Bluffmaster

Article Updated 17 December, 2005 03:53:05 AM IST

Bluffmaster

Call it typical Indian mentality or whatever but the climax of 'Bluffmaster' is an anti-climax that's sure to make the film difficult to digest. At the end of it you feel you've been taken for a long ride.

Agreed this makes it sound different as compared to the clichéd Bollywood films but hey we've had an overdose of surprise-climax films in recent times. So 'Bluffmaster' has lost out on its mass appeal value. And hence, it is only meant for Abhishek fans and a section of the multiplex audience.

On the up side, it's a slick film. The songs are good especially a couple of numbers.

Now for the story. Roy (Abhishek Bachchan) is a conman. No one knows how and why he became one! He is madly in love with Simmi (Priyanka Chopra). But he doesn't have the courage to reveal the truth about himself.

The two are getting engaged when one of his con victims arrives. The truth is out, to everyone's shock and surprise. Obviously the engagement is off!

Enter Dittu (Riteish Deshmukh), a smalltime conman. He is the exact opposite of Roy. Roy is quite embarrassed when he sees his modus operandi in a couple of petty crime that he happens to witness. Dittu tries hard to get Roy to teach him the tricks of the trade. Finally Roy relents.

Now follows a series of con games. One of their victims happens to be the shady Chandrakant Parekh (Nana Patekar). This leads to the finale!

The first half of the film is definitely better than the second. Portions of the second half drag. But some sequences stand out. Abhishek's entry scene in which he dupes a film producer played by Tinnu Anand is superb. Even Ritesh Deshmukh's entry scene is hilarious.

This youngster adds life to the film especially since Abhishek has settled down to being a brooding guy somewhere around this part of the film. There are two sequences inside a cinema hall. Both are very good. But Abhishek's scenes with Priyanka are a little boring. Now he's the emotional guy.

We enjoy watching him conning people more than wooing his woman. Post interval the film is like a roller coaster ride with some good moments and some boring ones too. But on the whole the film has its share of good fun moments especially when Abhishek and Riteish are together.

Now for the performances. Abhishek is first rate. It's a tailor made role for him. 'Bluffmaster' reminds one of Abhishek's performance in 'Bunty Aur Babli'.

Riteish is improving with every film. If he excelled in a sober role in 'Naach' then with this film he proves that he can handle comedy well.

Nana Patekar is superb, as usual. Boman Irani has put in a sincere effort but somehow isn't that effective. Priyanka Chopra is okay.

The track, 'Sabse Bada Rupaiya' stands out for its foot tapping effect as well as the choreography by Bosco-Caesar. Even the last track is stylish.

Superb cinematography and some great dialogues. Aki Narula's styling is great.

A fun film in parts but its prospects at the box office somehow don't seem very rosy.

*** (Three stars)
*poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent

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