Pushtaini Film Review: A Scenic, Struggling Journey into Unfinished Business and Unexplored Characters

🌟🌟 (2 out of 5)

📢 “Lights, camera, action! Oops, the action is missing.” 🎬

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. He’s 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 he’s nailing is a headache.

Ask Review Rani, and she’ll tell you that the real drama begins when Bhuppi’s “friend” (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 let’s just say, his hometown is not exactly rolling out the red carpet for him.

Rani’s 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. Rawat’s attempt at authenticity by casting his family members and shooting in his picturesque hometown of Nainital might seem like a masterstroke. But it’s more like a clumsy painting – it’s pretty, but it doesn’t make much sense.

Our boy Bhuppi, portrayed by Rawat, is a bit of a puzzle. Sometimes you root for him, at other times, you’re 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 film’s strength wanes when these characters are not together, leaving you yawning and checking your watch more often than you’d like.

Rani’s Rhetoric

The cinematography, led by Dhawalika Singh, does a decent job of capturing Uttarakhand’s beauty. But it’s like a pretty backdrop for a lousy school play. It’s there, but it’s not quite there, if you know what I mean.

In short, ‘Pushtaini’ is like a rollercoaster ride that’s all build-up and no thrill. It tries to weave together Bhuppi’s past regrets, present struggles, and future dreams, but ends up tripping over its own shoelaces. It’s like a poorly knitted sweater – sure, it’ll keep you warm, but it’s full of holes.

Rani’s Wrap-Up

‘Pushtaini’ is like waiting for a punchline that never comes. It’s 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 don’t say Review Rani didn’t warn you. 😜

And remember, in the words of Review Rani, “Every film is a hit, until you watch it.” 🎥🍿