Movie Review : Well done, Abba (2009)

[amazon_link id=”B00F3B0V0A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Rating : Good (4/5)
Genre : Drama
Year : 2009
Running time : 2 hours 24 minutes
Director : Shyam Benegal
Cast : Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, Sonali Kulkarni, Ravi Kishan, Sameer Dattani
Kidwise : G

This is one of those good films which got ignored, probably because of its minor star cast and relatively rural story-line. Armaan Ali is a driver in the city. He takes a vacation of a month, to go back home to Chikatpally to arrange for a match for his daughter Muskan who lives with his twin Rehman Ali and Rehman’s wife. When Armaan returns to his angry employer,  much after the said month, he explains his delay with a story. And an entertaining story it is.

Here’s another film from Shyam Benegal, kind of like his earlier “Welcome to Sajjanpur”. It too has a rural aspect, and is populated by many characters. The film itself is a simple, clean entertainer, banking upon the inter-play between the various characters, and the talent of the large star cast to pull it off.

Many of Benegal’s favorites like Ravi Kisshen and Yashpal Sharma make an appearance in this film. Boman Irani has a double role here – that of the twin brothers, Armaan and Rehman. Expectedly one is a bad guy, and the other good. Rehman Ali, shrewd troublemaker, is forever getting into tight spots, and generally causing trouble. Problems begin for Armaan because creditors mistake him for his pesky twin. Minissha Lamba, pigtailed and speaking Hyderabadi Hindi, in a very different role from her many modern city girl type avatars, plays smart and feisty Muskan.

One expects remarkable films from Shyam Benegal, and this one is no exception. His characters ring true, and through them he tells a fine comic tale. The film rests firmly on its story, screenplay, direction and acting – all immaculate. There is no room for frivolous fripperies nor is there need. This film seems more commercial than his earlier ventures, a tad more comical and a bit more in your face, but tolerably so.