Roadside Romeo Animation

Indian animation has finally come of age. Roadside Romeo, the first Walt Disney-Yashraj rollout is a barrel of fun: 8220;Bole toh, ekdum jhakaas, baap8221;.

It combines the best aspects of both studios 8212; Disney8217;s expertise in creating animated figures which live and breathe, and Yashraj8217;s forte in frothy romance: what better than getting Romeo and Laila voiced by real-life lovers Saif and Kareena?

Romeo is a one-time pampered pooch, now abandoned on the mean streets of Mumbai. Laila is a saucy, red-scarf-around-her-dainty-neck dancer, who only has to bat her impossibly large eyelashes for Romeo to start panting. Trouble looms in the shape of the pug-ugly Charlie Anna Jaaved, who rules with a ruthless paw and a bunch of louts. He fancies Laila, and woe to any Tom, Dick, or Romeo who dares come in between.

The alacrity with which the characters break into song-and-dance shows that Disney or no Disney, Bollywood rules. Whether style-bhai Romeo is kicking up his heels with his canine pals, or looking for a likely spot to pee 8220;Yahaan koi toilet nahin hai kya? Man, what a dump!8221; you can actually see Saif, who does cool like none else. And when sexy Laila shakes her charming rump, breathily coming on to her besotted beau, you know that8217;s Kareena. Both sizzle up the screen.

Where debutant director Jugal Hansraj falters is with the villainous Chaaaarrrlie Anna: Jaaved Jaaferi is made to growl incomprehensibly and break wind more often than getting a chance at being a riot. He does make you guffaw, but only once in a while, and for someone of Jaaferi8217;s goofy brilliance, that8217;s not enough.

But we can live with this Charlie. In his words, he8217;s our chappie, so he makes us happy. We can also handle the strong resemblance our Mumbai curs have to Disney-style American doggie-doos, because we know that given a chance, they will open their mouths to utter a desi 8220;bhow bhow8221; rather than the westernised 8220;bow wow8221;. Roadside Romeo is Hindi cinema8217;s first stylish, slick animated feature, which pulls off the toughest feat 8212; appealing to both adults and children.

That8217;s, like, cool, dude.

shubhra.guptagmail.com

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