Ready Review

 As expected, 'Ready' turns out to be the kind of a film which is all about 'masala' ingredients that are packed in just the right proportions during those two and a half hours. A story that could have been stretched for 30 more minutes or wrapped up 20 minutes earlier, it gives what one was waiting for a long time when it came to movie watching for an entire family - 'Some real good entertainment'.

A case of mistaken identity brings Asin in the life of Salman who stays with his joint family made of millionaires. Asin too comes from a family of millionaires but there is trouble in paradise as her uncles want to usurp her wealth. Oblivious to them, Prem starts getting closer to their respective families with his own near and dear ones ensuring that Asin's uncles leave their 'mafia giri' aside and start living life like normal people. In this entire series of events, there is a CA (Paresh Rawal) and a stranger Romeo (Sudesh Lehri) who get involved as well.

As one expects from a storyline like this, all is well eventually. However there is a lot of comedy, drama, emotions and action involved, something that Salman truly justifies just before the interval when he tells Asin - 'What would we tell our kids if there are none of these 'masala' ingredients in our love story?'

So 'masala' one does get with everything from 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' to 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' to even 'Hero No. 1' coming together in the right mix to pep up this affair. While the film's beginning portions are exactly like 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' and 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', the second half of the film, where Salman takes it upon himself to unite the family and bring kids on the right path, is straight out of what Govinda did in 'Hero No. 1'.

The film takes a massy route throughout but that doesn't mean that there isn't anything for the class audience. I witnessed it myself while watching a packed show with family audience at a premium multiplex on Friday evening and the reactions said it all. This is not all as the complaints that some have around the first half aren't much justified either. Based on what I saw, audience were thoroughly enjoying both the halves with laughter coming in on a more or less continuous note.

Expectedly, Salman is what stays constant right through the film even as other characters surround him from all ends. One can sense the kind of renewed confidence that he has in himself and this is the reason why he can afford to commit a murder and get away with that. Asin is easy on eyes and comes up with a natural act. She looks million bucks in 'Dhinka Chika' though one doesn't see much of her in the second half. Paresh Rawal and Sudesh Lahiri are fantastic though one wishes there was more of Manoj Joshi.

Music is fantastic with 'Dhinka Chika' (in both the India as well as Bangkok version) as well as 'Character Dheela' are fun. Action is in small doses though one wouldn't have minded if it was longer, especially the climax sequence involving auto rickshaws which just ends abruptly.

It isn't always an easy task to remake a film, especially the one which has been a successful venture. You do it right and you end up getting no credit whatsoever as it is said to be 'way too easy'. You do it wrong and all the flak comes you way as you are accused of not being able to manage even a successful formula. Thankfully for the audience, Anees Bazmee doesn't forget any of these facts while also ensuring that he maintains his own identity. An out and out entertainer that doesn't let the audience engagement slip away for even five minutes, 'Ready' is fun and clean film that gives exactly what one expected out of it.

Go for it!

Rating: ***1/2

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