Lage Raho Munnabhai poster

Lage Raho Munnabhai

wogma rating: Owner's Pride! (?)

Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Genres: Comedy, Musical, Social
More Movie Info

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?

- meeta, a part of the audience

7 reviewers(?) - 7 yays 0 so-so 0 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...It is next to impossible not to like Munnabhai and his sidekick Circuit in their second innings.... full review

Thumbs up, by Prema K., Bollyvista.com : ...Mahatma Gandhi's makeup is not quite right but he sounds exactly like him.... full review

Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Glamsham.com : ...Though a wee short of tears, LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI goes a long way in creating an enduring and endearing parable... full review

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM, indiainfo.com : ...not only entertains, it also enlightens.... full review

Thumbs up, by Irfan Makki, Planet Bollywood : ...keeps the viewer completely hooked - so much so that the interval only acts as a disruption.... full review

Thumbs up, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...Hirani proves that sequels needn't have the been there-done that feel...... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

4 readers - 3 yays 1 so-so 0 nays

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Fan : Wish the film kept on going as the name suggests

Yay! Thumbs Up, by Shashank

Yay! Thumbs Up, by TimELiebe : Tough Guys Try Nonviolence! Hilarious,touching,even profound - "We Be Ghandhi'ing NOW!" Loved it.

So-So, by Consumer Goods

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Lage Raho Munnabhai - Cast, crew, links

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Comments (5)

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The first one was much better than this one.

Nice, @TimELiebe that last line is a very insightful take on the film.

Fan

This is one rare film where I found that the lights turned on too soon. I remember that I was stunned when THE END appeared. I just wasn't expecting it - I wanted the movie to simply continue on and on. A Brilliant (with a capital B) movie in all terms.

Me and my family particularly appreciated the fact that the whole "Gandhi" illusions were explained correctly and medifically. It brought a sense of reality and logic to the proceedings. This was not the only film that year who did that, we distinctly remember that Bhool Bhoolaiya also medifically and maturely explained the reasons behind the situation.

Fan

??? why did I type medifically (and not medically)? My smart gadgets are getting too smart ???

@Fan Agree. I absolutely loved the film and this is the review that wogma started with :)

(medifically :D)

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