Rohit Shetty blends horror and melodrama with comedy
It’s not just the funnies. You can expect horror, melodrama, revenge and even a storyline in the latest from Rohit Shetty’s Golmaaal series.
Golmaal Again, the fourth Golmaal film, starts with a brief recap narrated by Tabu — the new orphanage, our five stars as the first ‘batch’ of kids; how the gang took different paths; what brought them back together.
This bit of the plot takes longer than it should have, and there aren’t enough oneliners or jokes to keep you entertained. It is only after a ghost enters the scene that I began to see smiles on the faces around me.
The spirit that is chasing the old gang is rendered masterfully by Shreyas Talpade, adding hilarity and a surprisingly effective horror twist to the familiar comic capers.
Interestingly, before we see the ghosts, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu are shown using technology to make people believe their houses are haunted. They work as goons-for-hire for real-estate agents and tycoons.
Promos promised that Tusshar’s character, Lucky, would finally be able to speak in this Golmaal. He does, when possessed by a spirit, but it doesn’t really work. Lucky is best doing his silent gags.
It’s fun to see Tabu in a new kind of role though, poker-faced even as she punches and talks animatedly to spirits. She drives much of the plot and is an excellent addition to the franchise.
Devgn, however, seems burdened with the weight of his own films. There are references to Singham – both the film and the famous line (‘Ata maajhi satakli’). The romantic angle between him and Parineeti is offensive, trying as it does to make elements of paedophilia something to laugh about.
Rohit Shetty’s trademark slapstick is sparse and the film relies mainly on the supernatural for its hahas.
The many, hilarious side characters — Vasooli Bhai (Mukesh Tiwari), Pappi Bhai (Johnny Lever), Paandu (Vrijesh Hirjee), Inspector Dande (Murli Sharma) and Babli Bhai (Sanjay Mishra) — are all back and in their element, though. So, for the many fans of the series, it’s likely to be a happy reunion.