Dekh Bhai Dekh

‘Dekh Re Dekh’ is all about how a good idea can get defeated by some mediocre and at times tacky treatment. While it makes an impact, the story drags in a lot of places, especially before the Intermission.

The plot is quite interesting, but unfolds slowly. A divorcee (Babli), an underemployed youth (Shyam), a politician and a professional thief gang up to steal an idol. On their way to Delhi, they stay overnight in a mansion, where Babli glimpses a hoard of jewels in the owner’s possession. They murder her and plan to escape with the jewels, but greed spoils their plans.

The screenplay drags you through some pretty clichéd scenes in the beginning. There are some boring flashbacks filled with insipid songs and sub-plots. The script flags, and does not interest you with its narration of various sob stories.

The suspense begins to pick up pace towards the latter half of the movie. The sub-plots begin to merge and make better sense. The comic relief at the end of the movie is apt, especially as it follows the pulse-quickening scenes of murder and gore in the last few reels.

The performances do make an impact. Gracie Singh has essayed a fine performance on the whole, even if she overdoes the angry, young woman role sometimes. Siddharth Koirala fits his ingénue-turned-rogue role with deceptively innocent looks. Vijay Raaz is very believable as the oily thief, except when he gets ‘drunk’ and lapses into the stereotype. The grouchy owner of the mansion, though, hams her role badly. 

Writer-director Rahat Kazmi shows potential, but seems reluctant to break from the mould. He could have concentrated on the suspense, instead of trying to wring tragic explanations. Finally, it is debatable whether the movie will stand the test of the box office either.