Nautanki Saala Movie Reviews

The last few years have proved that 'small films' [in terms of costing] have big stories to tell. Recall films like DELHI BELLY, KAHAANI, PAAN SINGH TOMAR and VICKY DONOR. Also, one of the strengths of the recent success story, JOLLY LLB, was its absorbing storyline, which was so well presented on celluloid by its creator, Subhash Kapoor. It's alright to be greedy when it comes to high-quality content, right? Rohan Sippy, who has worked with formidable names

Picture this: Ram dons Raavan's avatar. Sita zips off on a scooty with 'beary' 'good friend' Hanuman. Laksman is out of sight. And a brand new Ramleela plays out; where even the mighty Raavan (with all ten heads) can't crack his part. Gods must be crazy, alright, in this kalyug ki Ramayan. More comedy, less chastity. More drama, less dagabaaz. The stage is set and it's showtime folks. All starting one night when theater actor/director Ram Parmar

This is no Shakespearean act, but there’s enough drama, demons and devtaas to rival our desi phantoms of the operas.

Director Rohan Sippy remakes the French film Après Vous and upgrades it for Bollywood, ushering in smart choices and changes. Gone is the Paris-restaurant waiter setup and replaced with the Bombay-theater-actor world. And while the level of humour remains intact, some of the deficiencies of the original take different forms and spill over in the redo, Nautanki Saala. At the heart of it, a love triangle, the story is of an actor and theater director

There will be a few people happy to watch 'Nautanki Saala!'. Theatre professionals, for one, will be really ecstatic to see a reel stage professional making the kind of money that can afford him flowers worth Rs 25,000, hospital bills for a stranger worth Rs 40,000, bills for wine at plush restaurants, bribes for audiences to clap and compensation for half a dozen silly accidents - all without blinking an eye for a complete stranger found off the street

At a time when it might seem that mainstream Bollywood is stuck in the rut of cannibalising Hindi hits of the past, here is a Mumbai film that is nothing if not different. It is inspired by a French romantic comedy of a decade ago. Rohan Sippy’s Nautanki Saala!, with its robust desi twist to a very Gallic idea, has the feel of an oasis in the desert. It ultimately turns out to be just a mirage, but all said and done its idiosyncrasies

The film deserves full marks for intention, if not for execution. But give me Nautanki Saala! any day after the merciless assault of Himmatwala and Chashme Baddoor!.

Nautanki Saala! is based on a frothy French comedy called Après Vous, which means After You. Sadly, much is lost in translation. Director Rohan Sippy is unable to fully retain the lightness and effervescence of the original. Nautanki Saala! is funny in parts but often feels stretched and flat, like champagne without the fizz. The film is about the tumultuous relationship between a theatre actor-director, Ram (played by Ayushmann Khurrana), and a suicidal depressive

When it comes to recounting an event or anecdote, I have encountered two kinds of people. There’s one who can engross over the plainest of stories by embellishing it with colourful expression and vivid details. The other, however, can turn the most spellbinding yarn into a cumbersome exercise with his needless digressions, numerous pauses and speech interruptions. In his fourth film as director, Rohan Sippy finds himself swiveling in the midst

Ayushman Khurana appears as a stage actor and director Ram Parmar. He specializes and is popular in the role of Raavan in Ramleela. On one night while going to meet his girl friend Chitra (Gaelyn Mendonca) he sees a desperate Mandar Lele (Kunaal Roy Kapoor) trying to commit suicide. He saves him. Kunal believes he is useless good for nothing. His girlfriend Nandini ( Pooja Salvi) has also deserted him. Ram builds Mandar's confidence in himself

The best scenes in Rohan Sippy‘s “Nautanki Saala” (adapted from French comedy Apres Vous) are the ones where there is no woman or romance involved. Male leads Ayushmann Khurrana and Kunaal Roy Kapoor have a good chemistry going and their humour is quirky and whacky, but funny all the same. The problem in their lives, and in the film, starts when the woman arrives on the scene. Ram Parmar (Khurrana) a theatre director and actor

Sippy has a feel for staging scenes, and some are laugh-out-loud. The idea that true love can be found through such a random route is also nice, and lends the film a pleasing slightness. But the nautanki in this film is an on-off thing. I wish there was much more of it.

When Bollywood is busy remaking the best (Chashme Baddoor) and the worst (Himmatwala) of its own films from the 1980s, director Rohan Sippy comes back after his Goan drug tale to maaro dum from a French farce. His new film Nautanki Saala! is an official remake of the 2003 comedy Apres Vous… (After You…) about a golden-hearted do-gooder who brings trouble upon himself from the moment he stops a man on the street from hanging himself

Nautanki Saala brings together two of the best comic talents in recent times, Ayushmann Khurana and Kunal Roy Kapur, along with the usually dependable director Rohan Sippy. Evidently you expect nothing but the best from this combo. In the end you aren't sure what has let you down more - your expectations or the film per se. The story is about a good soul Ram (Ayushmann Khurana) who saves a stranger, Mandar Lele (Kunal Roy Kapur) on the verge of suicide

Sippy never brings the lightness of touch needed to pull off this kind of film. Like the title suggests, it’s all empty theatrics. And wait, the film also has the unique distinction of capturing one of the longest on-screen smooches in a long time.. shot in such excruciating close-up that you might throw up your lunch.

Watch ‘Nautanki Saala` only if you really want to.

Nautanki Saala Movie Review: 2.5/5 stars. What’s Good: Its comic set pieces, acting performances and the visual ...