Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?

This weekend, I had a trip planned for Bangalore and so had been thinking of what I would blog about. However, the joke turned out on me, since Synopsys Bangalore took us out for a Movie, which was ironically titled “Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?”, a question, which was asked repeatedly to me by my colleagues in the Bangalore office, though, hopefully, not with the thought of sending me away. ;-)

Nevertheless, to give justice to my Bangalore trip, and make the expensive Inox ticket feel worthwhile, here’s a review on the same movie.

Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?

Cast: Ajay Devgan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Paresh Rawal

Director: Ashwini Dhir

Overall Rating: 6.5 / 10.0 (A good movie to watch, if there are no other plans)

The movie begins in the Metropolis of Mumbai, depicting a typical nuclear family, trying to survive the hardships of the competitive cosmopolitan life. Welcome to the home of Puneet (Ajay Devgan) and Munmun (Konkana Sen Sharma) and their kid, comprising a family, who has never ever welcomed any guests, since they never had time to keep contact with people, owing to their fast life.

Things are going smooth in some sense, till Lambodar Chacha (Paresh Rawal), a distant relative from Gorakhpur suddenly drops in uninvited at their home to pay a visit. For the first time, the family has to make small sacrifices to accommodate this guest in their home and they still try to cope up with the situation maturely. However, pretty soon they realize that Chachaji has no immediate plans of returning back and this is when things start getting topsy-turvy.

The story shows beautifully how the inclusion of a person from a small village or town can impact the lifestyle of the modern urban family. Munmun has to wake up early in the morning to make breakfast for chachaji, thus adjusting her routine, which can impact her productivity at her job. Puneet, called Pappu lovingly by Chachaji, also falls prey to the illiterate Chachaji’s rural gambits. To make matters worse, Chachaji with his loving and inviting nature also brings home, friends and neighbors, who tag along with him, adding to the woes of Puneet’s family.

“Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge” mirrors a reality of the new generation, where the family being victimized by the perils of the guest feels that their privacy and happiness is threatened. The ways in which the family reacts to the guest and tries to send-him-off is what makes the movie funny. On a comic sense, Chachaji also has some gastric problems, which adds an element of laughter. And yet, the movie shows the upsides of this rustic guest, who lovingly installs good “sanskaar” in the kid of the family, teaching him to be ethical and more responsible.

Final Verdict:

The movie is a synthesis of satire in the new-age urban life and strong virtues of traditional Indian family system. The movie though is about 2 hours long, seemed to comprise of various parts, and atleast some of these chapters, weren’t really needed and were probably added to drag the movie along. Paresh Rawal acts his beautifully and Ajay Devgan and Konkana also do well for their respective roles, and yet the movie isn’t a real pleasure.

Nevertheless, the movie does have some parts which bring giggles, and also tries to convey a good message. But this makes the movie a combination of “Hera Pheri” and “Baghban”, which though is nice and watchable, cannot have the humor, seriousness or the charisma of either of the movies.

Last but not the least, it is watchable for all the people who want to relax and laugh with a packet of popcorn in their hands after a hectic week of hard work, and carry home a good message as well. Reminding the viewers of the traditional movies of 1980s timeframe, the “Atithi” will probably settle in the guest-room of your heart.