Phas Gaye Re Obama (2010)

Purely Joyful Movie!

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

PHAS GAYE RE OBAMA(2010) comedy Cast-Rajat Kapoor,sanjay mishra,Manu Rishi chadha,Neha Dhupia. A NRI man gets bankrupt on the period of recession and comes to India to sell his house to pay his loans back.The film starts when he is kidnapped assuming him to be a millionaire. Jolly LLB series director Subhash kapoor has written a classic script involving the recession period.It is very difficult to make a comedy film in India which manages to keep both script and humour simultaneously convincing and only a few films are able to do and this film is among those few flicks. Rajat Kapoor is excellent as the intelligent NRI businessman.Sanjay Mishra is brilliant in his role.Manu Rishi Chadha steals the show with his effortless role of a man living with the dream of living in USA.The rest of cast has also done a good job.The English coaching class scene is iconic and one of the best comic scenes in Bollywood, the film not just make us laugh but it also depicts the reality of our society. The power of the film is the story, an equally competent screenplay. There is difference between pure comedy films like Dhamaal,De Dana dan,Golmaal franchise and Witty ones like PK,Peepli Live.The movie proudly sits on the latter category. The film is unpredictable and will keep u guessing till the end.AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE.

Subhash Kapoor's 'Phas Gaye Re Obama' is a golden opportunity, gone wrong due to monotonous writing. Subhash Kapoor excels as a director, but as a writer, he disappoints.When any filmmaker attempts to make a film on a satire, he/she must raise the questions efficiently, and more efficiently should be ready with the answers. But, Over-here, almost everything comes across as half-baked. 'Phas Gaye Re Obama' is an outstanding idea, which begins with a bang, but becomes a bore after a point. The Screenplay repeats itself, and there is no novelty after a point.Subhash Kapoor should've worked on the writing. If the writing was sharper, this film had all that it takes to become a gem, but what finally comes out, disappoints. Cinematography is alright. Performance-Wise: Manu Rishi is effective. Rajat Kapoor is stiff, while Neha Dhupia scores in a supporting role. Sanjay Mishra is good. Amole Gupte gets limited scope.On the whole, it's an opportunity missed! One expected much more!

Bollywood was starving badly for want of a good entertaining movie in 2010 after the impact that was left by 3 IDIOTS last year, but the movies that came all throughout the year were dull and hugely irritating, both in their content as well as their entertainment quotient. Although a few brainless entertainers like DABANGG and HOUSEFULL managed to entertain the masses, but there was hardly a film that could even be put in the 'okay' category by the intellectual audience. Hindi movie lovers were craving for food after a long fast since 3 IDIOTS when PHAS GAYE RE OBAMA happened, giving us ample reason to be as happy at the end of 2010 as we were at the end of 2009. PHAS GAYE RE OBAMA is rich in pure humor, the kind of humor that can make you 'laugh your intestines out'! And not in just one or two scenes, but each and every scene is so perfectly scripted that it is hard to believe that it's been made by a newbie. I can see the flavor of Rajkumar Hirani in Subhash Kapoor's scripting and film-making style. The story is engaging and keeps you wondering what will happen next and shocks you every time. The performances are in superlatives for every actor. But a special credit must be given to Sanjay Sharma(Bhaisaab) and Manu Rishi(Anni) for their extraordinary portrayal of their characters. This movie is by far the best multiplex comedy and can easily pull down the great films like KHOSLA KA GHOSLA or BHEJA FRY. I wish to see more of such films and such awesome performances and I request all that please watch this film and do yourself a favor.

A gangster relieving himself...camera moves up...zipper closed in time...Phew! Points a gun at a blindfolded groom but fires his own hand...Bad Luck. Kidnapping business not going good for "Bhai"Sahab(Sanjay Mishra, convincing) and gang(Manu Rishi, Amit Sial and 2 others). Reason...People cant pay up ransom due to Recession!Entry of NRI Om Shastri(Rajat Kapoor, controlled & in top-form) who has received a Bank notice to clear his $100,000 debt within a month. He returns to India from New Jersey to sell his ancestral property & gets kidnapped. This is where the Movie begins...Unfortunately, this is the only place where PGRO falls short...the initial pace, clearly a fault of the screenplay rather than direction. The initial scenes were certainly needed to provide for character development but a crisper editing before the interval could have elevated the movie to an altogether different level. It takes around the interval to climb the slope but certainly gives the promised thrill, thereafter. My only fear during the movie was that such an original story should not have a sudden or an over the top or an ending leaving you in bad taste. Thankfully, it did not!On the acting front, Rajat Kapoor was spot on. The supporting casting was very well done too; Manu Rishi as the small-time gangster(Ani) inspiring his gang with Obama-speeches & Sanjay Mishra as a broke gangster with a dream to become a politician. Neha Dhupia as a man-hating Sculptor-Gangster (Munni with no Zandu balm!) tried to look her part but was overshadowed in her comparatively smaller role. Sadly, Amol "Bhope-Bhau" Gupte (Kaminey) got a smaller screen space, too but did his best. The slightly lower budget cinematography as well lack of songs (except one in the credits) enhanced the narration process. The humour in the writing bounced about from crude(interpretation of "Yes, we can") to good(Receipts for kidnapping ransom, English coaching scene) but didn't distract the storyline.PGRO is a good example of what a good original script can do in the hands of a capable director(both by Subhash Kapoor) without an A-list star cast and Music/Dance sequences and high budget props.Me and my friend were planning for Rakta Charitra 2 but landed for this as there were no shows for the former. I was greatly apprehensive of taking the risk of watching a movie I knew nothing about, on first-day-first-show (especially after the outrageously disastrous Raavan...shudder!).I know this one wont be bothered by the Luv-SOrryyy & Ud-Ud-Bangg crowd. It's not a deep thought provoking or ROFL-hilarious drama either. But for once, I'm glad I took the chance.Sense & Simplicity7/10