Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

Dogs race ahead -- Roadside Romeo

BOW-WOW TO SUCCESS: Roadside Romeo

Genre: Animation

Director: Jugal Hansraj

Storyline: Romeo, a smart dog falls in love with a cabaret dancer Laila. Charlie, the don of dogs, also has an eye on her.

Bottomline: Cute till the tail-end

Finally, we have got an Indian animation film that matches international standards. Also one that is not meant for a particular age group. Hopefully, Yash Raj banner has got a success story up its sleeve. And Jugal Hansraj has found a vocation where he could be a success.

Yes, Jugal has played safe. He has weaved a story which has all the elements of a Bollywood pot-boiler. A smart dog, which has to rely on its wits rather than size. He falls in love with a cabaret dancer, Laila. All is well, until Romeo discovers the don of dogs, Charlie, has an eye on the dancer.

We know that simplicity is the most difficult thing to achieve on celluloid. Jugal has almost managed it. He scores with his characterisation and dialogue. They are laced with measured humour and the desired punch drawn from hit dialogue of Bollywood. There is never a missing link between the expressions, the voice over and the import. Saif Ali Khan has given his inherent cockiness to Romeo. Kareena has layered Laila with her chutzpah.

And Jaaved Jafferi has made Charlie as over-the-top as possible. Credit to the voice-overs that for a moment make you forget you are watching a tale of dogs. Generally, you have only one adjective to describe a good animation film: cute. Here you will find many options.

You really look forward to how Romeo will smooch Laila on a full moon light! Or what the street dogs think about us. Salim-Sulaiman’s music has given the moments that extra zing. The support cast is strong enough to add muscle to the storyline.

Charlie’s sidekick, Chainu (remember Shatrughan Sinha in ‘Mere Apne’?) has almost walked away with all the glory. The icing on the cake is the pace of the film. There is never a dull moment. The animation by Tata Elxsi is much better than what we have seen till date, but there is still a gap to fill to achieve Hollywood standards.

The Yash Raj banner has fallen again for narcissistic tendencies and has used the film as a vehicle to promote its glorious past.

Thanks to Jugal, for a significant portion it is part of the scenery.

Watch it with somebody you love. It need not necessarily be kids.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail