Crazy turn and comic return

Nonika Singh

‘Har cheez samajh mein aaye yeh zaroori nahi...’ and trying to understand this bunch of good-for-nothing Fukrey, especially Choocha's uncanny powers, would tax the brain a tad too much. Never change a winning combination, believe the producers of the film. So all the four Fukras (Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Varun Sharma, and Manjot Singh) are in place, along with Bholi Punjaban( Richa Chadha), a tad less sharp though and a little more funny. 

Since all things remain where they are... how do you carry the story forward and create the necessary action? Well, dear Choocha, who had the power to dream the exact lottery number, now finds a greater fillip. He has what in English is known as premonition and in the film is pronounced with just the right amount of Punjabi tadka.

He can envision a treasure underlying a tunnel and completing the picture of his imagination nay ‘primemontion’ is a tiger and a cub. Indeed, the film goes over the top, and the director’s intention to raise laughs becomes clear in the opening sequence where Choocha dreams of Bholi Punjaban in a naagin avatar. And that is only the tip… more is in the offing. 

Despite the ludicrousness of the storyline, what is surprising is that the comic formula works again. The film, of course, belongs to Choocha (Varun Sharma) who gets the best gags and laugh lines and not to forget, a full-scale romantic angle as well. Indeed, many of the jokes are on him and Varun Sharma sails through the film as a winner and gets both the energy of his garrulous part and comic timing right.

Sure as Pankaj Tripathi’s character of Panditji utters, “He is still so vulgar.” But then this is no sophisticated foursome yet endearing nevertheless. Beyond the men peeing and doing a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on each other, the film takes you through many amusing moments. Dialogues are pungent and sharp. Many situations genuinely funny and all through, right up to the crazy climax, laughs keep rolling.

There are few classic scenes, like the politician Baburam’s (Rajiv Gupta) one-word response on learning Choocha’s name. Plus gifted actors such as Pankaj Tripathi add to the film’s comic muscle. Just one line, or a slight gesture, by him is enough to bring the house down. 

Sure, compared to the previous outing, this one develops a social conscience too. Then the film plays a political card, expectedly a correct one and ropes in the infamous Commonwealth Games scandal, only here it goes by another name. The fast-moving story leapfrogs from one absurd situation to another. In the end, loose threads are connected rather conveniently. You may not leave the theatre hall fully satisfied or convinced at the turn of events but would certainly walk away with a smile.

Fukrey does not return with a bang and some characters, such as that of Ali Fazal, might just not be there. Heroines Vishakha Singh and Priya Anand are virtually invisible. But the film has enough comic-power to take you on a yet another rib-tickling ride.

Only don't ask too many questions. Simply relax and enjoy.