Movie Review: Phas Gaye Re Obama

It’s disappointing that films like Subhash Kapoor’s Phas Gaye Re Obama are made so rarely in India. Let’s face it, most of the ‘comedy’ output today is anything but that. Instead, what we have are loosely-bound skits packed with slapstick gags, banal (and more often than not, offensive) humour, idiot-plots and thinly-sketched characters. Which is why I am so pleased with Phas Gaye Re Obama. It’s a hoot: a very funny, entertaining and witty film that bucks the trend in a myriad of ways and is hence very easy to recommend.

The movie is set against the backdrop of the recent global recession. Rajat Kapoor plays Om Shastri, an NRI living in the States. Very well-off earlier, Om has lost all his wealth due to this economic meltdown. Bringing matters to a head, his bank sends him a notice to clear his $100,000 mortgage in 30 days, failing which, he’ll have to vacate his home. Om is befuddled by this development and has no source from where to earn the money in such a short time. So, he decides to travel to India, sell off his ancestral property and use the cash to clear his dues. Alas, the recession has hit the Indian real estate market too and Om doesn’t find any buyers for his ancestral home (haveli). However, all these problems pale once he is kidnapped by Bhai Sahab (played by Sanjay Mishra). The kidnappers don’t know that Om himself is bankrupt (something that really throws a spanner in their plans). But, Om comes up with an idea that snowballs into a devious and daring scheme. What this scheme is, how it unfolds, and who ultimately benefits from all this derring-do is something that you should find out for yourself by seeing the film.

First and foremost, Phas Gaye Re Obama should be praised for its excellent casting. Rajat Kapoor has played a smarmy-polished-witty persona onscreen multiple times before this… but he still manages to make Om feel fresh. He carries the film on his shoulders and sells his character superbly. Manu Rishi is a revelation in his role, and is one of the best finds for Bollywood in recent times. His character’s arc is very wide, beginning with a very small (and selfish) dream of going to America but slowly broadening, diverging and finally ending on a note that seems pitch-perfect. Chadha inhabits the role perfectly and makes us feel for his character, even when he behaves like a git. Kudos to him.

The other major supporting actors are Neha Dhupia, as a gangster called Munni, and Amole Gupte as Dhananjay, a local politician who is also in the kidnapping business. Dhupia disappoints in her role. Although one could say that her character isn’t particularly well-written (apart from a great joke about her henchwomen’s names, there’s nothing new about her), part of the blame has to rest with Dhupia and her mediocre acting skills. On the other hand, Amole Gupte does a praiseworthy job with his part. His character isn’t that deep either, but Gupte makes it all work somehow. There’s a hilarious running gag in the film revolving around his character. I won’t spoil it for you, but that drew huge laughs from the audience, and will make you chuckle too.

However, the undoubted scene-stealer is Sanjay Mishra as Bhai Sahab. I have long since thought that Mishra is one of the best character actors working in Bollywood right now, and his work in Obama only cements my belief. I can’t accurately convey the brilliance of his acting without spoiling some of the jokes for you, which is why let’s just wrap it up by saying that if there can be a laugh mined from something, be it a reaction shot or a posture, Mishra mines a laugh from it. Oh, and he gets to deliver one of the funniest closing lines of any film in a long, long time.

Subhash Kapoor both wrote and directed the film, and he does a fine job. But, it must be noted that the film has blatant pacing issues. It is painfully slow in the first half and there’s a lot of flab that could have easily been trimmed. I don’t know if these problems lie in the writing, editing or both, but they detract from the film in a big way. Thankfully (although surprisingly), Obama doesn’t have any songs in it, apart from an end-credits number. The background score, meanwhile, is perfunctory but does the job.

Phas Gaye Re Obama is a delightful little movie, with lots of things in it to love. If only the screenplay and editing were more taut, the film would be absolutely great. As of now, it is only very, very good. Still, it earns a recommendation from me. Check it out!

(3/4)

PS – I’ve been careful not to spoil any of the jokes in the film. However, it would be a shame to not mention the English teacher’s monologue. Oh my.

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Photo Credit: Revel Films