A dish of many ingredients

Jasmine Singh

Let’s go in the chronological order— Diljit Dosanjh, his naturally-funny self, funny dialogues, three pretty damsels, again Diljit’s smashing one-liners, mystery, not so interesting moments, some RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) moments, peppy songs, more mystery, songs again, melodrama, and mystery solved. 

This is precisely how you can summarise Punjabi film Ambarsariya, which by the way sadly but truly doesn’t have a love triangle, which is again the big suspense nicely handled. 

Directed by Mandeep Kumar (who worked with Diljit Dosanjh earlier in Jihne Mera Dil Luteya), Ambarsariya is a movie that has loads to offer, it gives you so much variety that it creates a problem of plenty! Director Mandeep Kumar has thrown in as many entertaining elements as possible, from comic dialogues, mystery and action, everything leading to a spill over. The story and screenplay by Dheeraj Rattan is in a way new for the Punjabi audience, but not for those who have seen enough RAW type Hindi or English films! 

The movie establishes a speed from the very beginning, it is suddenly put on the suspense mode, and from thereon it keeps moving on that very mode, till the fag of the film, which keeps your interest intact.

The cinematography of the film, especially the shots of Amritsar is appreciable, and different. The director needs a pat for handling so many characters, pretty much in a balanced way.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that like all his other films Diljit Dosanjh in Ambarsariya is also at the helm of affairs. The actor is like nitrous oxide that spreads a wave of laughter by just saying a word or even maintaining a poker face. He does this impeccably though! This time, however, Diljit plays a RAW agent who disguises himself as an insurance agent. Pretty innovative, especially if you have missed films like The Departed, Big Momma’s House, Notorious, The Kremlin Letter, The Good Shepherd. If only the director could have given some seriousness to Diljit as the undercover agent in the film! 

Now, we have three ladies in the film, all three, Navneet Kaur Dhillon, Monica Gill and Lauren Gottlieb making their debut with Ambarsariya. These three should be thanking the dialogue writer and the director for generously handling down the dialogues to them, nahi tan bus kalolaan hi reh jaaniyan si. 

As for Gul Panag, she should watch some movies on actors playing RAW agents. Rest of the cast, you have Gurpreet Ghuggi, who is good, so is Rana Ranbir. You have a bit of Punjab Police in the form of Binnu Dhillon, which fails to impress. Karamjit Anmol of Ardaas and Ambarsariya are poles apart, while the former brought out his talent, the latter hides it pretty well. Shavinder Mahal is a fine performer, and the day he decides to not be a ‘goody good’ father, or ‘goody good politician’, he is sure to grab eye-balls.

Ambarsariya has songs but we are used to more rocking and more romantic numbers when it comes to a Diljit Dosanjh- starrers. In the end Ambarsariya is a good summer cool mocktail, but we couldn’t get a complete taste of one single ingredient, because the concoction is loaded with more than desired stuff! 

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