ππ (2 out of 5)
π’ βLights, camera, action! Oops, the action is missing.β π¬
Once upon a time, in the sprawling metropolis of Mumbai, a young chap named Bhuppi (played by Vinod Rawat) attempts to be the life of the Bollywood party. Heβs just another face in the crowd, dreaming of his name in lights, but instead finds himself drowning in the sea of anonymity. Along comes a role that makes him share screen-time with Rajkummar Rao. (Quite the upgrade, huh?) But poor Bhuppi is all nerves, and the only thing heβs nailing is a headache.
Ask Review Rani, and sheβll tell you that the real drama begins when Bhuppiβs βfriendβ (if you can call him that), Sumit, decides to play the villain, threatening to release a naughty video of our hero unless he coughs up 8 lakh rupees. Bhuppi, left with no choice, heads back to his hometown in Uttarakhand to grab his inheritance. But letβs just say, his hometown is not exactly rolling out the red carpet for him.
Raniβs Reel Talk
Directed by Vinod Rawat, who apparently moonlights as an acting coach to Bollywood biggies like Hrithik Roshan, this film is like a slow-cooked meal that forgot the seasoning. Rawatβs attempt at authenticity by casting his family members and shooting in his picturesque hometown of Nainital might seem like a masterstroke. But itβs more like a clumsy painting β itβs pretty, but it doesnβt make much sense.
Our boy Bhuppi, portrayed by Rawat, is a bit of a puzzle. Sometimes you root for him, at other times, youβre left scratching your head. Rita Heer, who plays the unpredictable Dimple, sparkles occasionally, while Hemant Pandey as the chatty, flirtatious taxi driver Hemant, is the real scene-stealer. But the filmβs strength wanes when these characters are not together, leaving you yawning and checking your watch more often than youβd like.
Raniβs Rhetoric
The cinematography, led by Dhawalika Singh, does a decent job of capturing Uttarakhandβs beauty. But itβs like a pretty backdrop for a lousy school play. Itβs there, but itβs not quite there, if you know what I mean.
In short, βPushtainiβ is like a rollercoaster ride thatβs all build-up and no thrill. It tries to weave together Bhuppiβs past regrets, present struggles, and future dreams, but ends up tripping over its own shoelaces. Itβs like a poorly knitted sweater β sure, itβll keep you warm, but itβs full of holes.
Raniβs Wrap-Up
βPushtainiβ is like waiting for a punchline that never comes. Itβs a film that promises a scenic drive but ends up feeling more like a bumpy rickshaw ride. So, if you have an afternoon to spare and nothing better to do, grab some popcorn and give it a whirl. But donβt say Review Rani didnβt warn you. π
And remember, in the words of Review Rani, βEvery film is a hit, until you watch it.β π₯πΏ