Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar is a film which as the title suggests should not be taken
to heart. The film's promos and title entices those drawn to comic madcap
films to come and watch, love and laugh loud. If this is what you are
expecting, prepare to be disappointed as unfortunately the film is not all
laughter and fun at all.
The film tells the story of Ram Saran Pandey, a simple man who narrates to
the audience his letters to his parents back in Jaunpur in a lovable and
straightforward manner. "Aap yehi chaahte te naa ke gaari baari ho? Baari to
nay hai lekin gaariyon ki kamee nay hai kaam pe" (You wanted your son to
have fancy cars and the like, well I don't know about the like but work
keeps me surrounded by lovely cars) he tells us in the opening
scenes. Ram Saran is an honest, sincere and very simple man who comes to
Mumbai with empty pockets and a suitcase full of dreams.
He works as a motor mechanic and one day finds himself falling for a
beautiful journalist Kaamya Lal (Tabu) whose car needs fixing and is brought
to the attention of our simple hero. Impressed by Ram Saran's innocence,
honesty and naive manner, she translates him as a prospective story and
befriends him introducing him to her rich circle of friends where he
undoubtedly feels a misfit.
He soon finds out the truth that she is only using him to write a script
based around his character and for a newspaper story about his life and
begins to feel his poverty and lifestyle are the cause of his heartache. The
story then takes a twist as he sets out to make money by hook or by crook,
harping up dreams of going to Dubai to make it rich.
This begins the end of his innocence as he turns to crime and we see the
honest simpleton transform into someone he is not, convincing himself he is
doing no wrong as it is circumstance and fate which are dealing the cards
here. How Ram Saran changes and what happens to his life is what makes up
the remainder of the story in a turn-of-events second half which moves at a
considerably faster pace than the first.
Performance wise the film is a Manoj Bajpai vehicle all the way. He takes
the viewer through a medley of emotions with such conviction, his films are
becoming noteworthy on the strengths of his acting alone. From Satya and
Kaun to Shool and now Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, it is clear to see the emergence
of a great actor whose name deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as
Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan. Tabu performs adequately in a
well-etched role in the first half which is unfortunately reduced to a
miniscule one in the second half. Saurabh Shukla is competent as Ram Saran's
best friend Gaitoondhey and also deserves credit for the witty script he has
come up with. It is interesting in how he has written the script so that in
the first half we witness the good side of all the characters and in the
second everyone turns out to be bad which leaves a question mark with the
viewer in 'how could this have happened'? Life happens is the message and in
a tongue-in-cheek way "Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar".
Director Hansal Mehta's film is a commendable attempt at black humour and
'Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar' walks away with the honours for carrying off an offbeat
and fresh subject well. The film is a little disturbing and somewhat
shocking, but is an honest film with good intentions and superb performances
especially by Manoj Bajpai and hummable music make this daringly different
film one to watch - just don't take it to heart.
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