First half of Bhool Bhulaiyaa is semma drag... some slapstick comedy thrown here and there, which I love :) Too many characters - maama, chaacha, athimber, maushi, maushan, cousin, munshiji, seth-ji, astrologer-ji, LKG, UKG etc... So don't waste your time figuring out how they are all related to each other.
CAST
I can already see Vineeth all set to make a fortune with rumours of this film being remade in Assamese, konkani, manipuri, bhojpuri, swahili and some 500+ languages. I am sure even in those remakes he will play the dancer and earn his 2 minutes of f(r)ame.
WHAT WORKS
Like Superstar's charisma that made Chandramukhi a huge hit, it is Akshay's star power that pulls the film through. He is introduced just before the interval block, just as you start wondering if it is worth staying back to watch the film. Shiney Ahuja's throat must have gone for a six after this film with his constant screaming. Vidya Balan is a lot better than Jyo. Atleast she does a little bit of dancing and super in the climax scene. Paresh, Asrani, Rajpal, Rasika + 100 other comedy artistes are full paisa vasool for front benchers and slapstick kaamedy lovers like me.
Sabu Cyril's set work is good. Thiru's cinematography is decent in parts, especially the scenes shot in twilight - Priyadarshan style. This is probably one of the very very few films where a large section of the people wait till the last frame to see the end credit thanks to the title song which goes "Hare raam Hare raam" that plays along with the credits. The song, sung by Neeraj Shridhar is a real chartbuster. I listen to it almost 8 times a day on radio and laaauv it! Pritam, the Hindi Deva is the music director. Liked Hindi 'ra-ra' as well sung by Shreya Ghoshal and MG Sreegumar.
Vidya's sarees are lovely. Shiney looks smart. The location is beautiful, the bhoot mahal looks believable.
WHAT DOESN'T
The first half is very very slow. Too many continuity mistakes. Too many characters. What was the need for M G Sreegumar to sing Hindi ra-ra.. uggggh! Ore the accent aanu. The mallu connection (Priyadarshan) I guess.
WHAT I MISSED THE MOST
1. Lakalakalakalakalaka...
2. Enna koduma Saravanan Idhu?
3. Purushan felt that Hindi Ra-ra didn't have the punch of the tamizh song.
PREVIEW
Om-Sixpack-Om and Jodha-something's trailors. When one tells the story in the trailor itself, I guess half the interest is gone. Not that I was enthu anyways. Sick pack Khan is the struggling actor and his best friend, also a junior artiste, is Shreyas Talpade(the trailor says junior artist.. englipees elizabetthungala? which is right? artiste or artist?) Sick Khan falls in love with Deepika Padukone, a successful actress. Just as Sick Khan hits the jackpot with a hit film with him in the lead, Arjun Rampal the rival hero kills him. Sick Khan is reborn as Om, becomes an actor and takes revenge on Arjun Rampal (Karz?). It has Kirron Kher in it. One big reason for anyone to avoid the film.. A-V-O-I-D big time but for Blogeswari's sake I shall watch Om Shanti Om :)
Jodha Akbar looked boring. Too many Ishq ki mohabbat ki Jodha Rajputon ki khwatir himmati hijwaar karenge sabko... kinda stuff.. highly yawnable.