Review

Joru Ka Ghulam
Rib-tickler all the way
The title and star cast of Noorani Films Corporations’ Joru Ka Ghulam may lead viewers to believe that the film is a family drama laced with hilarious comedy. But it turns out to be fare meant for the front benchers and B and C class centres. Director Shakeel Noorani has put the entire burden of carrying the film on the antics of Govinda, Johnny Lever and Ashok Saraf. The trio manages to save the film with the comedy scenes although these appear to be repetitive. However, Govinda and Johnny Lever with their hilarious lines, save the film.

The story revolves around Raja (Govinda) and Kanhaiya (Johnny Lever) who con passengers at the airport posing as narcotic detectives. Once they chance upon Raju Patel (Ali Asgar), an NRI who has come with a proposal to marry one of the four daughters of business tycoon Dhaneshwar Pitamber (Kader Khan). The daughters — Laxmi, Parvati, Saraswati and Durga (Twinkle Khanna) are known for their tantrums and are against marriage for reasons of their own, which worries the sethji. Enter Raja and Kanhaiya into the household of Dhaneshwar after conning Raju Patel. Durga tries all her tricks to make them flee but the duo, with eyes set on the Rs 5 crore dowry offered by Dhaneshwar, refuse to budge.

Durga falls in love with Raja after he rescues her from goons and tells her father of her willingness to marry him. But sethji comes out with a new condition that their marriage can be solemnised if the other three girls also find their match. This creates problems for Raja, Kanhaiya and their mama (Ashok Saraf) who also lands at the household to assist the boys. The film loses intrest as the trio starts hunting for grooms for the three girls and fill in the blanks for their crores. Needless to say that they they succeed in their attempts. There is also the character of a drug mafia, Anna (Ashish Vidyarthi) who yearns of becoming a filmi villian straying into the storyline with an inconsequential role.

Govinda is his usual self and has done a great job of resurrecting the film along with Johnny Lever. The duo’s flair for comedy is evident in every scene and they have infused life in the proceedings. Ashok Saraf has effectively supported them portraying the character of mama with ease. Apart from the dance numbers, Twinkle Khanna has very little to do acting-wise. Yet she looks convincing in whatever emotional scenes that have come her way. Ali Asgar excels in the cameo role of the NRI. Kader Khan and Razzak Khan lend able support and maintain the tempo of the film. Ashish Vidyarthi has done well despite a badly etched character of a drug mafia. Rushika, Rajashree and Rakhi Sawant as the other three girls just fill the bill.

Music by Aadesh Shrivastava is nothing much except for the title number. Director Shakeel Noorani has been lucky enough to have Govinda and Johnny Lever as the lead players, who, with their rumbustious performances, have saved the day for him. Dialogue writer Tanveer Khan has done a fair job of penning lines keeping in mind the central characters although he could have shown some restraint in a few scenes. As a choreographer, Ganesh Acharya has done well and seems to be maturing with every film.

Padmaraj Nair