WELCOME 2007
by
Anees Bazmi
Welcome one of those overrated brainless comedies that have been accorded the status of classics. That according to me is the result of intellectual penury. Bollywood backslapping brigade needs such cult-building to survive and pass of their junk as art. I'm not saying Welcome was a bad film, and it was certainly not boring, but man, it felt quite dated when I watched it again after 15 years.
To watch films of this genre, you don't just need suspension of disbelief, rather a brain holiday. Indian comedies have too much dialogue and an overdose of slapstick- anyone can slip and fall down or get slapped and you're required to laugh. There is no point in wasting time upon the storyline for it as dimwitted as it can get. But the cast is stellar- Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Mishra and Feroz Khan share screen space with Akshay Kumar, Mallika Sherawat and Katrina Kaif. Asrani, Suniel Shetty and Ranjeet appear in cameos. These actors lend some credence to proceedings. The film is held together by Paresh Rawal's conviction, Patekar's surprising comic timing and Anil Kapoor's self-absorbed nonsense. Akshay and Katrina have to just be there and deliver.
The film has a rather idiotic climax, which is very poorly shot. Bazmee tries to imitate Priyadarshan which is fine because Priyan is the best in the business. But somehow AB's direction does not have that rhythm and so the film, when watched today, seems like a collection of multiple reels. Welcome failed to evoke any laugh for the longest time on repeat watch. Only the badly shot climax generated some due to its pathetic execution. Not bad, I'd say, but very ordinary. DO NOT OVERRATE THIS AVERAGE FILM. It is not a Hindi classic.
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