For the nth time, the great
Indian Punjabi family comes together but this time with a difference. It makes
a song and bhangra around the most popular Indian middle class car, the Maruti.
As both the title song and the dad say, "it is not a car, it is a
love".
The Maruti car has smoothly
made itself a household brand since the 90s. That it can provide fodder and
fuel for an entire 2-hour plus film, the Maruti owners could not have possibly
imagined.
Y films, a Yashraj films division catering to
the youth segment, which earlier made "Mujhse Fraandship karoge”,
continues to work with new talent in MDKM.
It is wedding time at Khullar House in
Chandigarh. Tej Khullar (Ram Kapoor) breaks a coconut to celebrate
and welcome the latest and snazzy hot red Maruti Ertiga 'gaddi' ,his wedding
gift for his daughter and future son-in-law. His relationship with his son
boils down to a holler in his Punjabi da papaji accent,'Oye SMEEra '.
Sameer is the typical Punjabi
college going boy who is constantly
absconding from home and being admonished for it. Little does Khullar know that
he will have real reason to holler this time. His son, Sameer (Saqib Saleem)decides
to steal the precious car for an evening. After all, as his friend, Gattu, (Prabal
Panjabi ) says, every man has made the worst mistakes because of a woman. So
there is the hottest college girl,"Chandigarh ki Shakira”, Jasleen (Rhea Chakraborty)
who picks Sameer to accompany her for an evening. Elated at getting one chance
at wooing her, he hops into his dad's red Maruti and takes the girl out. Soon the dad's new love,
the hot Maruti goes missing. What follows is a happy car hunt ride along with
silly plans Sameer keeps coming up with, to hoodwink his dad.
Ram Kapoor as the dad who
loves his Marutis and his drinks with equal fervour, plays the jovial but
strict Khullar well and masters the holler to perfection. The newcomers, Saqib Saleem,
Rhea Chakraborty are average. Prabal Panjabi as the friend is a shade better.
Lyrics by Kumaar are entirely
in Punjabi. “Mere dad ki Maruti kendi hor ghumna.." set the right tone for
the film but gets on the nerves with its Punjabi overdose.
Ashima Chibbar makes a good debut as
director. The story (Neeraj Udhwani)is light with a novel appeal. The
screenplay (Neeraj, Pooja Desai,Ashima ) is a little stretched for the subject
and the dialogues (Ishita Moitra)are sometimes fun, sometimes forced with
smatterings of Punjabi humour.Most characters are well fleshed out, except for
one unconvincing garage gangster(Ravi Kishen).
Mere Dad Ki Maruti, remains
at best a mildly amusing balle ride. The only hilarious balle balle moment is a
dance number performed by the bride at
her own wedding. Brownie points for the
actor and the choreographer.
enjoyed
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