When
Priyadarshan
and
Akshay
Kumar
join
hands,
you
expect
the
cineplex
to
reverberate
with
laughter.
Let's
not
forget,
the
team
has
regaled
us
with
some
terrific
entertainers
in
the
past.
Naturally
then,
you
expect
Khatta
Meetha
to
take
the
legacy
forward.
Unfortunately,
Khatta
Meetha
is
noise
(the
actors
scream
a
lot
in
this
movie),
more
noise
(the
great
promotion)
and
only
noise,
while
the
content
takes
a
complete
backseat.
Although
Khatta
Meetha
shouldn't
be
compared
to
this
combo's
earlier
works,
since
this
one's
a
satire,
I
have
to
add
that
this
is
their
weakest
film
to
date.
The
first
question
I
asked
myself
once
the
movie
got
over
was,
what's
the
story?
Okay,
okay,
neither
did
Priyadarshan's
last
few
films
had
a
story
to
tell,
but
when
you
attempt
a
satire,
when
one
talks
of
the
hardships
faced
by
the
common
man,
when
one
talks
of
corruption
in
society,
there
HAS
to
be
a
story
in
place.
That
goes
without
saying!
Khatta
Meetha
raises
a
finger
at
the
corruption
in
government
establishments,
but
what
it
tries
to
say,
or
expose,
has
been
witnessed
over
and
over
again.
In
fact,
it's
the
writing
--
sorry,
the
absence
of
it
--
that
makes
matters
worse.
The
beginning
is
good,
the
middle
falters
and
the
end
is
exasperating.
Final
word?
This
one's
far
from
being
meetha.
It's
a
khatta
experience!
Struggling
road
construction
contractor
Sachin
Tichkule
(Akshay
Kumar)
is
doomed.
There
is
no
chance
that
his
dreams
will
ever
come
true,
simply
because
he
has
no
money
to
bribe.
To
make
matters
worse,
the
new
Municipal
Commissioner
turns
out
to
be
his
ex
girl
friend
(Trisha),
who
now
hates
him.
The
film
reveals
the
extent
of
corruption
and
bribery
rampant
in
the
system
and
the
ingenious
means
you
have
to
adopt
if
you
want
to
survive
in
today's
times.
Khatta
Meetha
attempts
to
say
a
lot
many
things
in
those
2.40
hours.
Oh
yes,
its
running
time
is
a
problem,
more
so
because
the
narrative
lacks
the
power
to
keep
you
hooked
to
the
proceedings.
Okay,
coming
back
to
what
I
wanted
to
say,
Khatta
Meetha
is
more
of
a
collage
of
isolated
incidents
encompassed
in
those
2.40
hours.
The
collapse
of
the
bridge,
the
consequent
murder
of
Tinnu
Anand,
the
constant
bickering
in
the
house,
the
tu-tu-main-main
between
Akshay
and
Trisha,
the
sister's
track,
the
corrupt
netas
and
government
babus,
the
payment
issue
of
workers...
several
sequences
are
a
repeat
of
what's
you
watched
barely
minutes
ago
or
an
hour
ago.
While
the
romantic
track
is
the
weakest
link
(half-baked;
the
songs
are
forced
down
your
throats,
without
valid
situations
whatsoever),
the
flashback
portions,
depicting
Akshay
Kumar
as
a
college
student
(!!!),
is
just
hard
to
digest.
Even
the
end
is
worn
out
and
doesn't
give
the
feel
of
contentment
that
one
expects
at
the
conclusion
of
a
film.
Priyadarshan's
handling
of
the
comic
sequences
is
noteworthy,
especially
in
the
first
half
of
the
film.
The
repair-and-paint
sequence
at
Asrani's
mansion
is
sure
to
bring
the
house
down.
Ditto
for
the
conversation
that
Asrani
has
with
multiple
people,
in
person
and
also
on
phone.
Also,
the
road
roller
sequence
is
a
laugh-riot
and
prior
to
that
Johnny
Lever's
sequence
of
repairing
the
road
roller
is
truly
funny.
But
a
few
isolated
sequences
aren't
enough.
The
veteran
storyteller
ought
to
know
the
importance
of
a
watertight
screenplay
by
now.
Cinematographer
V.
Manikandan's
lens
captures
the
exteriors
with
flourish.
Pritam's
music
is
easy
on
the
ears
and
at
least
two
songs
are
extremely
popular
as
well,
but
the
placement
of
songs
in
the
narrative
acts
as
a
roadblock.
Dialogues
are
funny
at
times,
especially
the
one-liners.
Akshay
Kumar
plays
the
common
man
with
gusto.
He
looks
his
part
and
more
importantly,
not
once
do
you
feel
that
he's
repeating
himself.
However,
he
goes
over
the
top
in
a
few
sequences.
Trisha
carries
the
Plain
Jane
look
well,
but
fails
as
an
actress.
The
fiery
attitude,
so
vital
when
you're
enacting
the
role
of
the
Municipal
Commissioner,
is
missing.
Rajpal
Yadav
is
in
terrific
form
yet
again.
What
a
splendid
actor!
Urvashi
Sharma
is
awkward.
Makrand
Deshpande
is
wasted.
Tinnu
Anand
is
hardly
there.
Even
Aroona
Irani
is
sidelined.
Kulbhushan
Kharbanda
is
first-rate.
Asrani
is
excellent.
Manoj
Joshi
screams
so
much.
Ditto
for
Neeraj
Vora.
Milind
Gunaji
is
okay.
The
actor
playing
the
role
of
Urvashi's
husband
does
a
good
job.
On
the
whole,
Khatta
Meetha
is
a
major
letdown
from
the
accomplished
director.
It's
not
a
full-blown
comedy.
It's
not
a
full-scale
satire
either.
Hugely
disappointing!
Director:
Priyadarshan
Cast:
Akshay
Kumar,
Trisha
Krishnan,
Makrand
Deshpande,
Rajpal
Yadav,
Neeraj
Vora,
Milind
Gunaji,
Asrani