(Starring Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Sourabh Sukhla, Directed by : Abhisekh Pathak)
A Hindi remake of a Kannada film “Ondu Motteya Kathe”, the lead role of Chaman Kohli is played by Sopnu Ke Titu Ki Sweety-famed actor Sunny Singh. Directed by Abhsekh Pathak, the film recently grabbed the headlines for its similarity with Ayushmann Khurrana starrer “Bala”. Both the films showcase the stories of the protagonists dealing with the effects of premature balding.
The film deals with a 30-year old Chaman Kohli living in Rajauri Gatden, New Delhi, who is subject to much mirth and ridicule, courtesy his balding pate. To make things worse, Chaman has been rejected at least 50 times by prospective brides because of it. Matters go out of hand when the family astrologer (Sourabh Sukhla) predicts that Chaman will remain celibate throughout his life if he doesn’t get married by the age of 31.
While the premise is meaty and interesting, the treatment and screenplay flatters. The first half of the movie has plenty of humour, it wears thin in the second half, which becomes a bit sermonic. The writers move on from whipping up sympathy for the lovelorn Chaman and find him a Tinder match, Apsara (Maanvi Gargoo), but she is plump, who initially turn up their nose at each other until finally they fall victim to Cupid’s arrows.
The supporting cast consisting of Chaman’s parents and younger brother get the best of lines, but the main lead is deliberately shown regressive, pessimistic and defeated. May be the characterisation is such. While the critics have torn apart both the movie and Sunny Singh, I fully sympathise with the actor (not because I’m bald myself). All said and done, the treatment, especially in the second half, could have been better, and the film could have been one of those rambunctious rib-tickling comedies. I’m going with 2.5 out of 5 for “Ujda Chaman”.