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Loins of Punjab Presents is a clever rib-tickler
Published on Sat, Sep 22, 2007 at 00:53, Updated on Sat, Sep 22, 2007 at 09:11 in Entertainment » India Buzz section
Tags: Loins Of Punjab Presents, Shabana Azmi , Cast
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Cast: Shabana Azmi, Jameel Khan
Direction: Manish Acharya
If all you're looking for is a good laugh this weekend, don't miss Loins of Punjab Presents, it's a delightful comedy about a New Jersey singing competition called Desi Idol and the motley group of contestants from New York and Jersey City who're hoping to win the 25,000-dollar cash prize.
Directed by Manish Acharya, Loins of Punjab Presents is far smarter than any of those second-generation desi comedies you've seen recently, because unlike American Desi, American Chai, ABCD and so many similar films, this one isn't judgmental, it doesn't have a moral at the end of the story, and most importantly because although it does re-enforce a bunch of stereotypes, it does so without malice, and with tongue firmly in cheek.
So of all the wannabe singers vying for the top prize in Desi Idol, expect to cheer for musically inclined teenager Preeti Patel who's accompanied by her pushy Gujarati family who turn up in matching slogan-bearing t-shirts.
Other contenders include the Sikh bhangra-rap artiste who goes by the name Turbanotorious, also the wannabe Bollywood starlet who can't speak a word of Hindi, the Jewish boy who sings Hindi film songs, the statistics-obsessed MBA-type who's just lost his job, and finally, the schmoozing socialite who's determined to win at any cost.
Even though it's often predictable, Loins of Punjab Presents is still a very pleasant watch because the humour is so clever, it's not your typical farce about arranged marriages, culture-clashes and grappling-with-sexuality issues.
The film never once takes itself too seriously, not even in the end when you know exactly what one contestant's going to do when he can't come up with the right song to sing.
The acting is consistently superlative, led by Shabana Azmi bringing such razor-edged bite to that role of the scheming socialite. Also a loud round of applause to Jameel Khan who plays the crude, leery event organizer complete with snakeskin shirts and handlebar moustache.
For a film about a singing competition, my only real complain here is that I wish there was more music. Apart from that and the sometimes choppy editing, this one's a side-splitting picture that you'll warm up to the moment you slip into your seat.
In its own clever way, it also gives you enough to think about. Like the delicate relationship between Ayesha Dharker and her white boyfriend who clash over identity issues. Or, in the case of the wannabe Bollywood actress, whether you really have to know Hindi to be Indian.
Now because it's such a barrel of fun, and because it doesn't expect you to leave your brains behind to enjoy its humour, I'm going with three out of five and a thumbs up for director Manish Acharya's Loins of Punjab Presents. It's only an hour and a half long, but you'll actually wish it was longer. If there's one film to watch this weekend, this is the one.
Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
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URBANEYE
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Sorry to say but i dont find this movie any good....There are better comedy movies to watch for....Its like forcing
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Based on Masand's review we went to whatch the movie yesterday and surely it is a rib tickling comedy... really
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