Movie Review: Wajah Tum Ho

Ab to karo kuchh aisa yaaron

Hosh na humko aaye

Kaise kahen hum pyaar ne humko

Kya kya khel dikhaaye  -  Remember this legendary Kishore Da song? No. Thankfully there was no rearrangement of this song in Wajah Tum Ho. But these were the exact lyrics that were echoing in my mind when I heard Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas and Aise Ne Mujhe Tum Dekho, the Wajah tum ho version.  Nothing probably will remain sacred.

Wajah Tum Ho- isn't there something very passionate about this phrase. Somebody could be the reason of your being, your Muse, your inspiration.  Only Vishal Pandya and team did not have enough passion for cinema or storytelling. And therefore Wajah Tum Ho is a film without a Wajah. Now, one would ask ‘why watch it when the teasers were not exciting enough?’ The one Wajah was Gurmeet Choudhary.

Like his previous outing which was also his debut, Khamoshiyan, Gurmeet gets to die in this film too. And that is not the reason why I want the makers of WTH to give me the two hours of my life back.

When you have too many thoughts in your head and know you have just two hours to tell your story, what do you do? You, of course, choose the plot and maybe subplots that will connect with the audience. And that does not involve letting the audience know about who satellite TV and hacking works. It is also unfortunate for the makers of  WTH that it released at a time when ‘desh ka bachha bachha’ (yes. Yes. This phrase was used in WTH) is actually talking about hacking, all thanks to the now legendary ‘Legion’. 

 The gory ‘LIVE’ murder on TV is not just puke worthy; it is also reminiscent of the shoddily made cinema. Not that ‘blood and gore’ haven't been executed well in World Cinema. Maybe the director of WTH did not have the time or the desire for a little research or inspiration. And come on. India does have voyeurs and the success of Big Boss is a testimony to the fact. But people about to dine, people sitting in cafes, etc; watching a live murder with gaping mouths? Our collective conscience does better than this.

 The dialog writing is patchy and lazy and has an overdose of the nineties.  Alright.  This Rahul Oberoi is a rapist and a womanizer. But his asking if he would get to ‘touch’ his legal head when his freedom and business empire is at stake; is hilarious. And Mr. Duggal and the lady, Sana Khan,  that plays his lawyer need lessons in acting. That is more important than looking gorgeous because ‘desh ka bachha bachha’ has gotten smarter.

Sharman as the Vardi wala says he gets to use all six bullets of the revolver on anyone, without any questions asked. Seriously? No one has told the makers of WTH about the debate around supposed fake encounters in this nation! And in 2016 who uses 'don't cross your limit' in a serious conversation between a media baron and a performing cop?  And which serious cop calls up a university in Amreeka and says ‘I am calling from India’! We are talking about India. Not Tristan da Cunha, for cinema’s sake.

Then there is Prakash Kutty’s cinematography that does nothing to help the movie. Neither does the editing. In the scene, where the junior cop comes to tell Kabir that they have the phone recording of the slain ACP; there is Gurmeet who plays the lawyer Ranveer,  and Kabir in the same frame.  Only Kabir reacts and Ranveer looks on. Seriously? He remains immune? And the editor lets the director keep that frame?  And neither Gurmeet nor Sana is ever seen analyzing the case. Even college kids caught giving proxy analyze more than these supposed lawyers do and find a way to get out of the way of their professor’s ire.

Oh but then this is more complicated. You don’t know what the Wajah of their actions is. So we go round in circles and it drags for two hours. ..

 The very positioning of the film in the erotic genre was a mistake. Lovers are supposed to get intimate, and that is not an erotic thriller and doesn't essentially need to be the focal point of a movie trailer. Neither Sherlyn Chopra, nor Zarine Khan help and the film would probably be better without them. And no. Not all raunchy / item numbers are trashed. Fevicol and Beedi being case in point.  In the era of internet, I am not sure people can be dragged to the theater with just heaving bosom and dashboard abs.

 The Wajah’s to criticize the film are many.  There is only one reason to not do so. Gurmeet. Wajah tum ho. I would probably just watch reruns of  Gurmeet’s serials and save my filmy heart from getting bruised any further. 

P.S- The makers of 'Hate Story 2&3' need a break.