February 17, 2012
Cast: Prateik Babbar, Amy Jackson, Manu Rishi, Sachin Khedekar
Director: Gautham Menon
With Ekk Deewana Tha director Gautham Menon takes his third stab at the same story, having directed successful Tamil and Telugu versions previously. This Hindi remake is a disappointing bore of a love story that tests your threshold for pain as it hobbles along indulgently for close to 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Prateik Babbar stars as Sachin, a 22-year-old middle-class engineering graduate who dreams of making movies one day. When his family moves into a rented home in Juhu, Sachin finds himself instantly smitten by the landlord’s daughter Jessie (played by British model Amy Jackson) who lives in the house above.
Jessie is a year older than Sachin, she’s a Malayali Christian, and her family has disdain for people involved with films. She’s attracted to Sachin, but she knows it’s not going to work out. Not one to give up easily, Sachin pursues her relentlessly, even following her all the way to Kerala in the hope of changing her mind. Floored by all the attention, she gives in…only to keep changing her mind every now and then, driving both Sachin and the audience completely nuts.
Charming in a goofy sort of way, Prateik Babbar makes the film’s first thirty minutes or so watchable even though very little happens here. His awkward body language and his nervous tics are refreshing, especially as his character, Sachin, skulks around spying on Jessie, and stalks her even. The same, unfortunately, can’t be said for the film’s pretty but vapid leading lady, whose lines appear to have been dubbed by someone much older than herself. Surprisingly, the actress is poorly made-up, and for much of the film sports an obviously fake tan. The couple’s chemistry is lukewarm, and save for a few inspired moments their banter is grating.
Cutting between Mumbai and Kerala, the film’s second half meanders carelessly, and at such a sluggish pace you’ll have to check your pulse to make sure you’re still breathing. Manu Rishi, who plays Sachin’s mentor, and a Bollywood cameraman, infuses some energy with his smart lines and his natural style of acting. But it’s not enough to save this sloppy film from its imminent fate. The resolution of the couple’s conflict is so convenient, you’ll want to smack them for not arriving at it one hour ago.
I’m going with a generous two out of five for Ekk Deewana Tha. Even A R Ramhan’s score offers only sporadic relief. The only real discovery you make through this film is Prateik Babbar’s immense likeability. Now if only the kid could act!
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
Bakwas movie
Comment by Sudeshnu bal — February 17, 2012 @ 10:48 pm
cool ! some of ur final make me laugh out loud !
the feel and emotion of this film that was effectively conveyed in the tamil and telegu version is missing in hindi !
Comment by shanmuganand — February 17, 2012 @ 11:30 pm
I was conned into watching this movie today. I love the Tamil version and it is one of my favourite movies. It also starred Trisha at her most charming best. Like many Tamil guys I had a huge crush on Jessie as portrayed by Trisha. I hadn’t watched any of the promos and I merely assumed that she had been cast in the Hindi version as well.
Sadly the character of Jessie was butchered here by a simpering debutanate who bewilderingly looked less like a sweet,simple South Indian girl and more like a spray tanned British teenager. I later found out this was because she was a Scouser and not a South Indian woman.
Maybe because I am deeply attached to Trisha’s Jessie or maybe because I live in the UK and don’t get any kind of cheap thrill watching Western women who are cast inappropriately in our movies but I was very offended that Trisha had been replaced by this fully incompentent girl. Importing girls from the UK into India to replace our actresses is just not cool. It’s insulting to our women and it’s frustrating for people like me who watch Indian movies as a reason to connect with our culture back home not to have some cheap FHM UK model shoved in our faces.
Comment by Neelesh — February 18, 2012 @ 5:56 am
Rajeev Masand’s back with those bashfull words. Way to go!
P.S.: I would still despise you for the verdict on ‘Ek Main aur ek tu’. Ek Deewana tha’s far better than Ek main aur ek tu.
Comment by Vinay — February 18, 2012 @ 10:39 am
Disappointed! I was expecting a good love movie this week. Even had a review of Ghost rider and that too is not good. 🙁
Comment by Flickstime — February 18, 2012 @ 2:12 pm
So Gautham menon again fails in Hindi….it was expected…VTV was fresh as a concept and Trisha did a grt job…and the music was fantastic….but the first goof up he did was to cast an expat as the leading lady that too one from the south…well wish him all the best for his Tamil film and hoping he will leave Bollywood alone..Rajiv, like always, great review!and generous 2!
Comment by Sangeeth — February 18, 2012 @ 2:19 pm
My Review of the movie
http://rrachna.com/2012/02/17/movie-review-ek-deewana-tha/
Comment by Ashwath — February 18, 2012 @ 2:26 pm
Which version did u see?
I believe they’ve released two versions in Hindi. One with the “happy” ending like the Telugu one and one with the “sad” ending like the Tamil one.
Comment by Jitesh — February 18, 2012 @ 7:53 pm
Ha,ha ! You don’t even know what a good or bad movie is.According to you,if its a hollywood movie its excellent.Sissy movies from y/kj/sr banner are even better for you.See it is because of people like you that it is said that people who can’t do anything they teach and those who can’t even teach become critics.Btw,it is a good movie with an indian film and great music by Rehman.
Comment by tintin — February 19, 2012 @ 1:13 pm
oh Rajeev i think you are too generous to give this crap 2 stars. It completely lacked the magic of VTV and prateik completely screwed the character.
Simbu’s potrayal of Karthik in VTV was like wow and Trisha was the perfect Jessie. Both prateik and amy have not acted to their level. So thats why the movie sucks at its core.
Regretting for watching this movie and if you ‘ve watched VTV DO NOT WATCH THIS.
Comment by Varsha — February 19, 2012 @ 5:26 pm
Looks like, For the first time the users’ reviews and Raajeev’s review are matching big time.LoL!!!!
Comment by gururaj — February 20, 2012 @ 11:50 am
its one of the best romantic movie in bollywood. This review is totaly bakwas…go n watch the movie ppl..definitely not like yash raj’s sloppy love stories which rajeev always praises…
Comment by jibin — February 21, 2012 @ 1:17 am
Not sure why people say prateik babbar is good. i feel he sucks at his acting and really bad.
He has been playing the same confused,lost person from his first movie and has become more unbearable with it.
May be it clicked for a disturbed child in jaane tu jaane na. But he cant even deliver his dailogues properly. Most of the time he is looking at other actor in the movie as if he is cross eyed. Dont believe me see the scene in rajneeti where saif ali and he fight it out in the canteen on reservation. Unbearable not even funny.
Comment by HatePrateik — February 21, 2012 @ 7:05 pm
Would have loved to see this! The review makes me double minded!!
Comment by Somya — February 21, 2012 @ 10:16 pm
I was waiting to watch this movie in Hindi, having watched the Tamil and Telugu versions. Though I didn’t expect the magic of Trisha/Simbu/AR Rehman in the hIndi one, I atleast thought GVM (Director) wouldnt screw this movie soooo much. In which scene did Amy Jackson come close to look like a Mal Christian? Puhleeeeeezzz. What a waste of time, money and effort Mr. Menon! And yes Prateik cannot continue to goof around like this, for long! If u have watched tamil/ telugu versions, skip this!
Comment by Vindya — February 22, 2012 @ 4:36 pm
I liked the movie… Come on Rajeev, at least the movie is different. Why don’t you tell abt Gautham Menon’s great visual sense? You find Jessy’s character confusing. Being a Malayali christian i can relate to her. It is difficult for u to understand our culture. However, i agree with u in that Amy was a great disappointment in Jessy’s role.
Comment by Sibin Antony — February 24, 2012 @ 11:31 am
the VTV (tamil) worked out because of Trisha and simbu. the chemistry between the lead actors were the life line of VTV. hindi version sucks
Comment by priya — February 24, 2012 @ 11:56 am
Watch the telugu version for a perfect romance
Comment by Sajid — March 16, 2012 @ 11:20 pm
I loved it. Have not watched the tamil or the telegu version but whatever was served on the platter was nice. And this movie is far more better than Ek mein aur ek tu.
Comment by nandini — March 26, 2012 @ 4:34 pm