Dil Bole Hadippa
wogma rating: Switch channels if it's on cable (?)
Is there a quota system at Yash Raj Films? Under which they assign a certain voluminous budget to no-script scripts? What is it that makes these one-liners with lofty, sappy aims into full-fledged, feature-length, films of no less than 2.5 hours!?
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The poster says it loud and clear, Rani Mukherjee is going to dress as a man to play cricket.
Cricket is after all a gentleman's game. Watching this film made me think a lot about the phrase "had its heart in the right place." And then I wonder if crores of Rupees and the writing muscle that Yash Raj is capable of mustering cannot have the art in the right place, what good is the heart doing? And by the way, such hypocricy! Rani Mukherjee definitely has a bigger role than Shahid Kapoor, but Shahid gets first billing.
The audience has outgrown Punjab, its lush green, mustard fields, the "chak de phatte"s, and the "Ik Omkar"s. It's sad that the maker's heart is still trying to juice the last drop out of them. Don't they want a change of scenery? It's been what? At least over 10 years already. Oh, and if that weren't enough, there's a bhangra beat in the background music - CONSTANTLY! Except in the songs, where it doesn't stay in the background.
Oh, and don't even get me started on the jingoistic flavor added to most characters - who are half-dimensional in the first place. "England" - bad, "Indian" - super good. No texture, no flavor to that line of thought at all.
Actually, you can't blame them for not experimenting though. It takes a fair amount of creativity to conjure a couple with Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukerjee in it. While there was dismay guided towards this aspect of the film in dining room conversations, I was very curious to see how it worked out. And the verdict here is Shahid Kapoor looks awesome, has a cakewalk of a role for himself here where he has to alternate between romance and serious, almost play Shah Rukh of Chak De! India. Rani Mukherjee looks good too with that brilliant smile of hers, does well with her role without shrieking too much considering she's a Punjaban and all that. Oh and for those of you who were disgusted with the thought of her in a bikini, worry not, there isn't much to that negative-marketing gimmick. Together - they create zilch. You don't feel for them as a couple, you don't care if they are going to get together or not.
A huge portion of the lack of "chemistry" is of course, the story and screenplays fault. There's no flow, no scenes with impact, no nothing. It like, "a woman who aspires to be on the Indian cricket team. Hmmm…nice interesting. Let's make it into a film." How she gets there is of no consequence. You need comedy, you need romance like you need salt and pepper. Add, mix and have the audience eat it. No matter if they are gag on it.
This one from the house of Yash Raj Fairy Tales is just unacceptable. In the name of women empowerment, women are still mere props. Sure, having Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra in the script as objects of lust, might've been a comment on the irony of women's status in Indian society, but it's in bad taste. And thus the film is not better than others which use the same premise. Oh boys, no need to rush to the theaters for this display of skin, the amount of cry-shy and drama-shama, I can guarantee won't be worth it.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Amodini, Amodini's Movie Reviews : ...While the biggest downer was the predictability, the whole pseudo-patriotic theme got pretty annoying too.... full review
Thumbs up, by Khalid Mohamed, aslibaat.com : ...The use of way-high top shots and the swooping jimmy jib is particularly irritating.... full review
Thumbs up, Movie Talkies : ...the film's story does call for suspending one's sense of judgment.... full review
Thumbs up, by Irene Nexica, Planet Bollywood : ...With all the emphasis lately on finding actresses under 20 for 40-something leading men, it’s important that she’s still around to add the mature depth she brings to the silliness.... full review
Thumbs up, real bollywoood : ...The only two spoilsports in the sporty film are Sherlyn Chopra and Rakhi Sawant.... full review
Thumbs up, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Dil Bole... relays its messages effectively but tries to fold in too many—there’s the supporting of gender equality, then of Indo-Pak relations, chest-thumping patriotism and so on.... full review
Thumbs up, by SpiceZee Bureau, Zee News : ...Good this one had no one else but Rani Mukerji, who could actually save the film from being a total flop show. ... full review
So-So, by Roshni Mulchandani, Bolly Spice : ...Performance wise, Rani Mukherjee is back and how. Not only does she look incredible but manages to hold the entire film together. ... full review
So-So, by Daliya Ghose, Bollywood Mantra : ...Shahid Kapur was undoubtedly good. He played his part well. No one can find any flaw in his performance.... full review
So-So, by Anand Vaishnav, Buzz18 : ...Home » Movies » REVIEW: Dil Bole Hadippa REVIEW: Dil Bole Hadippa Watch it for Rani's charm and Shahid's Bollywood style 'Herogiri' By Anand Vaishnav . Buzz18 Sep 18, 2009 Comments [0] E-mail REVIEW: Dil Bole Hadippa RELATED NEWS * When Rani woke up Shahid * Rani campaigns for Hadippa! * Hadippa is not women-centric: Shahid * Pritam: I am the David Dhawan of music * Rani Mukerji: I liked showing off my body Dil Bole Hadippa is interestingly releasing at a time when the sporting world is debating controversial athlete Caster Semenya's gender. This is in no way to suggest that Dil Bole Hadippa is a social commentary on gender bias in cricket. In fact the movie is not even a sports flick. It's a lighthearted Punjabi comedy with bits of romance, cricket, music and some good, Indian values thrown in. Dil Bole Hadippa opens on a familiar note. In the first 15 minutes we are given a journey down Veer Zara's sarson ke khet, a Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi style gururdwara, a sporty DDLJ style entry for Shahid Kapoor, Chak De India's coaching camp and a Dhoom 2 poster stuck permanently in the background. Apart from this the film is sprinkled with several references to classic Bollywood blockbusters. But most of these are done with heart and genuine love for Hindi cinema – which is why you don't mind them. The story of Veera Kaur (Rani Mukerji) who disguises herself as Veer for a chance at playing cricket is something of a female version Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Her coach is the England returned Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) whose dream is to resurrect his father's flagging T-20 team. The cricket angle in the film is in the backdrop of an Indo-Pak friendship series called Aman Cup. There is also a love story between Shahid and the real Rani, that acts as a filler between all the sporting action. Most of Dil Bole Hadippa relies on the confidence of the lead pair. Their charming enthusiasm and ability to infuse energy into the erratic screenplay is the movie's biggest trump card.... full review
So-So, desi hits : ...The screenplay is captivating only in the second half. ... full review
So-So, Indicine : ...The climax including the match, is well direction and manages to make an impact.... full review
So-So, by Anupama Chopra, NDTV : ...She becomes Veer, the most delicate Sardar you’ve ever seen, and joins the team... full review
So-So, by Hanumant Bhansali, Radio Sargam : ...The climax of the movie is outstanding and ends with what was expected- a Cricket Match between India v/s Pakistan.... full review
So-So, by The Thirdman, Upper Stall : ...The weakest and most unbelievable part of the film is the climactic match, which stretches logic and credibility beyond breaking point... full review
Thumbs down, by N K Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...Debutant director Anurag Singh has tried to play it safe and crammed in every ingredient he could... full review
Thumbs down, by Aniruddha Guha, DNA : ...Director Anurag Singh hardly gives an indication of his ability to direct in a film that's anything but original.... full review
Thumbs down, by Samrat Sharma, fullhyd.com : ...none of the team members have any characters. That's not to say that they are one-dimensional - it's just that they are extras cast to stand around, and that's it.... full review
Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ... It's a remix of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Chak De, both Yash Raj films. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...The actress lets herself go with an unhinged, uninhibited turn that showcases her fearlessness as a performer.... full review
Thumbs down, by Kaveree Bamzai, india today : ...There's lot of sugarcane sucking, buffalo bashing, Shahid speaking in a mysterious American accent though he's from England, and navel gazing... full review
Thumbs down, india.com : ...There are no sparks, not the slightest sign of chemistry, between Shahid and Rani. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM : ...DIL BOLE HADIPPA has a patchy script. It's interesting initially, but takes the beaten path later. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...Even that much-hyped bikini shot has no charge. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Gaurav Malani, indiatimes : ...Chak De India is revisited as Rohan coaches the village team for victory. Amidst guided tours in sarso ke khet and Punjab da dhaba ... full review
Thumbs down, by Suhel Banerjee, Mind At Work : ...The only difference between us is you will now move to another tab perhaps with some pity for me, and I will spend the next hour or so watching the movie as I don't have the review to keep me busy any more.... full review
Thumbs down, by Mr. Inketi, Mr. Inketis Weblog : ...It also takes dilboleHadippa_Poster2infinite imagination for a director, Aashish Singh, to make a film with no story and make it last for close to 2 and 1/2 hours.... full review
Thumbs down, by Ashok Nayak, Now Running.com : ...The first half of the movie is slow paced, but does have a moment or two worth of chuckles and a sizzling item number by Rakhi Sawant. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com : ...lacks bite and humou... full review
Thumbs down, by The Vigil Idiot, Off the Record...On the Net : ..."Man it's hard being a girl pretending to be a boy. . Even though I haven't so much as changes voices between my characters... full review
Thumbs down, by ~UH~, Passion for Cinema : ...The black bhainslo – The most important character of the film, the anchor, the connection. It had a dialogue or two, which am sure the cattle class would decipher easily.... full review
Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...Shahid with his trademark restraint and almost-a-superstar screen presence does well as the leader of a mostly inconspicuous brat pack.... full review
Thumbs down, SearchIndia.com : ...Shahid Kapoor slips into the role of son, cricket coach, and lover effortlessly. He was the only saving grace of this boring shit. But the same can’t be said of Rani Mukerji.... full review
Thumbs down, by Manish Gaekwad, StarBoxOffice : ...Rani Mukerji does pull it off as only a Yashraj character can. Why did we buy Shah Rukh Khan’s duplicity in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi... full review
Thumbs down, by Avijit Ghosh, Times of India : ...Masquerades have been a time-honoured method in Hindi films where heroines lived out their more rebellious selves.... full review
Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Plot Summary
Veera (Rani Mukherjee) aspires to open with Sachin Tendular for the Indian team. But, she has to become Veer (Rani Mukherjee) to even begin her trip down that road.
What did not
- What can I say when THE first thing that's to be said is, how can a smart, thinking person like Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) not know he's being fooled, even when it's right in his face?
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: None
- Language: clean
- Nudity & Sexual content: Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra on display for no good reason.
- Concept: Women empowerment
- General Look and Feel: Usual Yash Raj happy, in Punjab we only dance-ji, routine.
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Comments (7)
@nareshallu thank you!
@Anoop glad to be of help!
I was quite put off with the fact that a movie that pretends to be about equal opportunities for men and women, has such strong gender bias. In the climax, Rani is completely at Shahid's mercy to play or sit. Even though she takes the team to victory, she does not even win Man of the Match - that goes to the hero. It is he who decides when it's time for her to reveal her identity, not she. So much for women's empowerment.
@Shuchi extremely annoying...yes!
"actually it yells, get outta here!" lol very true, If only I had followed your review I wouldn't have been mentally harassed in the theater !
@shardul That's what you get for not listening to your elders! Ha!!
your movie review is awesome.I m agree from u that this is a movie for women's empowerment,but still something is totally missing from movie,may be it is from wrong marketing or lack of chemistry
Actually the runs hit by indian team are unacceptable,specially from rani.Overall movie is only timepass.
Even i think dil bole hadippa was an amazing film
well everyone has different opinions
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