Jhootha Hi Sahi

Director: Abbas Tyrewala

Actors: John Abraham, Pakhi Tyrewala, R Madhavan, Raghu Ram, Manasi Scott, Anaitha Nair

There are so many desis on the screen, with such fine command over Hindi, you know you’re in London, the uniquely Indian neighbourhood that belongs to Bollywood alone. A guided tour, sponsored by the tourism authority, is unnecessary.

Three jobless yuppies own Kaagaz Ke Phool, a store that sells Indian books but doesn't “do Deepak Chopra”. They and their friends also live in swanky apartments with wide, open kitchens, couches you can slouch deep into. Main doors faces the friendly neighbour's. The tone's truly American sit-com, as in say Seinfeld. Friends here though merely share wine, throw blank glances at each other, make even more banal conversations.

Fakeness is complete. Nothing can salvage or punctuate the emptiness within. One dude perennially proposes to his pregnant girlfriend, the other girl always throws relationship tantrums. Amar Mohile's opening riff from the brilliant track 'Naach le’ (Naach) recurs for a background tune. It’s all unrelentingly unfunny and uncontained; completely “ajeebs,” to borrow a refrain from the film.

The hero is an under-confident, geeky, bespectacled bloke who stammers before beautiful girls. That’s supposed to be the pretty hunk John. The heroine is suicidal, but an object of instant male desires. That cutesy, Goldie Hawn role is played by the debutant Pakhi. Not sure what puzzles you more: the film, or its inspired casting.

The leading couple meets over the phone, because his number gets mistakenly printed in an ad for a serious relationship counsel helpline specifically for desis at night. They hit it off online. They also get close offline: become friends, and then potential lovers. She doesn’t know the confident expert on the phone she calls Fidato, and the floppy fellow Sid she meets at the coffeeshop is the same person. She likes both. He knows. He can tell her the truth. She can hear it. We can move on. They aren’t quite Sleepless in Seattle.

This is what they call the Idiot Plot, one that entirely rests on a minor miscommunication or misunderstanding to stretch a silly premise forever: another random character, more sub-plots, another dance, more songs, another guided tour to London, more twists. "Fidato," the heroine says, “It means someone you trust.” Finito. It means finished. Wish this film could figure when to.

Jhoota Hi Sahi' reinstates a couple of beliefs that were established after the release of 'Jaane Tu. Yaa Jaane Na' a couple of years back. First, it is not necessary to always have a complete new story if you have a well done screenplay and fresh approach. Second, Abbas does not need a great actor to pull his film! 'Jaane Tu' was not the most unique story and neither is Imran Khan the most versatile actor we have. Yet the film and Imran went on to become sensations. With 'Jhoota Hi Sahi' the director attempts something similar. While the attempt has its freshness, it remains to be seen how it scores with the audience.

'Jhoota Hi Sahi' has a story with loads of winner moments strewn all over. But it also has loads of scenes and characters so completely inspired from elsewhere. For one the characters are quite inspired from the American sitcom Friends. And then we have the lead guy taking lies to make the girl fall for him. And of course how can we forget similarity with Hera Pheri - the entire story starts because the protagonist Sid (John Abraham) gets a wrong call as a result of his number being published in a helpline directory by mistake. Nevertheless Abbas goes about building his story in his own style adding humour and drama to it. He and Pakhi script out an interesting screenplay and dialogues. The film has been shot very neatly and has been edited well too. A R Rahman's music however is definitely not a highlight.

What's interesting is that John Abraham comes up with a good performance as a geek. Pakhi does well too but the only wish was if the film had a younger looking heroine. Raghu Ram does well in his first outing as an actor. Overall, 'Jhoota Hi Sahi' is fun and refreshing. It's definitely a cool watch for the youngsters. What more, the final moments lead to the airport too! New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Films depicting a compulsive liar and a snake woman's vengeance a la "Naagin" and a biopic on a slain factionist-turned political leader... take your pick from "Jhootha Hi Sahi", "Hisss" and "Rakta Charitra", three distinctly different films that release this Friday.

While "Jootha Hi Sahi" stars hearthrob John Abraham in the lead as a geeky liar, "Hisss" has been in the news for Mallika Sherawat's bold scenes and "Rakta Charitra" for Vivek Oberoi's intense acting. Made under the Saregama banner, "Jhootha Hi Sahi" has been directed by Abbas Tyrewala and stars his wife Pakhi in the female lead. Penned by Pakhi, it is about a suicidal woman whose final call mistakenly connects her to a man who gives her something to live for. The movie also marks the big screen debut of VJ Raghu.

"This is a purely commercial Hindi film, not experimental. I think the audience will like what they see in this movie. I think lies that are not meant to hurt, white lies, are ok. It is nicer to be honest of course. Abbas has taught me to lie so well that I am now a proficient liar," said John.

"Hisss" has been directed by renowned Hollywood filmmaker Jennifer Lynch. Produced by Split Image Pictures Pvt Ltd and presented by Venus Records & Tapes Pvt Ltd, it amalgamates the talents of Bollywood actors and top technicians of the west.

It revisits the long tried Naagin genre in Bollywood with a contemporary and bolder-than-ever approach. The movie revolves around the vengeance of a Naagin, a snake woman, whose mate is captured from the jungles of India. She transforms into a woman and ventures into the city in desperate search for her lover. What follows next is venom and deaths. Known for her bold image, Mallika does the full monty in the movie.

"It is undoubtedly the boldest role I have done so far. Agar logon ko lagta hai 'Khwaish' and 'Murder' bold the, toh 'Hisss' unki neend haraam kar degi (If people thought 'Khwaish' and 'Murder' were bold, 'Hisss' will take their sleep away)," Mallika said recently.

It also stars Irrfan Khan, Divya Dutta and American actor Jeff Doucette in pivotal roles. Mallika has also crooned a song composed by late Beatles legend John Lennon's son Julian in the movie.

"Rakta Charitra" is a two-part trilingual made in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil by Ram Gopal Varma. Based on the life of Andhra Pradesh leader Paritala Ravi, it features Tamil superstar Surya and Shatrughan Sinha in pivotal roles.

While veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has done away with his signature pencil moustache for the first time in 32 years for the movie, Vivek has grown a bushy one. Varma too is making a debut as a singer with the thriller - he has crooned a Telugu song in the movie and unlike anyone else, the filmmaker is now waiting to slug it out at the box office.

"The battle between sex and violence is all set to start on Oct 22 between Mallika Sherawat's fangs and Vivek Oberoi's sickle. May Devil bless them," Varma tweeted.