Ashok’s Blog

Comment: Biggest disappointment of the year
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Director: Shaad Ali Sehgal
Producer: Yashraj Films
Music Director: Shankar Ehsaan Loy
Lyricist: Gulzar
Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Bobby Deol, Amitabh Bachchan, Lara Dutta
Writer: Shaadi Ali
Editor: Ritesh Soni

The Review:

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom had almost everything going for it.

• Abhishek’s next after the blockbuster Dhoom 2 and critically acclaimed Guru
• Shaad Ali’s next after the very successful Saathiya and Bunty aur Babli
• Produced by Bollywood’s most successful production house Yashraj Films
• Great Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy

The expectations were sky high. All eyes were on the movie. But who in their wildest of dreams could have expected JBJ (Jhoom Barabar Jhoom) to be such a pathetic flick?

Ok, now the story (Even though there is no story at all) *warning some spoilers ahead*

The movie starts with Amitabh dancing to the title song. Rikki Thukral (Abhishek Bachchan) is at the railway station waiting for his fiance Anaida (Lara Dutta). Alvira Khan (Preity Zinta) is also waiting for her fiancee Steve Singh (Bobby Deol) at the same railway station. The train has been delayed for an hour. They bump into each other. Both have a really long and boring discussion about their personal love life. The first half is full of how they met their fiance’s, how they sang, danced and eventually fell in love. Just then the train arrives. They exchange phone nos and part.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Barabar Jhooooooooooooooom….. Amitabh dances again.. Intermission.. thank god.. Feeling of relief sets in..

Now we have a twist in the second half. The stories narrated in the first half is fake. Both are single and ready to mingle. And infact Rikki and Alvira are madly in love with each other. Rikki goes to a prostitute (Again Lara Dutta) for help and Alvira takes help from a mama’s boy (you guessed it right Bobby Deol).

(Note:- At this point, 20% of the people in the theatre have disappeared and a few are fast asleep.)

Then its all too easy.. They meet at a dance competition. The prostitute has sex with mama’s boy and he falls in love with her instanty. On the other hand, Alvira and Rikki get to know the truth and kiss.. And we again get to see Amitabh dance and make a fool out of himself on screen. Sad to see a legend of Hindi cinema in such a pathetic role. End of the movie. Phew.. You feel relieved once again..

Bobby Deol is good and so is Lara Dutta. Abhishek Bachchan overacts and hams throughout. Preity Zinta is completely out of form in the first half, overall inconsistent. Amitabh is at his worst ever.

Shaad Ali is undoubtedly one of the worst directors in the Yashraj Camp. And JBJ is by far the weakest product from Yashraj Films ever. They need to realise that a movie is not just about Gloss and glamour. The content is most important.

So overall, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is by far the biggest disappointment this year. No entertainment value, below average performances and unbelievably bad direction.

Dont ever watch it.. Not even on television..

Rating: