Two’s company and more

Here's the next installment from David Dhawan. One is tempted to think ofChal Mere Bhai as Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Part II, but thisweek's r...

Here’s the next installment from David Dhawan. One is tempted to think ofChal Mere Bhai as Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Part II, but thisweek’s release is so much better than its predecessor that it is tough tobelieve that both have been made by the same director, with practically thesame star-cast, give or take a Sanjay Dutt or so.

Just sit back and enjoy the laughs in Chal Mere Bhai and the spiritedperformances by Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. If you stop to look for astory, you’ll find it, but so worn and threadbare that you’ll have a problemdifferentiating between original and patch. The title says it all. Twobrothers in love with the same girl, predictable huh? The girl’s the elderbrother’s secretary, hired by the father — even more predictable? Youngerbrother decides to make the big sacrifice and pretends to be a big bad wolfto break the girl’s heart. Don’t break my heart — you still want to knowwho gets the girl? Well, if I tell you, how’s Mr Dhawan going to make themoney to make his next copy act?

Story notwithstanding, you enjoy Chal Mere Bhai for the sheerbonhomie between Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. More and more movies areexploiting the chemistry between their male leads, instead of waiting forthe heroine to touch the tinder-box. Hera Pheri was an excellentexample of this. Salman and Sanjay have already displayed their mutual goodvibes to tremendous success in Saajan. And they continue with the good jobhere.

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Dutt has become a David Dhawan familiar and looks as much a part of thescene as Karisma. His subdued exuberance matches Salman’s extrovertedgyrations step for step, resulting in a really lovable performance.

Karisma is cute in her role as the absent-minded, perfectly uselesssecretary, who can’t get her typing and shorthand straight, but worms herway into the entire family’s heart via the tea-pot. But she’s no match forSalman and Sanjay. For once Dhawan’s golden girl is playing second lead,that too to her male counterparts!

Also in the cast are Dalip Tahil, Sushma Seth, Shakti Kapoor, HimaniShivpuri, Twinkle Khanna, Sonali Bendre, Naghma and Ravi Baswani. A goodmeasure of Dhawan’s success is the utter willingness of these youngactresses to play absolutely insignificant `Special Appearance’ roles in hisfilms.

PS: For all those of you who’ve been groaning over the extra cloth you haveto buy to keep your kurta hemlines sweeping the ground, here’s some goodnews. Karisma says, hemlines must stay at knee-level. So rejoice!

Congress may agree to Tejashwi as CM face to get Bihar alliance back on track

Political Pulse34 min ago

Tejashwi Yadav is set to be the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, as talks have resolved differences and reduced friendly fights. Though a seat-sharing deal has not been announced, a positive meeting with RJD's leadership has reassured the alliance's unity and focus on bringing change to Bihar.

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