Director E. Niwas returns with a light-hearted entertainer, a genre he tackled delightfully in Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. But though Niwas keeps the frothy narrative style intact in De Taali, the plot is aimless.
This, despite being inspired by the entertaining sitcom Dawson’s Creek. De Taali manages to work only because of the performances of the lead stars, especially Riteish Deshmukh, who rocks in a lovable, impish role.
Love and friendship
The film is about three childhood friends Amu (Ayesha Takia), a tomboy, Abhi (Aftab Shivdasani), who compulsively keeps falling in love, and Paglu (Deshmukh), the poor lad.
Their friendship takes a turn when Amu falls in love with Abhi only to find that Abhi is in love with Kartika (Rimi Sen).
Paglu helps Amu win her love back from Kartika, who is actually a gold digger.
The film starts on a sombre note but brightens up as the story unfolds. The interesting bit begins once the scheming nature of Kartika is revealed.
You expect the film to take off here but, unfortunately, it just limps its way to the finish line.
Unnecessary details of Kartika’s background — including her dysfunctional family and her weirdo professor — make the film look like “There’s Something About Kartika”.
Moreover, there is no explanation as to the film’s setting and what Paglu’s rapport with his landlord is all about.
Highs and lows
The bit where Kartika succumbs to the torture of watching Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag is the most delightful moment in the film.
Deshmukh’s impeccable comic timing and dialogue delivery keep the film from slipping away. Takia is in her element. Shivdasani is good. Sen is effective as a wily girl.
It is as sad to see Anupam Kher running after a dog throughout the film as it is to see Pawan Malhotra in a stupid professor’s role.
Mukul Dev should stick to TV. Vishal-Shekhar’s music is peppy but some songs are ridiculously placed in the film.
Niwas, though done in by the lack of a coherent script, has extracted some lively performances.
— Abdulla Mahmood is a UAE-based freelance writer
BAROMETER
De Taali
- Critic’s Rating: 2 stars Rating parameters:
1 star — Poor;
2 stars — Average;
3 stars — Good;
4 stars — Very Good;
5 stars — Excellent
