Khichdi - Movie review

Khichdiu00a0- The Movie
U; Comedy
Dir: Aatish Kapadia
Cast: Jamnadas Majethia, Anang Desai, Supriya Pathak, Nimisha Vakharia and Rajeev Mehta
Rating: '''

What it's about: It's history in the making. Never before has a tv serial been made into a film in India, although in the West it has been done several times. Khichdi The Movie is the big screen version of the popular tv serial based on the absurd antics of the Parekh Parivaaru00a0-- Babuji (Anang Desai) Hansa Bhabhi (Supriya Pathak) Praful (Rajeev Mehta), Jayshree Bhabhi (Nimisha Vakharia) and the kids Chakki and Jackie. It's a spoof on a loveable Gujarati family of simpletons. This time the story revolves around getting Himanshu (Jamnadas Majethia) married to the girl of his dreams. All hell breaks loose before it actually happens.

What's hot: It's harebrained, it's inane and full timepass. Rarely do television characters become memorable enough to graduate to the big screen, so Khichdi the film is a trendsetter. The Parekh family is iconic, and though the film boasts of no stars, it has a loyal audience. There's barely a storyline but the film meets your expectations. It has been adapted rather well from the show, and it works because of the quirky characters that we've seen and loved on tv. It's clean wholesome fun, and at no point does the film resort to double-meaning dialogues, slapstick or potty humour. Cameos by Farah Khan, Satish Shah and Deven Bhojani liven up the proceedings. It stays amusing throughout, the performances are super, the dialogues are funny (also pun-ny) and is completely entertaining.

What's not: Post-interval, the proceedings begin to drag. The jokes begin to seem less funny, and it begins to feel like a cold drink that has been left out for too long, and has lost it's fizz. The film would've been perfect at ninety minutes length. The two-hour plus run time makes it meander. The one song in the film jars. Vandana Pathak, who played Jayashree's role in the sitcom, is sorely missed.u00a0u00a0

What to do: A must-see for all fans of the show. It's mad and it makes you smile.u00a0