Dolly Ki Doli

Dolly Ki Doli's premise is simple and it has been executed with a sharp knife. No room for any flab. The director has a strong control over the narrative- the story moves at a pace that keeps one glued. It does not pretend to be two steps ahead of the viewer, instead it bobs along with him– just a little bit teasingly ahead. This makes the film viewing friendly and attractive.

The ensemble cast is another high point- great actors and super performances. Casting is indeed very very apt. Technically the film neither under nor overwhelms you. It works like a smooth ride.

Just like the telling of the film, Dolly is a woman with no pretensions. She and the film stand tall. Dolly as the person does not relent right till the climax when all heroes undergo transformation. The film, however, promises the transformation yet keeps the climax refreshing- its other beauty being its non-verbosity. Crisp and bang on. It does leave space for a sequel and that would be something to watch out for.

Overall, DKD is an honest attempt at a simple, crisp story telling with a smooth screenplay, some smart dialogs, a lovely cast and equally great performances.

Clearing the confusion over its inspired status first, yes the early half of the film (or the initial 20 minutes) are exactly similar to the Punjabi film RONDE SAARE VYAH PICHHON aka RSVP released in 2013. But since both the writers deny seeing each other's films and claim to have taken the idea from few real life instances featured in the daily newspapers, hence we are forced to consider this as possibly a rarest of rare exception of two unrelated minds writing and visualising exactly similar sequences in their individual films released at a gap of more than one year.

Next keeping in mind its fairly novel plot of a 'Looteri Dulhan' and a whole con-family involved it the cunning business, DOLLY KI DOLI does have an interesting premise to offer. But after making a fine, enjoyable beginning, what the writer and director do with the film post intermission (different from RSVP) is really sad and awful, completely ruining its winning potential altogether. For instance it straight away begins with an abrupt scene introducing the lead pair chatting casually followed by an item song by the producer (Malaika) herself and then displays several big loopholes in the con games being played by the 'Looteri family' with two young boys. Still few enjoyable performances, funny local lingo and double meaning dialogues thankfully steal the limelight and one doesn't really care about the flaws in its initial 45- 50 minutes to be honest.

However post intermission, the 100 minute film goes entirely off-track and starts moving in various weird directions involving betrayals, silly love angles, revenge and more. The writers come with such weird and forced ideas like the family fleeing fearing a police raid, but forgetting to take along their old age (fake) Dadi…….and then remembering about her while sitting in the train. Moreover here we have a young energetic inspector who is unable to find the con-girl but the other victim boy can find her so easily, reaching her new home too without any problem as such. Plus, I really couldn't understand what help did the film get from a lackluster cameo of Saif Ali Khan doing nothing.

In other words, in its second hour DOLLY KI DOLI simply fails to encash on its fresh con-plot leading towards an illogical climax and only three people give you something to enjoy in its short duration namely, Rajkummar Rao (with his excellent Haryanvi accent), Varun Sharma (reminding you of his 'Choocha' act in FUKREY) and Archna Puran Singh (as a loud Punjabi mother looking for a better girl for her boy). Strangely Sonam Kapoor is simply there in the lead role just to smile or look good and both Pulkit Samrat and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub are not able to deliver the expected due to their badly written roles. Brijendar Kala, Rajesh Sharma and Ishtiaq are entertaining in their small cameos, whereas debutant director Abhishek Dogra really could have delivered a much better enjoyable con-comedy with such a cast ensemble. The cinematography and background score remain average and so does its soundtrack having all mediocre unimpressive tracks (except "Mera Naina") with sick lyrics such as "Aaj Phatte Tak Nachhna" (now I really don't know what it means!) and "Launda Jawaan Banega Yahan Mere Passion Mein"…….great indeed!'

To conclude, as the film ends another song starts playing along the end- credits with the words,'Baba Ji Ka Thullu'. And one truly feels like having shown the signature sign while walking out of the theatre. In short, one might enjoy it partially while watching it (free of cost) during a channel telecast but sparing your precious time and money on a multiplex ticket is certainly not recommended.

I like comedies about social issues; the reason I count myself among the few people who liked Daawat-E-Ishq's (2014) story. Dolly Ki Doli, as it turns out, is a mixture of that film + the female version of Ladies Vs. Ricky Bahl (2012) + Hollywood rom-com Runaway Bride.

The story about a petty girl who teams up with crooks to form a family and cheat well off grooms and their families is appealing. The screenplay starts off rather gaudily, slipping in the item song by the sexy Malaika Arora in the first fifteen minutes. There is no background on how and what and why Dolly (Sonam Kapoor) and her fake family are doing what they are doing. Not even the proceedings throw light into the origin. Of course, there is some silly philosophical babble that explains Dolly's immoral profession at the end, but it doesn't make sense.

There are few comedic sequences that jeers at issues like arranged marriages in India, auspicious post-wedding first-nights, traditions, dowry customs, etc., but they all fade into nothingness. The final twenty minutes are the worst I have seen in any movie in the past months and that includes Bhushan Patel's torturous, concocted dish Alone (2015).

Even if one sustains the tedious first half, nothing will stop you from wondering whether the writers really put in any effort to end this drama rather ceremoniously. There is nothing to talk about the filmmaking parameters, except that Sonam Kapoor cannot act. I have brought up this issue in many (all) of my reviews of her films that Kapoor is just not the chip off the old block. She should shift to catering, or even better: miming in a park in Bandra.

The supporting cast (Rao and Samrat, too) adds humor and ounces of glory to the film while Kapoor is busy dancing in at least four songs that I happen to notice.

BOTTOM LINE: If I were a 27 year old lad with a job and no girlfriend looking for a getaway this weekend, I would skip Dolly Ki Doli. I would even skip that pretentious Baby (2015) and Depp's career suicide Mortdecai (2015). Instead, I would go to a beach and watch the sun go down the horizon and induce pleasure from it. 3/10.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

'Dolly Ki Doli' is a Mediocre film, that's not high on pluses. Its an off-repeated tale, with not much newness or entertainment working on its favor.

'Dolly Ki Doli' Synopsis: Dolly marries men of different religion for their wealth. Until...A Cop gets on her trial.

'Dolly Ki Doli' at a crisp 100-minutes, has a breezy first-hour, but a soulless second. The "supposed" twist in the tale & the reason behind the protagonist's continuous conning, comes across as under-developed. The impact is missing!

Abhishek Dogra's Screenplay has a few moments, but overall, is plain mediocre. There's not a single new element in the Screenplay, which deserves a mention. Dogra's Direction is fine. Cinematotaphy & Editing are credible.

Performance-Wise: Sonam Kapoor is strictly okay. Despite being the protagonist, the actress doesn't perform up-to the mark. Rajkummar Rao is the silver lining of 'Dolly Ki Doli'. He's absolutely brilliant as the Jatt from Haryana. Varun Sharma is a cartoon, while Pulkit Samrat has a Salman Khan hang-up. Archana Puran Singh is hilarious in a bit role. Manoj Joshi & Brijendra Kala are dependable, as ever. Saif Ali Khan is stiff in a cameo.

On the whole, 'Dolly Ki Dolly' is, at best, an ordinary fare.

Dolly Ki doli is another bollywood movie which seems like have been made without any script or story seems to be taken from a local news paper spicy article.The cast in spite containing upcoming potentially good talent, well established side role actors yet couldn't do much to bind the audience too long . Even it seems director could not elongate the topic too long and has to rap up illogically.The film doesn't have good melody,action or anything to bind the audience even the climax was flat.Another bollywood's attempt to take good cast, pick up any story and aim at coveted 100 crore tag.

Dolly Ki doli is another bollywood movie which seems like have been made without any script or story seems to be taken from a local news paper spicy article.The cast in spite containing upcoming potentially good talent, well established side role actors yet couldn't do much to bind the audience too long . Even it seems director could not elongate the topic too long and has to rap up illogically.The film doesn't have good melody,action or anything to bind the audience even the climax was flat.Ano their bollywood's attempt to take good cast, pick up any story and aim at coveted 100 crore tag.