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The cut-throat world of the music industry is the setting for the inanely titled Shakalaka Boom Boom. Bobby Deol trades musical insults with Upen Patel in this mediocre story of professional skullduggery. The film is riddled with stock characters and scenes, and veering between the mundane and manic makes it a chore to watch. Fans of British-born Patel will get to see a lot of him in his first fully-fledged lead role. That aside, it's disposable fare.

AJ (Bobby Deol) is an ageing music producer with scores of hit records to his name and a reputation to uphold. Threatened by the arrival of singing sensation Reggi (Upen Patel), AJ employs some underhand tactics to ensure that Reggi is sidelined by everyone in the music industry. When no one else will support him, AJ comes to Reggie's rescue, but it soon becomes clear that AJ's intentions are far from honourable.

"ALMOST LAUGHABLE"

Shakalaka Boom Boom serves primarily as a showcase for Upen Patel's talents and Celina Jaitley's cleavage. Patel has ample opportunity to demonstrate his acting potential, and indeed, the boy delivers, albeit drawing from a textbook repertoire. Bobby Deol meanwhile tries his hand at maniacal, but its just not a good look for him. And while Himesh Reshammiya's uninspired soundtrack brings Reggi's reputed genius under question, it's difficult to gauge exactly what might compel any man to fight for Kangana Ranaut's affections.

With the addition of some incongruous special effects and the almost laughable moment when Bobby Deol's head goes boom, Shakalaka Boom Boom is as pointless as its title.

In Hindi with English subtitles.

Shakalaka Boom Boom is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th April 2007.