eBolly's Movie Reviews
Anthony Kaun Hai?--- Anthony Mast Hai!
- by Viral Bhayani (eBolly.com)
Starring: Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Dutt, Minnisha, and Gulshan Grover
Music: Himesh Reshammiya
Story by: Soumik Sen
Directed by:Raj Kaushal
The story may sound confusing, but the way the film has made, it isn’t that
complex to watch. The film begins as a mystery, but ends up being just a
normal love story. Here the director tries to make a masala film and gives
us both a thriller and a comedy. Somehere both fail to balance and it turns
out more like a comedy which is actually a good thing. But as a thriller,
this film may not hold that much grip.
Of course, it doesn't measure up to Munnabhai's charisma, but it does try to
break the mould of boring Bollywood. And in places, it succeeds.
A key difference between the two movies is that Arshad Warsi is the lead man
in Anthony Kaun Hai while Sanjay Dutt has a supporting role. Its a Arshad
Warsi movie and the movie is pitted as a thriller with a story very
different from Munnabhai. Other than the cast, the movie is not related to
Munnabhai in any way.
Raj Kaushal has returned with a stylish, slick film which emerges as a good
time pass film. Seroiusly if you want to enjoy this film then you must leave
your brains behind, get your pack of popcorn, drink and simply enjoy this
film. But if you start analyzing this film on the content and script then
you will find the film a bit superficial and artifical.
The movie is light and good fun for the family. Primarily because both
Arshad and Sanjay have emerged as thoroughbreds who slip into the shoes of
the don and his tapori aide minus all hiccups.
Not even Singapore came out so interesting as Thailand in this movie. And
mind you the Thai government did not even help a bit in terms of subsidaries
or special discounts like the Singapore govt. did to Rakesh Roshan.
Director Raj Kaushal's new film isn't exactly the laugh riot that the promos
promised. It's more of a sleekly done thriller, with a smattering of fun
moments .
Former Hindustan Times journalist Soumik Sen cleverly builds the story
though one finds traces of 2001's Who Is Cletis Tout? (Christian Slater, Tim
Allen).
Synopsis:
Champ (Arshad Warsi) is telling his story to stay alive. After having
admitted (in half a syllable) to Master Mohan (Sanjay Dutt) that he is
Anthony Gonsalves, he spends the rest of the time (eight tenths of the
movie) trying to explain that he is not actually Anthony Gonsalves.
Trying to save his life (in the minute and a half that he is allotted by
Master) Champ flashes back 15 years when magician Raghuveer (Raghubir Yadav)
uses his powers to steal diamonds from some princess-looking lady.
Accompanied by his small daughter, he buries these diamonds in the ground in
front of a small temple in the forest. While trying to sell one of them, he
gets caught and is sent to jail.
Champ is released, but not before Raghuveer offers him half the diamonds in
exchange for arranging for an escape. Champ effects the escape, and meets
Raghuveer’s daughter, Jiya (Minissha Lamba). But to his luck (and ours), he
lands up with the ID of a murdered blackmailer, Anthony Gonzalves.
The villains want to kill the newly resurrected Anthony, and send Master
after some failed attempts. In between these plots, you’ll find some good
performances by an Interpol officer Suraj Singh (Gulshan Grover) who just
can’t sing.
The characters:
Sanjay Dutt is Master Madan, the only dangerous hitman who has seen every
Bollywood film made…and remembers them better than the faces of his victims.
Arshad Warsi is Champ, the only ace conman who's changed his identity more
than his underwear.
Minissha Lamba is Jiya, the only player who has a big secret to hide, with
her homing pigeon as her only confidante. The beautiful daughter of
ingenious magician Raghu, she is the heroine of the set-up.
Anusha Dandekar is Rosa, the hottest woman of the set-up, the beautiful Rosa
She may love Champ with all her heart, but patience isn't really her virtue
Raghubir Yadav is Magician Raghu Sharma, the ingenious magician Raghu, who
can work magic with his deft hands. But one trick too many costs him his
freedom.
Gulshan Grover is Detective Suraj Singh, the smartest cop on the Thai police
force, Detective Suraj Singh. Singh can make any suspect sing and spill the
beans.
Master Madan (Sanjay Dutt) is a sophisticated, ruthless, contract killer.
Champ (Arshad Warsi) an ace conman is his target. But is Champ really the
prey or is there something more to it?
A comic thriller extensively shot in Thailand, across Krabi and Bangkok,
Anthony Kaun Hai? promises to be an entertainer with a unique story.
Interesting facts:
The cops shown in the film are actual cops from Bangkok and not actors!
The piegon in this film plays a very vital role. If you have noticed the
posters, the white piegon is visible. Sadly, the pigeon who was to be
featured was a well trained pigeon and it seems a cat came and ate it before
the shoot of this film. Producer Nikhil had a tough time finding another
trained pigeon but finally managed one!
Dance choreographer Pony Verma simply refused to the song sequence on the
beach as a snake was under her shooting crane. With delay Raj Kaushal
himself decided to get rid of the snake as he caught it and let it loose in
another far away place.
Sanjay Dutt actually made eat a crazy snack to the Anthony team. He made
them eat soem were snack made of yuck grasshoppers! Only Nikhi the producer
was spared as he is Gujarati.
After shooting for this film both Anusha Dandekar and Minisha Lamba have
become best of pals. In fact they even greet each other in Thai language.
Verdict:
The film rocks ands thanks to Arshad Warsi. He may not be having the abs of
Hrithik or Salman, but his acting skills and comic timing are just perfect.
The sacre in his mind towards Sanjay Dutt in this comes so real. Both the
actors are really the male jodi no 1 of the Indian film industry.
Sanjay Dutt has some great funny oneliners. You will love his filmy jokes
especially the one on Yash Chopra. Though he is not so much in this film, he
has a strong presence and relevance in this film.
What strikes the most is the slick and stylish way Raj Kaushal (the
director) has shot the entire film. The cinematography is visually striking
and the editing is crisp. The cityscape of Thailand and Krabi are captured
on the screen with flourish.
After the surprise success of 'Yahaan' and the recent success of 'Corporate'
svelte and tender Minisha Lamba impresses in a big way. The actress has
control over her emotions and works mechanically with the proceedings of the
film. She fails miserably though in the death scene of her dad. Minisha
comes out as a svelte sweet looking girl in this film. Though she is not
excellent, she comes out well on the screen. Her glamorous outfits in most
of the scenes make her.
Anusha Dandekar adds the oomph value to the film.
But the surprise package actor is Viveck Vaswani. He returns in the most
hilaroius way. Good times are back for this senior actor who went missing
for some years from the big screen.
The music is average and good reason to take breaks out for a smoke or snack
The pace of the film is fine.
Go for this film without any hesitation.