Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II: looking back
There are quite a few movies which arouse your curiosity, due to various reasons, before or after they release. You are used to going to movies based on reviews. You don’t get a really positive review; so, you give the movie a skip since you have others to catch. Later, you keep hearing about that movie and wonder if you missed a gem. You hope to catch it on TV or CD some day. Aisa bhi hota hai (Things like this happen) — one such movie is WBHHP2.
The setting is unusual; that’s one of the things that attracts you to the movie. However, the story also seems unbelievable at times. Okay, the movie carries the tag-line of “a not-normal masala film”; so, we’ll pardon that. Let’s keep the tag-line in mind though. The basic plot is of an ordinary, unheroic guy getting drawn into a different world and unexpected situations. Everything is fine in the end surprisingly.
It takes a while for you to settle into the movie. It’s kind of chaotic and you wonder what the director (Shashanka Ghosh) is upto. Overall, this “multiplex movie” can’t be categorised as comedy or serious stuff or thriller. It’s a fine mix and keeps you occupied most of the time. A few funny dialogues and situations are memorable. Even the usually dull credits are pepped up.
The movie is rooted in Mumbai without making a “character” out of it. It’s anyway the place where advertising, mafia and many other things thrive together.
Arshad Warsi did this movie around the same time as Munnabhai MBBS and you can see that he’s coming to terms with his comic capabilities. He’s comfortable and believable. Prashant Narayanan too gives a convincing performance — nothing over-the-top, just what his character demands. This is also a movie which made people take notice of Pratima Kazmi, in the role of a female gangster. She surfaces humour even through the intimidating personality. Sandhya Mridul and Suchitra Pillai are adequate.
The music is above average. The use of mostly non-filmi singers, that too featuring in the movie, is innovative. Kailash Kher burst onto the scene with “Allah ke bande…” while a then-unknown Rabbi Shergill adorns the title song. However, a couple of songs shouldn’t have made it to the final cut.
The “Part II” in the title is a gimmick, by the way. It adds to the curiosity value.
Cinematography, editing, art direction, etc. are all adequate and don’t show off. For a first movie, Ghosh shows promise and talent.
Read his interview featured on Rediff.com to understand a bit of his crazy mind. His background in advertising and music channels show up in the movie. But, what’s the man doing these days?
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Yes Randramble, this sure is a good movie.
Sadly it didnt geta U.K release otherwise i would’ve watched it no matter what the reviewers say.
Don’t get me wrong, i will check out reviews, but ultimately i’ll still go along if i get a good vibe from a film.
Afterall, reviewers review films according to their sensibilities, and we all differ there henna?
But Yup, Arshad was really good, and so was Sandhya Mridul, she was so different in this film.
Its been a while so i cant remember much detail in regards to the films camerwork or look.
But it was very wacthable, and did bring manage to amuse me.
Oh, and i loved the music!
How funny was ‘My Name Is Gur-preeeeeet’??!!!
cool review randramble..i have seen this movie lotsa times and i think its 1 of those underrated movies which got ignored coz of lack of starpower…pratima kazmi in the role of finger-cutting gangster was menacin n funny at same time…chemistry btw warsi n prashanth narayanan was apt…btw dunno y talented actor lyk prashant narayanan is wastin his talent in sum c grade soundin movie called GAME or sumtin…anyways this movie is worth a dekko if u compare it with all the mindless comedies that are being churned out these days
I loved this film.
I’ve even bought the VCD and firmly believe that this was the most under-rated movie of 2005. It’s nothing short of a criminal act that this movie came and went, no one saw, no one wrote, no one remembers, nothing…
I agree with your views on the actors, etc. Prashant N was really good and I thought all the chota kirdaars were also decent. Pratima Kazmi was superb especially in the “mujhe uski ungli chahiye” sequence.
But on the music – dude, was there a “title song” ? I can’t remember that clearly but I do recall a song going “Laundiya” in the starting of the movie (it had dance director Ganesh and hazaar other random people) and yup, it did sound like Rabbi. And whoa – how could you forget Sajnaa aa bhi jaa by Shibani ? I though the music on this movie was the second most criminally underrated thing.
At the risk of sounding like Taran Adarsh – this movie was probably much ahead of its time…wonder what would’ve happened if Warsi had done the same movie TODAY and it was backed by someone like a Yashraj.
You know vot – thanks for this post boss. At least someone’s written something about this movie and what better place than PFC !
sorry just checked your IMDB link – that should read “the most under-rated movie of 2003″…man it was that long back ?
Also – this is possibly the only Hindi film which admitted (was at the start or the end ?) that it had lifted stuff from everywhere.
Man Shruti Seth was looking so good then. And she’d do good to recall that she was much better in this movie than in that useless “Fanaa”. Besides she also did the casting here.
Oh ya – one last thing – on the “Part II” thing…was it really a gimmick..I mean I remember they did show a Part 1 (which lasted all of some 10mins), then there was a Part 2..or something like that…what was the deal ?
Oops!
It was ‘my name is gurdeeeeeeeeeep’ and not Gurpreet!!
On the whole ‘part2′ thing, wasn’t it like a trilogy in the one film??
Like we have part 1 for 10 mins, then the whole film for like 2hours, and then the end is wraped up as part 3 for about 5 mins…
am i right??
Lovely! I really liked this film. More than I lking it, I thought the director has a lot of potential to dish out crazy wicked films. He is the man behind all the funny channel v spots which featured the south indian guy qucik gun murugan drinking beer and masala dosa. In fact if you check my profile, I have mentioned him as one of my dark horses in the current crop of directors. People who personally know him, tell me that he has got a deadly sense of humour and a truly crazy mind.
Bombay addict: Yes, this is the film which claims that it is a tribute to all gangster films and then thanks everyone from Tarantino to RGV!
Unfortunately, the film didn’t come out as good as it should have been, but it still remains as one of those rare gems which you will catch on ‘cable channel’ or zee cinema at 12.30 in the night and thank god for it.
Good to kindle a lot of memories.
BA: I just mentioned the two songs that I liked most. I try not to write too much about songs in a movie review.
“Part I” and “Part III” were more like ‘prologue’ and ‘epilogue’ — didn’t want to give that away in the review for people who haven’t watched the movie.
hi chaitanya…did you read my comment on your post…was it interesting? have some more COPYCATS lined up for you…will post them sometime tonight…be sure to “catch” on them…
WBHHPT was indeed a rare gem. the screenplay was seamless, the characters were brilliant. this film epitomises what indy films from india should be like. indulgent, humorous, dark and unpredictable. i have been pestering shashanka ghosh (the director of this film) to make another film! he was the man behind the whacky Channel V campaign – Quick Gun Murugan. And i beleive he has a script called Quick Gun Murugun – The Film. i hope he makes that soon…
- isn’t he in the US trying to make the Beetelnut killers… striker had passed this info here.
oz – i dont think so… met shashanka just 3 hours ago!
“Part I” and “Part III” were more like ‘prologue’ and ‘epilogue’ — didn’t want to give that away in the review for people who haven’t watched the movie. -Randramble
Sorry!!!!
Ok, now i know for next time…maaf karde yaar!
I’m normally good like that. Dont like to give alot away either.. no really!
Ricky, I did check out ur comment. Carry on!
hi hansal, yes.. as oz had mentioned, here is the link. could you check with shashanka about “betelnut killers”?
http://www.betelnutkillers.com/index.asp
when i met him in march, he was planning a project in canada which he was supposed to have shot over the summer.. not sure if that was supposed to be betelnut killers itself or something different. but still would be curious to know his next project. in fact, could you get him to write on PFC? :D in the 2 times i met him, i saw his energy to be so infectious and vibrant, and i just know PFC would be an awesome platform for him to share his knowledge.
Fantastic movie
“Auntie nahi mujh tu maa keh”
And scene where Arshad has to say his English speech infront of all gnagster was a trip.
i am a fan of Waisa Bhi Hota… as well. i like everything about it apart from the comedy side-track i.e those Punjabis and Bengali in Mumbai for holiday. i love the music; esp. Laundiya and Allah Ke Bandeh track. And did I mention that I love Gangu Tai? She is just awesome.
HG: you give me company. The side-track was a bit irritating; but that’s the idea, I guess.
Randramble – hey, cool. Thinking from your pov, I agree on both the things you said. Thanks again for this post boss.
Oz – you should get Shashank to write here man.
Chaitanya – Although I’m sure it could’ve been imoprovised, but I liked the movie as it was man ! And yes, I make it a point to catch it everytime at comes.
Still can’t get over how they take revenge on Ganpat and the whole Mahima fixation thing ! hilairous !
He is makin’ a hollywood movie titled betelnut killers, (bole to supari killer). Check out the website www.betelnutkillers.com. It seems as freaky as WBHHP2. Watch out for dis one.
I think this by far is the best movie or Arshad Warsi — Munnabhai/Sehar notwithstanding. And Hats off to Shanshak Saab for this. For a first movie this is excellent. The way he got superb performance from all the members is amazing. Nice Nice one.