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Pyare Mohan: Could have been better

April 21, 2006 18:08 IST

A still from Pyare MohanRemember how, as children, we would stage a school play? The sets were shoddy. The timing was incorrect. And the acting ranged from expressionless to over the top? Even so, other children in the audience would laugh at the goof ups; sometimes boo as well, yet generally have a good time.

The scenario doesn't alter much in Indra Kumar's Pyare Mohan [ Images ]. Only this time, the actors are grown ups and the audience is mixed.

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As the film isn't completely dreadful, I walked out producing various theories: they should have added some more gags. The punch lines could do with a little more tickle. The actors lacked comic chemistry. Somewhere in the middle, Pyare Mohan starts to take itself too seriously. Had it mocked its own silliness, the laugh-lines would be more pronounced.

Now what makes the flick nearly tolerable? It's silly, yet harmless. There are some genuinely corny moments, which may make you snigger and snort at the same time. Of course, there is no place for logic. But then it's the viewer and not the maker who is stupid, if he expects to make sense of an insane plot involving the adventures of two physically challenged blokes. It's not the plot, or lack of it that goes wrong anyway. We'll get there later. First what's this one about:

Pyare (Fardeen Khan [ Images ]) is blind. Mohan (Viveik Anand Oberoi) is deaf -- a result of a freak accident during their stint as stuntmen. Now, they run a gaudy greeting card store, which, if the décor is any indication, believes that 'Everyday is Valentine's day'. Pyare and Mohan are what heroes in the 60s used to be – idealistic, virtuous, sweet, helpful and golden-hearted.

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A still from Pyare MohanThe first few reels employ a couple of gags to establish their identity and dream. They both want what heroes in the 60s wanted -- a beautiful girlfriend. That's as far as the connection goes. In the next twist, the film becomes a woo the girl-get

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