drop-dead beautiful and her one smile alone is enough to melt the heart. Her everyday, girl-next-door looks are just killer and she exudes a rather cute and natural charm from a by-gone era which works in her favor. Her pairing with a relatively older in comparison Sanjay Dutt comes across as authentic and no doubt that Vidya Balan is a actress whom is definitely not going where and is here to stay(hurrah for that).GOOOOOOODDDD MORNNNINGGGGG VIDYAAAAA!
Much of the cast from MUNNABHAI MBBS return here as completely different characters and once again succeed in creating the magic of the original.
Boman Irani is back as Lucky Singh-playing Munnabhais arch rival once again and actor is excellent. Irani has a way of adding his own peculiar quirks to his comic character and Lucky Singh is no different. The convincing manner in which Boman manages to transform himself be it MUNNABHAI MBBS, MAIN HOON NA, BLUFFMASTER, MY WIFES MURDER and BEING CYRUS is just amazing. One of the most talented supporting actors in the industry today.
Dillip Prabhvalkar who plays Mahatma Gandhi in the movie is convincing in his part and plays the role of Bapuji well. Prabhavalkar could've easily copied Kinglseys performance in GANDHI or Nasserudin Shah in HEY RAM however he manages to play Gandhi in his own style which makes all the difference to his performance.
Jimmy Shergill and Dia Mirza play their parts well and are likeable.
Khulbhushan Kharbandha, Saurabh Shuka, Parikshit Sahani and Kurush Debboo too are effective in their parts as are the 6 actors who play the senior citizens.
Abhishek Bachchan is in the movie for a one scene cameo and is apt in his part.
Shantanu Moitras music is amazing-and with the picturisations the songs become even more likeable as the dancing and chemistry of the actors elevate all the songs to a different level. The title track is addictive and the whistle lingers away at the back of the viewers head-a perfect re-introduction to "that old feeling"?. SAMJJHO HO HI GAYA and AANE CHAAR AANE are songs that capitalize in on the camaraderie between Dutt and Warsi and do the job perfectly well. PAL PAL HAR PAL is a romantic number which is easy on the eyes and ears. BANDE MEIN THA DUM-VANDE MATARAM plays as the background track in the movie and progresses the story further in the crucial parts and is very effective. The song as a haunting affect on the viewer. CHANDA MAMA SO GAYEE is back too in the background. Also a special mention that none of the songs act like speed-breakers in the movie and are all sync in their place.
Technically the film is up to scratch and the camerawork and art both are wicked.
Flaws you ask me? Is the movie perfect? Well not quiet..the only major flaw that stuck out in my humble opinion was the love story between Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan. This is never developed properly-and frankly falls flat.
All up where does that leave LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI? The movie is EVERY INCH A WINNER from start to finish and after RANG DE BASANTI and OMKARA this is my third favorite film of the year.witty, original, funny, emotional and above all VERY VERY ENTERTAINING. And given that people coming out of the cinema at Interval were booking their tickets for the next show and weekend show, one can only say LAGE RAHO.MUNNABHAI and bring on Part 3!
Final Rating: * * * *
