Welcome

Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director: Aneez Bazmee
Producer: Firoz A. Nadiadwala
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Feroz Khan, Paresh Rawal, Mallika Sherawat
Music: Himesh Reshammiya


Welcome is director Anees Bazmee's next after the blockbuster No Entry (2005). Expectations are high, obvious for a comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar in the lead. Does it offer high entertainment value?

Uday Shetty (Nana Patekar), Majnu (Anil Kapoor) and their boss, Sikander (Feroz Khan), three Hong Kong-based comic mobsters, are keen to get their sister Sanjana (Katrina Kaif) married into a respectable family. Uday, upon a chance meeting with a handsome bachelor, Rajiv (Akshay Kumar), is convinced that the latter would be an appropriate match for Sanjana. However, Rajiv's uncle, Dr. Ghunghroo (Paresh Rawal) does not approve of his nephew's association with a dubious family. Meanwhile, Sanjana, unaware of her brothers' contrivances, meets Rajiv on a cruise and the two fall in love. She has the acceptance of Dr. Ghunghroo, who doesn't realize that she is the sister of the Mafia. When Dr. Ghunghroo realizes his faux pas he tries escaping the fury of the brothers. Hilarity ensues as each of the diametrically different brothers begins engaging in smart and engagingly comic stunts to get the uncle to agree to the alliance. This fall-down funny comedy takes another turn when a stunning bomb (Mallika Sherawat) who claims to be Rajiv's fiancée shows up on the scene and adds to the commotion and mayhem.

Director Anees Bazmee isn't in form this time. He has handled the comic scenes well, but has faltered big time in others. The characters are funny, but the chemistry they share is dull. Its hilarious in parts, outright boring in others. The editing is horrible. Example, the car-flying scene is cut-off before it ends. The songs are illogically placed; they pop up every 15 minutes. The music by 4 music directors is the worst amongst the biggies this year. Cinematography (Sanjay F Gupta) is good.

Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor stand out amongst the lead actors. Nana is at his comic best and delivers a great performance. Anil Kapoor as a funny don is in full form. Akshay Kumar seems to be repeating his act in every movie; audience would get bored sooner rather than later with his typical mannerisms. Paresh Rawal and Feroz Khan are brilliant. Katrina Kaif is drool-worthy, no scope for histrionics though. Mallika Sherawat has a small role and only appears in the second half and she is good.

Overall, Welcome is an average entertainer. Don't expect anything close to "No Entry", you will be disappointed big time. At the box-office, the bumper opening itself will help the movie recover its investment.