Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is an inventive take on the usual love story; a Bunty Aur Babbli-esque jaunt between Paris, India and Southall, culminating in a dance-off at the Mr & Miss Southall competition. Priety Zinta and Abhishek Bachchan play two strangers with a penchant for telling tall tales, leading unexpectedly to love. While the humour is at times contrived, the curiosity factor and the slick style keeps you engaged. There's no point to the story though, this one's just for fun.
Southall boy Rikki Tukral (Abhishek Bachchan) chances upon store manager Alvira Khan (Priety Zinta) at Waterloo Station. Claiming to be waiting for their fiances to arrive from Birmingham, they each recount their respective love stories, which turn out to be little more than fantastical whimsy. In the course of two hours they fall in love, but unable to admit the truth behind their single status, they rope in Steve (Deol) and Anaida (Dutta) to continue the pretence.
"MILDLY AMUSING"
Adopting the swagger and street talk of a Southall wide boy, Abhishek is clearly having fun here, relishing the in-jokes and the opportunity to share the screen with his Dad. Meanwhile, Preity is her usual chirpy self and Deol plays the geek to a tee. Amitabh Bachchan brings his own touch of magic as a wandering maverick weaving a spell of love on the strangers. Yet, in spite of the energetic performances, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom's Bollywood take on Brit-Asian culture is only mildy amusing.
In Hindi with English subtitles.
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom is out in UK cinemas on 22nd June 2007