Mere Brother Ki Dulhan: Fun, Entertaining Fare

Brother is on the lookout for a Dulhan for his NRI 'Bhai Sahab'. Well, the basic premise of relatives-finding-bride and then falling-in-love-themselves has been done to death in various permutations and combinations. But, 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' simply rocks for its freshness and execution. The biggest novelty factor is the over-the-top-yet-funny dialogues and quirky situations that elicit laughter throughout. Also, Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif share a crackling chemistry which is endearing.

Writer-Director Ali Abbas Zafar is firmly in control in his debut film. He pays an ode to the seventies and eightees Hindi cinema in a fun manner. In a way, MBKD is another attempt at luring the audience in the interiors of the country. And it succeeds. Which is a bit of an achievement considering Imran and Katrina have a natural sophisticated charm that isn't naturally cut out for the masses, the way a Salman Khan or Ajay Devgn movie is. Just watch Imran, Katrina and Ali Zafar do the lift-the-shirt dance in 'Madhubala' and you shall know, why the whistles-n-claps will flow freely in the single screens of UP, MP, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab etc.

Now, once the movie starts or even while looking at the promotions, one knows that Imran-Katrina will hook up together at the end of the film, elbowing Ali out. But 'how' it happens is the interesting part. Imran-Katrina's accident while driving the scooter and how Kaif shuts up the auto rickshawwala, the duo sitting in a cycle-rickshaw in a fancy dress and the 'adabs' shared with Parikshit Sahani, Salman Bhai's 'I'm a complan boy' moments, Kush-Pia's Badminton attraction, the real-n-funny beer friend of Imran, the Imran-Katrina 'great escape'...there's a lot in 'Mere Brother ki Dulhan' that appeals purely for its entertainment value without resorting to cheaptricks or gimmicks.

'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' is without a doubt, Katrina Kaif's best performance till date. She surely has come a long way since horrible mistakes like 'Tees Maar Khan' (no problem with Sheila there, but the rest of it sucked). There's a natural naughtiness and larger-than-life persona in whatever she does. The scene where she gets drunk and asks for curd to get over it, the Basanti sequence on top of the car, bend-on-your-knees moments...Kaif is in total control. Her comic timing and lack of inhibitions is simply wow.

Imran Khan is enjoying himself tremendously and he excels as an actor. The check shirts worn by him will be in vogue for sure. Ali Zafar is a breath of fresh air each time he comes on screen. Wish he had more screen space though. Sohail Sen's music is a big plus point for the film. 'Dhunki', 'Choomantar', 'Ishq Risk', 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', and 'Madhubala' are good numbers.

Director Ali Abbas Zafar cleverly paces his film. Yes, at the level of story, don't go searching for logic. 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' is good fun till it lasts and maybe you wouldn't mind watching it another time too. I'd suggest, this weekend you take your family to get entertained at the expense of 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan'. Star Rating: 4 stars.