Shyam
Benegal"s
political
satire,
Well
Done
Abba
narrates
the
tale
of
Armaan
Ali
(Boman)
who
works
as
a
driver
with
a
big
businessman
in
Mumbai.
After
he
arrives
back
from
his
leave,
his
boss
decides
to
sack
him
since
he
came
back
after
3
months
instead
of
the
allotted
1
month
leave.
It
is
then
when
Armaan
narrates
the
story
behind
his
3
months
absence.
Armaan
narrates
-
He
had
gone
back
to
his
hometown
Chikatpalli
in
Andhra
Pradesh
to
hunt
a
groom
for
his
daughter
Muskaan
(Minissha)
who
stays
with
his
twin
brother
Rehman
Ali
(Boman
again)
and
his
wife
Salma
(Ila
Arun).
It
is
then
when
he
finds
out
the
state
government
has
started
a
special
scheme
under
which
those
living
under
the
poverty
line
will
be
given
a
sufficient
amount
to
build
a
well
on
their
land.
But
when
he
decides
to
avail
of
this
scheme,
he
has
to
face
corruption
at
every
drop
of
the
hat.
Eventually,
he
ends
up
with
literally
no
money
in
hand
to
dig
the
actual
well.
Reason,
every
single
person
involved
in
this
scheme
ends
up
looting
his
share
of
pie
from
the
amount
the
government
had
sanctioned.
But
his
fiery
daughter
decides
to
turn
the
table
back
on
all
the
corrupt
officials" heads.
Arif
(Sameer
Dattani),
the
motor
mechanic
who
is
silently
in
love
with
her
also
joins
her
mission.
The
trio"s
plan
works
and
things
spiral
so
much
out
of
control
that
the
Government
gets
on
the
verge
of
a
collapse!
Benegal"s
Well
Done
Abba
is
a
sweet
gem
that
works
despite
no
big
names.
A
very
witty
film
that"s
very
well
written
(by
Ashok
Mishra)
packing
in
many
things
together
that
are
relevant
to
today"s
society.
The
satirical
humour
may
not
exactly
be
of
the
laugh
out
loud
variety
but
it
manages
to
keep
you
smiling
throughout
the
film.
It
ends
up
making
just
the
right
statement
on
the
many
development
projects
that
the
government
initiates
but
which
frequently
get
hijacked
by
systemic
corruption.
Only
issue
many
may
have
is
with
the
pacing
of
the
film.
The
initial
few
reels
are
extremely
slow
paced
but
with
the
introduction
of
each
new
character,
the
film
picks
up
pace.
However,
one
feels,
too
much
screen
time
is
given
to
the
forever
horny
couple
played
by
Ravi
Kissen
and
Sonali
Kulkarni
and
their
track
gets
repetitive.
Music
by
Shantanu
Moitra
works
in
the
context
of
the
film.
But
the
film
works
big
time
because
of
the
casting.
Benegal
has
a
keen
eye
for
roping
in
just
the
right
actors
for
his
characters
and
he
succeeds
yet
again.
Boman
in
a
Hyderabadi
accent
is
simply
superb.
He
is
very
good
in
the
emotional
moments
with
Minissha.
He
is
hilarious
in
his
twin
brother"s
role
who
is
a
thief.
Minissha
Lamba
finally
gets
that
role
which
she
can
be
very
proud
of
in
her
career.
She
fits
the
role
to
the
T.
Sameer
Dattani
is
very
natural
and
likeable.
Ravi
Kissen
brings
in
the
laughs
as
the
engineer
who
is
forever
in
the
mood
of
making
love
to
his
wife.
Sonali
Kulkarni
is
wasted
though.
Amongst
the
rest
cast
are
Shyam
Benegal
regulars
such
as
Rajit
Kapoor,
Ravi
Jhankal,
Yashpal
Sharma
and
company
who
excel
in
their
parts.
If
one
remembers
the
TV
serial
Farmaan,
its
pretty
lead
actress
Deepika
Deshpande
makes
a
comeback
with
a
cameo
in
this
one
playing
Rajit
Kapoor"s
bickering
wife.
Well
Done
Abba
is
not
your
usual
comic
fare.
This
Shyam
Benegal
gives
a
strong
message
without
compromising
on
its
entertainment
quotient.
Do
watch
this
one.
Movie:
Well
Done
Abba
Starring:
Boman
Irani,
Minissha
Lamba,
Sameer
Dattani,
Rajit
Kapoor,
Ila
Arun,
Ravi
Kissen,
Salim
Ghouse
and
Sonali
Kulkarni
Director:
Shyam
Benegal