Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baaki Hai Review

Mid-way through the film you realise that if only for better production values and much humorous script along with better supporting actors, 'Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baaki Hai' (MDPABH) could have turned out to a far more entertaining affair. Reason being that the core concept of the storyline (a film being made within a film) is actually quite interesting.

The premise is good enough to lead to terrific fun elements being incorporated into the narration. However the way Rajnish Raj Thakur spins the entire tale and approaches the film lets you down. Indeed a good idea that just couldn't culminate into something really exciting.
 
The film could well have been publicised as the real life tale of Ram Gopal Varma. Reason being that just like the real life story of the maverick director, even MDPABH is about an aspiring filmmaker (Suniel Shetty) who sold off his video library (this is RGV's true tale) and headed to Bollywood. He wanted to make realistic cinema but ended up finding himself in a situation where market pressures forced him to change tracks.
 
Thankfully though, director Thakur (whose `Lott' by the way was somewhat better) keeps the film light hearted instead of turning into a dark tale. After all, a subject like this could well have been given a Madhur Bhandarkar touch, a la 'Fashion' or 'Heroine', and bordered into a dark zone, what with underworld, casting couch, item songs, mindless action sequences, forced comic portions, garish sets, outrageous costumes and in the middle of this all, an exasperated director finding himself in the middle of the affairs.

However, there are some fun moments that prevent MDPABH from turning out to be an ultimate disaster.
 
This means right from the time Shetty catches hold of a heroine (Udita Goswami) to feature in his film to a don (Deepak Shrike) demanding a hit film from him to his moll (Mumait Khan) being included and multiple writers (including Om Puri) spoiling the show, there are points in the film where you can actually find giving a nod of approval.
 
However the trouble lies in the fact that beyond these tid-bits and the core idea, there isn't much that really unfolds after a point. Add to that abysmal production values and the very fact that the film is dated at least by seven-eight years (it was earlier titled 'Amar Joshi Shaheed Ho Gaya') further hits you on your face.
 
Moreover, since the core plot of the film is about B-grade productions and the games being played, there is also a sense of repulsion that comes in after a while when it comes to certain characters.

Add to that dead acts by Shawar Ali and Shyan Munshi (playing in-film heroes no less), who are hardly active in film circuit today, and you know that the film is indeed heading nowhere.
 
The ones who try to bring in some spark through their laidback and over-the-top act respectively are Suniel Shetty and Rajpal Yadav. However they too can't really rise above the script and bring in humour (where there is none), hence leading to a show that just doesn't pick up heat after a while.
 
Sad, because after a couple of terrific tales about what really happens within the film industry (Luck by Chance, Kahaani), you really deserve better as an audience.
 
Rating: **