Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Pat II Movie Review

Hindi cinema is truly evolving. Experimentation is the name of the game and the new breed of writers and directors are opting for stories that have seldom been attempted. And if at all the stories have been depicted earlier, the story telling is distinctive and contemporary, catering to an audience that is in a mood for a change.

Impact Films P. Ltd.'s WAISA BHI HOTA HAI - PART II is an example of the changing face of Hindi cinema. The film has its loose ends, nevertheless you cannot deny that it's an effort in the right direction.

A guilt-ridden copywriter, Puneet [Arshad Warsi], is thrown out of home by his girlfriend Agni [Sandhya Mridul], a cop.

Puneet's guilt is that he turned his back on his only living relative - his elder brother who is a gangster.

As if this is not bad enough, Puneet accidentally saves a hitman, Vishnu's [Prashant Narayanan] life. They gradually become friends and start sharing more time together.

The hitman's boss, Ganpat [Anant Jog], is the most powerful don in the city. He takes an instant dislike for Puneet in their very first meeting.

A woman ganglord, Gangutai [Pratima Kazmi], who hates Ganpat, uses Puneet to break the relationship between Gangu and Vishnu. She also kidnaps Puneet subsequently.

But in a change of events, Gangubai is arrested by Agni, when Puneet goes to Lonavala to meet Vishnu. After Gangubai is granted bail, she kidnaps Agni to avenge the insult. But Puneet lands up at the nick of time.

Puneet finds himself at crossroads. On one hand is his girlfriend, on the other hand the gangsters. What happens next?

Although Waisa Bhi Hota Hai - PART II falls in the league of gangster films, it takes a different route altogether. Writer-director Shashanka Ghosh presents the stark realities of life without glorifying the underworld, but has laced wit and humour in the narrative so as to make the goings-on interesting and entertaining. There's no grim moment in the film - thankfully!

The problem with the film is that it is engaging, but intermittently. The relationship between the hitman and the copywriter is the best part of the film. But the same cannot be said of the rapport the hitman shares with his boss, Ganpat. There was scope to explore this track definitely. Why he is so loyal to him and follows his orders blindly should've been elucidated.

Similarly, the sequences featuring the woman ganglord are well penned, well executed and well enacted, but the blow-hot-blow-cold relationship between the copywriter and his cop-girlfriend is half-baked. The director has depicted tender moments between the two, but it lacks a solid ground.

The end is the best part of the enterprise. The culmination to every character looks straight out of comic books and appeals due to its sheer novelty.

This is Shashanka Ghosh's directorial debut, but not once do you feel that the narrative is being handled by a first-timer. Technically, the film is just right, although he needs to brush up on his writing skills.

Music [Abhinav Dhar and Vishal-Shekhar] is a strong point. 'Sajana', 'Nahin Lagda Tere Bina' and 'Allah Ke Bande' sound different and pleasing to the ears. 'Jism' [picturised on Maria Goretti Warsi] is striking and equally well picturised. Cinematography [Andre Menezes] is alright. Dialogues are natural.

Arshad Warsi is efficient, slipping into his character effortlessly and displaying the various emotions with ease. Prashant Narayanan is first-rate. Here's an actor who deserves to be picked up by good directors.

Sandhya Mridul doesn't really get a chance to display histrionics, but does make her presence felt. Anant Jog is excellent, enacting his part with utmost conviction. But the one who registers the maximum impact is Pratima Kazmi, who enacts the role of a ganglord with such flourish.

Suchitra Pillai is efficient. Mahima Chaudhary [sp. app.] comes only towards the end and doesn't get any scope whatsoever. Maria Goretti Warsi sizzles in the dance number.

On the whole, WAISA BHI HOTA HAI - PART II is a good attempt from a first-timer, but the treatment of the film is such, it caters to a niche audience - the multiplex-going cinegoers. At the box-office, the film has some chances at select theatres of Mumbai mainly.