Khaali Peeli makes you see red

Gurnaaz Kaur

Film: Khaali Peeli  
Director: Maqbool Khan
Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Ananya Panday, Jaideep Ahlawat, Swanand Kirkire, Satish Kaushik, Anup Soni
Rating: **

This time around, you have what Bollywood is known for, or let’s say was once renowned for—a masala movie set in Aamchi Mumbai. Only times have changed and so have the viewers’ taste. So, going by the genre, there are all the necessary ingredients. There is drama, romance, action, humour, twists and turns and an arch villain.

Vijay Chauhan aka Blackie (Ishaan Khatter) is a taxi driver who runs his kaali peeli car (hence the name) on his own rules, so even if the taxi association in the city is on an indefinite strike, he looks at it as an opportunity to mint some extra money. On a fateful night, meets Pooja who has a bag full of cash and jewellery and is running from goons. She is on the run because her pimp Yusuf Chikna (Jaideep Ahalawat) is trying to get her married to a pedophile (Swanand Kirkire). A pretty girl with lot of moolah! Blackie, who himself is running from the cops, finds it hard to say no to this opportunity. Now begins the mad, endless chase, so crazy that it gives you a headache. The climax is predictable.

By the way, these two are lovers from childhood, which you will discover through the many flashbacks. In fact, the two timelines overlapping each other breaks the momentum. First 40 minutes into the movie and you’ll end up asking, ‘why is this film a pay-per-view?’

Here are some good points. Both Ishaan and Ananya have given praise-worthy performances. Ishaan’s character demands him to be a tapori and he has put in great effort. His dance moves and action stunts are impressive. Ananya is so feisty and spirited that you wonder if she ever faced any hardship in life. But the good part is she is no damsel in distress. She has her wits about and can fight the gundas. Together they have a sizzling chemistry. Jaideep Ahlawat has delivered a solid performance. On occasions, he creeps you out.

Among the negatives are the countless Bollywood clichés. The couple running from the goons is an age-old template, the only freshness is a girl has a good head on her shoulders and is not a bechari or pyaar ki maari. It has a paper-thin screenplay, the transitions between past and present are an impediment. Khaali Peeli stops being even a time-pass after the initial quirky dialogues.