Yaara, it’s refreshing!

Jasmine Singh

This doesn’t happen often, at least not in Punjabi cinema, where every second week audiences are served riff-raff in a new avatar. So, coming to the point, Punjabi film Oh Yaara Ainvayi Ainvayi Lut Gaya is a happening that doesn’t happen everyday! And when it does happen, it takes one by surprise!

Directed by Raj Sinha, the film stars Jassi Gill, Gauahar Khan, BN Sharma, Rana Ranbir and Karamjit Anmol in the lead roles. The film comes as a refreshing change, with a salt and pepper storyline, which is not something totally out-of-the-box, but the way it has been put together by the director, it definitely deserves applause. The film has more than many laughable moments, from which one can certainly gives a thumbs-up to the dialogues. The film is jumpy, racy; almost keeps you on your toes in the first half. It is the second half where the stretch marks begin to show, some unnecessary court-room exaggeration takes the steam out of the speed. The director almost screeches to a halt in the second half and drags it to the finale.

Time for the actors now; singer-actor Jassi Gill, as Ranbir, has done a fabulous job. He has worked on his acting and physique both, which shows vividly. Jassi also displays some lovely comic timing. It is a risk to go solo as a hero, but Jassi at least looks like he is in a safe territory. Bollywood actress Gauahar Khan makes her debut with the film. She looks beautiful indeed and her chemistry with Jassi Gill is a hit from scene one. If she decides to dig deep into Punjabi films, she would have to take diction classes though!

The flavor and spice in the movie comes with the entry of BN Sharma, who plays a judge. The actor throws in generous laughter but somewhere the director has dragged his role, trying to extract something more out of him. The director did the same mistake with fine actors Rana Ranbir and Karamjit Anmol. Rana is an actor who just needs fine direction and he can handle the rest.

Oh Yaara Ainvayi Ainvayi Lut Gaya has music that is placed well and also refreshingly peppy as well as romantic. The film, however, ends in an ‘abruptly stretched’ manner. Had it not been for the dragged second half, the film had some fine chances of being outstanding!

jasmine@tribunemail.com