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Chashme Baddoor – 3/5

Chashme Baddoor, the 2013 remake of the hit 1981 movie Chashme Buddoor, is a tongue-in-cheek riot of off-the-wall antics, ridiculous rhymes and popular culture references. There is a lot more than just one letter in the movie’s title that has changed since the original, and riding the current wave of semi-ironic 1980s revivalism comes this entertainer. David Dhawan’s handling of the original plot is outrageously sarcastic in its execution, and he’s not afraid of laughing at himself either. One such classic moment comes in the form of a fabulously over-the-top and unexpected rendition of ‘What is Mobile Number?’, originally featured in Dhawan’s 1999 film Haseena Maan Jaayegi.

Many pop culture references are likely to fly over the heads of anyone who doesn’t take an interest in the Indian media. From the rendering of the word ‘sir’ as “saar” to the protagonist’s line “Bye… bye… Seema! Bye…”, Chashme Baddoor pokes fun and mimics popular commercials from Indian television screens in recent years. Even one of the movie’s biggest songs – Har Ek Friend Kamina Hota Hai – is a play on an earworm ad for cellphone company Airtel. And yes, those horse-riding steps which appear in the dance routine for that and another song are a nod to a certain K-pop sensation who exploded on to the world stage mid last year.

The music is Chashme Baddoor is inconsistent, but with the exception of the deliciously filmi song Dhichkyaaon Doom Doom (which really stays with you), all the songs are common in their noisiness. In particular, Andha Ghoda Race Mein Dauda is unnecessary and annoying, while Early Morning just seems to crop up again and again, but for no particular reason as it’s not especially great. Ali Zafar doesn’t sing as many songs as you might expect either – fans who watch the movie simply for his music may leave disappointed.

The acting, overall, leaves much to be desired – this is no masterpiece for any of Ali Zafar, Siddharth, Divyendu Sharma, Lilette Duvey, Rishi Kapoor or Anupam Kher (for his tiny piece). However the one who really proves herself is Taapsee Pannu, a Punjabi actress and model who makes her Hindi movie debut in Chashme Baddoor. Already known to south Indian audiences thanks to a string of Tamil, Telegu and even one Malayali production, Pannu is memorable for her on-screen presence and comic timing, particularly where exaggerated and comedic dance moves are concerned.

Overall, Chashme Baddoor isn’t going to win any prizes for its direction or script, but it will keep you laughing until the end if you are quick enough to keep up with the jokes. Just don’t think about it too much.