Ghanchakkar (2013)

Average film that could have been so much more, saved by great acting by lead Emraan Hasmi,Vidya Balan, Rajesh Sharma, and Namit Das. Film is about a bank robbery and how the three robbers are supposed to split the money after three months but the person with the money loses his memory in the interim. Dir Rajkumar Gupta tries hard to make a great film, but a very slow pace and the writing of the film are a big letdown. After a certain point the film doesn't move.What saves the film is some really fun moments, great acting by all 4 leads and a good ending. Overall one excepts more from such talent, exceptions were high after aamir and NOKJ but there are not meet. But the film is still enjoyable just don't walk in with too many exceptions.

Ghanchakkar has a very original and interesting premise. Three thieves loot a bank and one of them is given the money to hide till matter settles down. Three months later, the other two thieves are shocked to know that the one who took the money has lost his memory and has no clue where he hid the money.But somehow on screen, the movie didn't turn up well. Something was lost in translation. In the 2nd half, it became confusing because of various subplots such as Hashmi thinking that Balan is cheating on him. It also seems as if the writers just wanted to kill time before the climax.If the 2nd half has confusing moments, the climax is bizarre to say the least. A good suspense film should have a logical ending. It's not so here. I was baffled as the end credits rolled on the screen unable to digest what the last 15 mins was about. Plus I had a few unanswered questions abt the story.The performances keep you hooked in this odd film. Hashmi is perfect as the memory lost thief. You laugh at him for being silly and feel sad for him as he tries hard to remember his past. Balan is underutilized as Hashmi's wife. She has here moments but her character is poorly written. The running gag about her cooking his hilarious. Sharma and Das are good as Hashmi's partners in crime.The story had potential but it turns out confusing and bizarre !

I wasn't a GHANCHAKKAR to go for it. I was more of it…. May be GHANCHAKKARIER! May be two over before GHANCHAKKAR and top it up with few more after it, to really get a hang of it or over it! See I said it.I just kinda know the guys associated with it…. A movie or so, each…. (I might be lying) There's that VIDYA, EMRAAN AND UTVJI. So you see, my adding –JI- doesn't get any far in proving anything…. And that's exactly the point….. utv has been trying to metamorphose into Miramax (which anyway lost the sheen long ago).Its good and we are there to let it happen…… cause if you are audacious, you get a chance to show. This director has done it two times over, and GHANCHAKKAR was 3rd throw of dice! If the stuff would have been endorsed by Guy Ritchie (ya that Madonna of a British director), won't we had grabbed it and christened it a marvelous masterpiece (I m not pretending, we did that with lock-stock-2smo'kin barrel and snatch)… no offense to Guy, though at any point. Its just a wish…. The movie could have been more… meatier, more sumptuous…. You know what I mean…. It had all to go but then, it was stuck in its own grind. But look what we did to Johnnie GADDAR after all!All points to RAJ KUMAR GUPTA to pull this one, yanked it hard. It belongs to the millennial kids; all convention gets buried. No great performances but great handling of a non-existent script.So then, it doesn't qualify for a paid viewing, just good enough down-loadable.

Rajkumar Gupta's 'Ghanchakkar' is An Uneven Comedy! It has a promising premise, fabulous performances & even skilled direction, but what it lacks, more-so in the second-hour, is solid writing! 'Ghanchakkar' Synopsis: A man robs a bank, but ends up losing his memory 3 months later. Mayhem ensures. 'Ghanchakkar' begins superbly & the twisted narrative is certifiably crazy & entertaining. The second-hour, as mentioned before, isn't solid. Also, this comedy-thriller, turns dark & violent in the latter hour, which surprises its viewer completely, but not particularly in awe. The climax, when the mystery unfolds, is actually, an anti-climax. Sure, it has a worthy twist, but the entire sequence is not up-to the mark. Parveez Shaikh & Rajkumar Gupta's Screenplay is damn funny in the first-hour, but dips in the second-hour. I'm sure, a better second-hour would've benefited big time! Rajkumar Gupta is a talented storyteller & his direction here, too, is skilled. Cinematography is standard. Editing is sharp. Music by Amit Trivedi is melodious. Performance-Wise: Emraan Hashmi is in terrific form. He plays the troubled protagonist with complete conviction & ease. A Stellar Performance! Vidya Balan gets it right, yet again. She plays the Punjabi housewife faultlessly. Rajesh Sharma is brilliant, he supports the leads wonderfully. Namit Das is ordinary. On the whole, 'Ghanchakkar' has its moments, but its the second-hour that plays a spoilsport.