Run away from this bride

Johnson Thomas

It’s an Arbaaz Khan production and bhai (a.k.a Salman Khan) gets due reverence. After all, isn't he the reason for Arbaaz's successful stint as producer (Dabangg and Dabangg 2)?

Salman Khan may not be present in the film other than by means of a photograph towards the end but in 'letter' and spirit, he is all over the narrative. The letter is penned by Arbaaz in the opening credits while the spirit comes from diminutive Pulkit Samrat, who tries to wear the superstar's shoes, even though they are not much of a fit. Well, that's just one irascible part of this putative enterprise. 

The story itself has little teeth and the pivotal lead (Sonam Kapoor) comes across as pasty, lacklustre and uninspired. Dolly Ki Doli is reportedly based on newspaper accounts of a Looteri Dulhan involved in a cross-country racket of conning well-heeled men in search of suitable wives. You get that from the promos itself so there's nothing more interesting to be had in the narration. Writer Umashankar Singh teams up with director Abhishek Dogra to fashion a screenplay that is lacklustre and inhibiting. 

Dolly (Sonam)'s story is shown as one of opportunism and need, and that's probably to make her seem  just a wee bit sympathetic. She embarks on her conning crusade after she is ditched by an immature lover. 

The editing is a little sloppy in that respect. The story-telling, is quite flat and un-requiting. The narrative could have been whimsical and quirky, but the manner in which it plays out there's not much purchase in either aspect.  Music and choreography are also uninteresting, to say the least.

 Archana Puran Singh, Rajkumar Rao, Zeeshan Ali Qadri, Rajesh Sharma and Varun Sharma distinguish their craft with distinctive performances. If at all you decide to watch this film, it should be because of them!