Vaada Raha

wogma rating: Switch channels if it's on cable ^(?)

quick review:

There isn't much a cute kid with decent acting skills can do with sentimental lines and gone-mental screenplay. The overall plot is uber-predictable. And how the film gets there is as mechanical as it can get.

Director: Samir Karnik

Cast: Bobby Deol, Dwij Yadav

Running time: 110 minutes

Genres: Philosophy, Relationships

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Munnabhai MBBS, Patch Adams, Anand are a few of the films that come to mind within the first few minutes of Vaada Raha. Ok, with a few changes here and there. And they don't use exactly the same tricks. But the deviation seems more like a formality.

The first change is of course having a little boy as one of the protagonists. Which could have worked had he not been talking and thinking like an adult. I can imagine that a character his age, who's already going through a bad patch in life, would become a little too philosophical for his age. But seeing him use the same clichéd language as oldies with no creativity would, made me do just one thing - cringe.

Given that, Dwij Yadav who plays the little boy, carries his cute self through the ups and downs of his days with aimless Dr. Duke (Bobby Deol). Unfortunately, doesn't look like he has learnt more about acting in this film. He's just done what he has done so far. This is the best I've seen Bobby Deol act. Yeah, it's not in a mean way that I say this. He actually emotes his anger and helplessness. Once that is done the rest is a cakewalk.

More or less Nanhe Jaisalmer's team of cast and crew don't quite get us involved in vaada raha. Neither the adults nor the kids make us love or hate them. They are just going through the motions and so are you expected to do the drill as the audience - go, watch emotionlessly, get-up, go.

- meeta, a part of the audience

17 reviewers^(?) - 1 yays 1 so-so 15 nays

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

Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com : ... Most of the film's dramatic energy emanates from the interaction between Bobby and the boy in a hospital room... full review

So-So, by Deepa Garimella, fullhyd.com : ... Though there's the constant whiff of the obvious message of hope throughout the film, there are a few nuggets of experiential wisdom here and there... full review

Thumbs down, Apun Ka Choice : ...At best it is a fluffy, emotional tale that might appeal to the sentimental folks given to pulling out their kerchiefs at meager doses of melodrama.... full review

Thumbs down, by Roshni Mulchandani, Bolly Spice : ...Performance wise Bobby Deol comes out with a powerhouse performance filled with emotion and just enough feeling.... full review

Thumbs down, by Daliya Ghose, Bollywood Mantra : ...The drawback of the film is that it lacks proper sense.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anand Vaishnav, Buzz18 : ...But young Dwij Yadav's natural enthusiasm brings these scenes alive.... full review

Thumbs down, by Aniruddha Guha, DNA : ...Although you have to give it to director Samir Karnik for attempting an interesting plot (which is based on a Russian fable, by the way), it's the treatment that leaves you disappointed... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...Child actor Dwij Yadav, who starred in Karnik's Nanhe Jaisalmer and Heroes previously, has an engaging presence, but trapped in a one-dimensional role here, he gets annoying as the precocious brat. Child actor Dwij Yadav, who starred in Karnik's Nanhe Jaisalmer and Heroes previously, has an engaging presence, but trapped in a one-dimensional role here, he gets annoying as the precocious brat. ... full review

Thumbs down, india.com : ...Bobby Deol unfortunately displays facial paralysis ... full review

Thumbs down, by Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM : ...Despite the faulty script, Samir Karnik's handling of a few sequences is commendable. ... full review

Thumbs down, Movie Talkies : ...Despite the clichéd script, there are a few sequences which do manage to touch one's heart, but they are fleeting moments.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anupama Chopra, NDTV : ...To begin with, the medical situations in Vada Raha are comically disconnected from reality... full review

Thumbs down, by Ashok Nayak, Now Running.com : ... Dialogues too are lame. Music adds no value, in fact ends up extending your boredom.... full review

Thumbs down, by Hanuman Bhansali, Radio Sargam : ...Kangana Ranaut is a cloud of make-up. ... full review

Thumbs down, by Esha Razdan, real bollywoood : ...Bobby Deol is perfect for his part and shares an amazing screen rapport with Dwij Yadav.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sameer Dagga, StarBoxOffice : ...While in the beginning it seems to have a different take, its Bollywood treatment makes it yet another yarn.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anubha Sawhney Joshi, Times of India : ...We have heard the story a zillion times.... full review

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

Parental Guidance:

Violence: None
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: Kangan Ranaut in deep-deep cleavage dresses
Concept: That of having hope in the direst of situations.
General Look and Feel: Light and peppy with cute kid being wise and all that jazz.