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By Taran Adarsh, August 1, 2008 -
12:06 IST
 UGLY AUR PAGLI is a bizarre and uncanny title. But
catchy and attracts instant attention at the same
time. It's for this reason that you expect UGLY AUR
PAGLI to be one wacky ride, what with the film
promising 99 slaps and 1 kiss.
Besides, post PYAAR KE SIDE EFFECTS, unconventional
stories with unconventional casting only got an
impetus. Since UGLY AUR PAGLI comes from the same
production house that delivered P.K.S.E., you only
expect the film to go a notch higher, or be at par,
than the earlier experience. And that's where the
film falls short of expectations.
Write your own movie review of Ugly Aur Pagli
Viewed as an individualistic experience, UGLY AUR
PAGLI has a few interesting moments. Don't look for
a story here, for it's the moments and incidents
that bind this 2-hour film together. So what if the
writers and director seem inspired by MY SASSY GIRL?
Mallika Sherawat and Ranvir Shorey are enough to
make you forget the waferthin plot at times.
Sure, a few scenes do bring a smile on your face,
they are genuinely funny and bizarre [Mallika
wearing undergarments above her clothes in the
college], but there're times when the humour falls
flat. You just don't react to the on-screen antics,
you sit motionless while absorbing them [the
futuristic stories that Mallika pens makes you break
into a yawn!].
All said, had director Sachin Khot opted for a
strong story and backed it up with strong emotions
[in the latter part], UGLY AUR PAGLI would've made
you exclaim 'Lovely'. As things stand now, UGLY AUR
PAGLI is below par!
 UGLY AUR PAGLI tells the story of Kabir [Ranvir
Shorey], a carefree guy who has been studying
engineering for the last five years and whose life
goes for a sixer when he meets the quirky and kinky
Kuhu [Mallika Sherawat].
Kabir always wanted a girlfriend, but never in his
wildest dreams did he ever think he would encounter
a girl who could make him dance around circles, ride
cycles without seats, wear high heeled ladies
sandals…
10 minutes into the film and you realize that UGLY
AUR PAGLI is not the usual prem kahani. Yet, you
take to the over-dominating, brash woman and the
timid, docile and submissive guy. In fact, you break
into a smile as you are introduced to these
characters. But the smile surfaces only
intermittently.
Nothing wrong with the first hour, but the second
hour is problematic. Problem is, the absence of a
story makes every moment look repetitive. What
you've watched in the first hour is remodelled and
represented in the second hour, with slight
modifications of course.
Besides, the story is stretched in the second hour.
Why does Mallika disappear suddenly [we're told she
goes to Kolkata for two years]. Also, how does
Gaurav Kapoor, the prospective groom, know Ranvir
Shorey? Gaurav blurts out 10 ways to win Mallika in
his first meeting itself. But the question is, why
would Ranvir guide Gaurav when he's himself
hopelessly in love with Mallika and has been
searching for her whereabouts desperately? Clearly,
the writers just didn't know how to conclude this
saga!
Debutante Sachin Khot is letdown, to a major extent,
by a slipshod and sloppy script. Music [Anu Malik]
is another sore point. Besides 'Talli' [well
rendered by Mika, Anmol Malik and Hard Kaur] and to
an extent, 'Karle Gunaah', the remaining songs
should be given a skip.
 UGLY AUR PAGLI belongs to both Mallika and Ranvir.
The best thing about Mallika is, she's a complete
natural. She's spunky and spirited and that's one of
the reasons why this role works. And it works only
because Mallika is portraying it. Doubt if any other
actress would've carried off the devilish streak so
well. Her emotional side is also well captured in
the concluding moments.
Ranvir Shorey - an incredible actor indeed! To play
a submissive part convincingly requires complete
understanding of the craft and Ranvir proves, yet
again, that he's one of the most dependable actors
around. Again, the best thing about him is that he's
not pretending to act. Tinnu Anand and Sushmita
Mukherjee are hilarious in their first scene. Bharti
Achrekar is alright. Zeenat Aman is hardly there for
one scene.
On the whole, UGLY AUR PAGLI is, at best, an
ordinary fare, but in the absence of a tight script,
the film will face an uphill task in days to come.
Rating * 1/2
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