Producer: Vijay Taneja
Starring: Himesh Reshammiya, Mallika Sherawat, Hansika Motwani
Music Dir: Himesh Reshammiya
'Aap Ka Surror' or "Surror ka Gurror"! Labeled as a musical tornado in 2006, the storm created in the music charts by this bearded and capped composer-turned-singer made history of kind that resulted in glory coupled with controversies. The name of Himesh Reshammiya became the keyword in musical business that proved miracle for creating tremendous openings for films. His slick and stylish music videos became the promotional soundtracks that generated hype and hoopla for the film and finally his album "Aap Ka Surror" entered the marquee with huge thump. The sporadic events proved so consequential that the acting proved the next big phase and predictable landmark in his brand building. The euphoria proved groundbreaking and trendsetting that the team of Reshammiya-Sameer-Chadha is back to rock the world.
If you believe in the gloss, glitz of showbiz then its better that you don't wear your thinking cap to view 'Aap Ka Surror'. Prashant Chaddha, the director and the creative head for all Himesh Reshammiya music videos, promises "masala" entertainer but no logics are to be applied. Chadha's "larger than life" perception and execution has landed him in the unexplored exotic locations of Germany with great visual experiences. The film's gloss, slick promotion and chartbusting music should be treated as its attribute while scripting takes a backseat.
The film starts with a dead body of TV journo Nadia Merchant found in a remote area, somewhere in the dense forests of Germany. Himesh Reshammiya alias HR (Himesh Reshammiya) is a pop icon and visits Germany with his friend Shravan for concert shows. HR is arrested after concert for murdering television journalist who operates a "sting operation". HR is arrested and is put behind the bars and the story unravels into flashback.
During a concert in Germany, HR meets the event organizer Khurana (Darshan Jariwala) and his partner Ruby James (Mallika Sherawat). He also meets event planner Ria (Hansika Motwani) in a tiff with a burglar at his place and it's love at first sight for him. Love blossoms between them but still there are hurdles to be crossed. After initial hesitation and resentment, Hansika's father (Sachin Khedekar) approves of this match. Circumstances take a turn ; HR is arrested when life shapes well for him.
He asks Ruby James, a shrewd and competent lawyer, to bail him out. Since Ruby is in love with HR, she resents his sensuous overtures towards Ria. He escapes from his prison cell after taking the murdered TV journalist's father Feroze Merchant (Raj Babbar) as captive in his car. He has to find the actual culprit in one single day, or else his sweetheart will be married off to someone else. The film ends on a preposterous ending that it decimates all the spirited musical work of the film.
If the film's first half is highly entertaining (flashy soundtracks, exotic locations, romance, and comedy) then the second half rests on its thin plot and feeble execution. Prashant Chaddha is a slick and trendy video director-turned-film director but has a limitation as competent storyteller. Himesh Reshammiya may not be any star material but his supreme pop icon image makes him a saleable commodity. His biggest strength lies in his confidence to perform and apt body language that lift the spirits of the film. As compared to his musical contemporaries (Sonu Nigam and Kumar Sanu), he proves to be the most competent and by far the most successful singer-turned-actor.
'Aap Ka Surror's biggest asset lies in its technically brilliant musical soundtracks that enthrall senses in its glossy depiction. Feel the rhythmic impulse of feverish concert show in "Assasalam Valeekum", the mushy romance in "Tera Mera Milna" and festive thump in "Jhooth Nahin Bolna". The nostalgic "Tere Bina" and expressively painful "Tanhaiyaan" are the added listening treats that are well executed on the silver screen. It's musical mania all the way and its biggest commercial asset.
The biggest surprise lies in its acting department and the film lives up to its expectation in every frame. Himesh Reshammiya's screen presence is the biggest surprise. His expressive dialogue delivery with optimum facial and body language shows acting potential in him. The film proves that he is no novice and can handle emotional scenes with élan. Hansika Motwani's striking screen debut in Hindi cinema works in tandem with Himesh's impressive acting skills. She has matured from child artiste ('Koi Mil Gaya') to female main lead with supreme confidence.
Shravan, the young actor who started off with dud 'Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye' makes an effective screen presence with this film. After Sharman Joshi and Kunal Kapoor, he comes out as another underdog who has flair for good acting and impressive comical timing. The first half completely belongs to his and Himesh Reshammiya's friendly chemistry that triggers loads of laughter and moments of amusement in the film.
Mallika Sherawat, the sensuous "Murder" babe, plays another impressive performance of sexy lawyer who befriends a fugitive for justice. Her sensuous dancing in the soundtracks "Mehbooba" and "Dillagi" (earlier "Ya Ali" in music CD's) is a big crowd puller.
Darshan Jhaveri, a trusted theatre artiste, gets first major screen appearance as the main villain. He gets on the top occasionally with his eccentric and unusual on-screen characterization. Raj Babbar is completely wasted in the role of a desolated father of slain TV journalist.
Now the minuses! Don't expect anything innovative or ground breaking as filmmaker has never promises anything in its promos. 'Aap Ka Surror' is contemporary romantic murder mystery conceived in 80's style of an action potboiler. The stereotyped romance of rich and poor, the fight between good and evil and feebly executed climax are its major drawbacks.
The romantic track between Himesh Reshammiya and Hansika Motwani is entertaining and gripping in the film's first half. The situational hilarious moments are well planted but when the narration contorts to murder mystery track, it disappoints. After giving a promising and gripping start to the film, Prashant Chadha along with writer Vibha Singh, falters miserably while solving the murder mystery. The second half has many instances where the preposterous narration in the film kills the show.
Amateurishly conceived "auto-rickshaw" sequence where Reshammiya is freed from the police arrest is coarsely planted. The final scene where villain (Darshan Jhaveri) confesses his murder in front of a big TV screen is a major let down. Hansika Motwani along with his father (Sachin Khedkar) monitoring Reshammiya's innocence on TV screen and deciding to quit from arranged marriage is another sore thumb in the script.
In an era of multiplexes, how can you expect a business magnate (Darshan Jhaveri) murdering a TV journalist by wearing facial mask of pop icon (Himesh Reshammiya) ? If filmmakers have big plans of launching Himesh Reshammiya as screen god then they should have worked on better themes or plots. Why do they come with a messy and absurd script?
'Aap Ka Surror' works more as a mass entertainer made in the format of musical entertainer. If the film was conceived as light-hearted romantic-cum-comical entertainer then it would have had more takers as the murder mystery plot has ruined its credentials.
The bankable pop icon image of Himesh Reshammiya, aggressive promotion, high production value and melodious music will draw huge crowds during the first weekend. Now, its between "style" or "substance" that viewers have to choose as it lacks major ingredients of good scripting though it entertains with slick gloss and upbeat music.
Overall, Himesh Reshammiya's debut performance as an actor has proved credible but not groundbreaking as his singing or composing abilities do.
The film promises impressive openings in multiplexes but thereafter its prospects will depend on "good" word of publicity. In a nutshell, "Surror" ka "Gurror" is a delightful musical fanfare but unimpressive entertainer!
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