Benny And Babloo Review

What is it all about?

It is a movie with soft corner for the bar dancers of Mumbai. Sometime back dance bars, where girls danced before the clients while they had their drinks, were closed down by the state government. It was alleged that dance bars were the dens of criminal activities and also centres of prostitution.

The film makes the plea that far worst criminal activities go on in five-star hotels. But no action is taken against them, because top businessmen and politicians are involved. Dance bars were patronized by the middle class, so they could be victimized.

The Story. Of Course

Kay Kay Menon is from the South and Rajpal Yadav is from Bihar. But they bond very well. They work as waiters in an Irani restaurant in Mumbai and share a room as their accommodation. The restaurant is acquired by an American fast food chain and they lose their jobs.

Kay Kay manages to get a job as a bellboy in a five star hotel. Rajpal is not so lucky. He gets a job as a waiter in a dance bar. They are not happy with the kind of things that go on at these places. But they have no alternative.

Bar girls are basically good girls, but at times they have to compromise for the needs of their families. Riya Sen works as housekeeper in the five-star hotel. She is a good girl proud of her dignity. But she is tempted to compromise when she is offered big money by a lecherous old businessman. Then she goes downhill and ends up in police lock up where bar girls are already there after police raid.

What to look for?

Few scenes showing Kay Kay Menon and Rajpal Yadav coming to terms with their new lives are quite amusing. They also bond very well. Aasif Sheikh is also interesting with his tricks as the scheming general manager of the hotel. Hiten Paintal is good as the senior bell boy coaching Kay Kay. Behind the door bitching between the bar girls may amuse the front benchers.

What not?

The story as there is no story or script worth the name. The suffering of a bar girl after the dance bars are closed down could have been a moving story. As it is the script is shallow devoid of depth. Director Yunus Sajawal lost an opportunity on account of his own poor script.

Conclusion: Despite its drawbacks, it works as a time pass kind of film due to the performances by Kay Kay Menon and Rajpal Yadav.

Rating: **