Karnataka   

It flatters to deceive

My Name is Anthony

Gonsalves (Hindi)

Cast: Nikhil Dwivedi, Amrita Rao, Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pawan Malhotra

Director: E. Nivas

At a time when Bollywood is increasingly wearing the colours of uniformity, this has turned out to be a rare week. If Ashfaque, not to be confused with the unsung freedom fighter, is the hero of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Halla Bol, it is Anthony Gonsalves here in the title role in E. Niwas’s film. However, the change is mere cosmetic. Sandpaper away the names of the two heroes. Ignore the Haji Ali song in Halla Bol and a few church sequences here, and you realise our dream merchants only skim the surface.

Result? A film that flatters to deceive. However, why expect something better from a film whose title itself is inspired from a late 1970s’ song in Manmohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony? Well, originality has seldom been Bollywood’s forte. So, excuse Niwas too. But what one cannot digest is the complete inability of the director to get the viewers hooked on to the film which starts off as a love story of a struggling actor and an upcoming assistant director. A little into the film, a couple of songs out of the way, and suddenly the film turns an underworld saga. The hero, you see, predictably is an orphan who has been reared by a baddie who is now wanted by the cops. As Niwas goes about solving the riddle, film changes tracks, and as he remembers to bring the love angle back, and you long for the exit point. Why? Not only does the story moves in fits and starts, newcomer Nikhil Dwivedi has as much charisma as a fly on the wall. His dialogue delivery barely passes muster, and as Niwas seeks to build up his persona, you realise the debutant needed more help. His co-star Amrita Rao, in comparison, is at ease in front of the camera. Pity Nikhil also has to share the screen with seasoned pros such as Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher and Pawan Malhotra. Each of these artistes does his bit to perfection though Mithun is a bit wasted as a clergyman who seldom steps beyond the church and hardly ever interacts with any other soul, except the hero.

The film could have done with better music, a more amiable hero, and Niwas in his Shool form. Still want to watch this film? Well, all one would say is, Aaj jaane ki zid na karo, a Farida Khanum ghazal Anupam Kher so lovingly quotes in the film.

ZIYA US SALAM

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