There is plenty to criticize about Ashutosh Gowarikar's What's Your Rashee. For instance its infinite length, fact that Harman can't act Saala, some Gujju not so funny dragging sections, but there is one thing that really can't be ignored is Priyanka Chopra on screen in twelve different forms with costume designer working on her wardrobe one after another and mostly handing her almost backless Cholis. Guy is Chicago settled NRI Yogesh (without h) Patel who is being tricked to fly back India (same as in Hadippa second in this week), has a task at this hand. Find a bride in seven days, marry the girl possibly rich and payback the debts of his uncle with dowry and fortune he will be inheriting for writing birthday cards to his rich maternal grandfather. Jetlagged or strained on one insomniac night he picks up a book same as film's title and decides to meet one girl of each rashee (sun sign).
He meets one after another caricature girl with distinct trait, a good natured Virgo doctor, a sensuous sagi saadhvi (astrologer), a mysterious Scorpio with passion for modeling, a business hotshot looking for contract marriage and prenup agreement, a minor Gaaon Ki Gori, a Cancerian with a past, a plucky Gemini, odd fish Pieces who believes in reincarnation and soul mate and there are many more. Most of them come with a song-n-dance routine and many are good distracters.
Astrology is fascinating stuff. I remember jumping on Goodman's Love sings and Sun signs, parallel cross checking with each girl guy traits I know of. It was fun and sometimes astonishingly interesting read. So does our reputed director of Lagaan and Swades trying reinventing himself with a comedy cum musical succeed? Not really and I am not surprised. There is already a problem with this kind of premise as twelve characters will be fighting for screen time, limiting character developments and lack of coherent story but at the same time it can be funny vignettes quilted together with a common thread. Unfortunately writer-director Ashutosh Gowarikar lacks the comic flair required for this kind of material to pull off an interesting encounters one after another. He seriously needs a good editor who can chop and cut the flab instead of stuffing it with each and everything you shoot (three hours plus for a comedy? come on!). Harman Baweja is as bland and flat as they can get. Leading guy demands charismatic persona that can click with audience as a groom running on stopwatch looking for the perfect bride in game of luck and chance. Gowarikar also can use a new casting- director.
So saving grace is Priyanka Chopra with her screen presence keeps it going. Despite limitation of script she survives the challenge and walks out clean from this astro-mess of a story. Honestly I wasn't grossly disappointed as I switched off my brain when found what movie is up to (it took half an hour to introduce Priyanka Chopra). Instead, fancied lying on couch on one of those late nocturnal sleepless nights in front of my TV set with a glass of beer. If you decide to watch it anyway, my advice will be, don't take any of it serious, feel like catching it on tube and you might enjoy it rather than resenting. And watch if for Piggy Chops.
