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Review - Lage Raho Munnabhai: Sit back and enjoy
![[Poster for Lage Raho Munnabhai]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4191415863_7a730b534e_m.jpg)
Finally!! Finally, we have been treated like people with thinking capacity and have not been taken for granted as an audience. Thank you Mr. Rajkumar Hirani for entertaining us wonderfully!!!
This movie is about non-violence and is, as contradictory as it may sound, very contemporary. It is about using Gandhian principles to deal with the common man’s current day-to-day problems. And here is the beauty of the script, it is not preachy! Smiles, laughter, misty eyes, tears are abundant on both sides of the screen.
Munnabhai and Circuit are adorable, articulately sketched out characters. The characterization is maintained in the songs too – from the music and lyrics right to the simple and sweet choreography. Not only do Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi play out their characters as if they are living them, it also felt like they enjoyed every bit of their roles. You sense their energy. The chemistry between them is exceptional, especially in scenes with just the two of them – both at dhobi ghat and outside. Vidya Balan’s smile brings freshness to the screen, especially while paying tribute to Robin Williams (Good Morning, Vietnam). Boman Irani playing a bitter-sweet character has his comic timing as right as ever. Dilip Prabhawalkar’s voice modulation is spot on and kudos to the make-up person too. Familiar faces from Munnabhai MBBS bring warm memories from the first movie in the Munnabhai series.
The songs, for a change, add value to the script since the lyrics of almost all songs are very situational. However, that means that they may not make sense when you are only listening to them. The story and script skillfully avoided certain things. For instance, the generation gap problem was not over used, the psychiatry element was not left unexplained, and the love angle did not go through misunderstanding after misunderstanding. It is also refreshing to see that there is no unnecessary show of snow in Switzerland using a dream sequence as an excuse.
This is a product of excellent teamwork. The director could not have done it without the actors who in turn could not have done it without the dialogues and lyrics, and of course the dialogues would be worthless if it were not for the story and the script, which in the first place could have been ruined through improper execution by the director.
Of course, nothing in life is perfect, right? … there are a few lapses but they are worth ignoring. There is a little extra melodrama, a few extra tears, a couple improbable coincidences, an overestimated use of World Space, and a few unnecessary dialogues considering the audience is being treated with respect. Also, the dancers on the side could have done with a few expressions.
This is no doubt a feel good movie, but it has that something extra which you begin experiencing once the credits start rolling and the ‘EXIT’ lights turn on. The issues raised will stay with you after you leave the hall (unless of course you are a skeptic). All-in-all a must watch for one and all!
Thought for the day – Bapu did his job, Munna has done his, will we do ours?
- meetu, a part of the audience
Lage Raho Munnabhai - Movie Details
- Director: Rajkumar Hirani
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- Lead Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Vidya Balan
- Supporting Cast: Boman Irani, Dilip Prabhawalkar
- Screenplay: Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi
- Dialogues: Rajkumar Hirani, Abhijat Joshi
- Music Director: Shantanu Moitra
- Lyrics: Swananda Kirkire
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Comedy, Musical, Social
Lage Raho Munnabhai - Trailer
Lage Raho Munnabhai - All reviews summary
External Reviews
7 reviewers have given Lage Raho Munnabhai an average rating of 5/5.0. 7 yays, 0 nays, 0 so-so. See all external reviews »
Comments (7)
i agree with you, really enjoyed this movie. laughed a lot and was deeply touched by a couple of scenes too. my dad who normally thinks that hindi movies are a waste of 3 hrs of your life wanted to go out and watch this movie!! a miracle as far as i'm concerned.
below average movie... too much preaching!
The first one was much better than this one.
nice moviee.loved it
Me and my Western "Bollywood Movie Night" friends loved MUNNABHAI, MBBS, and were delighted (and a bit worried) that there was a sequel. What if it was just the same old story beats only with a different profession - like softhearted "goon" Munnabhai goes to college ala Rodney Dangerfield? Thankfully, that was far from the case - this is one of our favorite Hindi movies yet, up there with AAJA NACHLE, OM SHANTI OM, KRISSH and EKLVAYA, THE ROYAL GUARD. It's even profound in spots, and surprisingly cutting about how much modern India has forgotten of Ghandhi and his principles. (We in America behave much the same way - as anybody unlucky enough to catch American political news knows, you'd be correct to wonder what George Washington and Abraham Lincoln would make of this lot of rude small-minded bozos!)
Watching Sanjay Dutt's affable, bearish petty criminal believing the spirit of Mahatma Ghandhi speaks to him, and attempting with varying degrees of success to live up to Ghandhi's example while still being a goon, is both sidesplitting funny and at times very touching. (I have a feeling the real Ghandhi dealt with many people like Munnabhai during his lifetime, and Dilip Prabhawalkar's amused patience while attempting to teach passive resistance to such an unlikely pupil feels spot-on.) Probably the best part is when Munnabhai, who originally began studying Ghandhi's teachings simply to impress Vidya Balan's vivacious morning DJ, starts to behave normally in accordance with Ghandhi's principles without even being aware of how much he's changed. Sanjay Dutt convinces you of his transformation seamlessly, and without ever losing his half-comical, half-menacing aura - his call on Ms. Balan's radio show of "We Be Ghandhi'ing NOW!" as he dispenses advice on how to nonviolently and honestly deal with modern Indians' problems perfectly sums up both the contradictions of his character, and how he manages to make it work anyway. As the woman he's smitten with, Vidya Balan has an appealing mix of sweet and sharp, so you believe she might actually give her heart to an older Holy Fool with a criminal past, who believes Ghandhi speaks through him.
Arshad Warshi repries his role as Munnabhai's sidekick/best pal Circuit, who provides hilarious counterpoint as somebody who's...trying because his "brother" asks him to, but just can't quite get the hang of this whole satyagraha business. (His handing out beatdowns followed by apologies shouldn't be nearly as funny as it is, but it works because it's so in keeping with Circuit's character.) A bunch of supporting players from MUNNABHAI, MBBS show up here in new roles, most notably Boman Irani - here as a semi-crooked builder trying to impress his astrology-obsessed potential in-laws.
The film's coda has Ghandhi wrapping up the action via narration, then pointedly addressing the audience by saying something like "I guess only crazy people can hear what I'd taught you...?" I know a lot of commenters felt that was "preachy", but I thought it was spot-on - and something not just Indians could stand to remember, either.
Nice, @TimELiebe that last line is a very insightful take on the film.
Thank you.
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