Movies and movie releases have taken on a whole new meaning for me recently, after having started working for the King Khan and Red Chillies. And Once Upon has a special relevance, since it kicked off a mini storm by trying to take on Chennai Express on Eid. Better sense prevailed in the Ekta Kapoor camp, and the movie was pushed by a week for an Inependence Day release, a week later. Sadly, it brought no cheer to the movie's fans... an insipid cast and execution, and the unstoppable Chennai Express destroyed all hopes of an exciting "contest". In it's second week end, CExp collected more than OUATIMD on it's grand release!
The only thing interesting about the movie - the title. It started off being called OUATIMA, before Again was replaced by Dobaara. But, as they say, what's in a name? A bad movie sucks, whichever name it goes by with!
The first installment was a true gangster movie - Ajay Devgan was exceptional, and was beautifully supported by Emraan, Randeep, Kangana and Prachi Desai. The music, especially numbers like Pee Loon and Tum Jo Aaye, rocked the charts for months - and still bring cheer. And after the movie, I actually felt like researching a bit on Haji Mastan and the gangland ways of Mumbai.
Sadly, OUATIMD offers nothing. The story and screenplay, limited to a flimsy love triangle between the don, his lover, and her lover, borders on ridiculous, in the way it is presented as the core of the movie. The unending play on intercourse, the absolutely juvenile rendition of the award ceremony that propels the "actress" and the don's love interest to fame, and the hopeless climax of the movie are indicative of how shallow the treatment is. Needless sequences, like the don visiting the police station when there's a red alert out for him, are amateurish attempts to create drama where there is none.
Akshay Kumar invokes neither awe nor respect as the dreaded don. He tries too hard with the dialogues, making it seem unnatural and forced. And unlike Singham or Dabangg, I don't think anyone will remember any of them a few mins later. Sonakshi looks pretty, but after a stupendous performance in Lootera, completely disappoints in her unintended "chudail" scene at the end. I had high hopes from Imraan when he started off his career, but he is absolutely wasted in OUATIMD. Sonali Bendra makes an appearance after KHNH, but looks old, jaded and tired. And the music - well, except for the first para of Tayab Ali, it is all completely forgettable.
Sad, because so much was expected from this one!
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