Cast: Pulkit Samrat, Manjot Singh, Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma, Richa Chadda, Priya Anand, Pankaj Tripathi
Direction: Mrigdeep Singh Lamba
Rating: ***
‘Fukrey’ creates memorable characters and some sadi dilli nostalgia but the film never really becomes more than the sum of its parts. The linear narrative is peppered with genuine humour but the pace is slow and the events predictable.
‘Fukrey’ is about four losers who are looking for a shortcut to make big money. Their go-to person for all kinds of jugaad is Panditji (Pankaj Tripathi), he might be a college watchman by profession but show him the money and he can get you anything from leaked examination papers to a meeting with Bholi Punjaban (Richa Chadda) who deals with everything illegal. While their jugaad goes all wrong and the plot drags along, it’s these characters who make the film watchable.
Richa Chadda as the feisty, abuse-spewing Punjaban makes for an interesting personality. Pulkit, Manjot, Ali and Varun compliment each other and their male-bonding while a little unusual has an inherent charm. Pankaj Tripathi does a commendable job as the quintessential facilitator for these losers. It’s the typical Dilli lingo that adds to the chemistry that the lead characters and the supporting cast share.
Despite it’s moments, ‘Fukrey’ disappoints. The director seems to have got an interesting germ of an idea but just failed to translate it on screen. While you might be willing to overlook the minor flaws, the payoff is not worth the wait. It’s just that when Farhan Akhtar puts his weight behind a film, you wish it would have been more than just watchable.
