Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi?

The team that gave us some amazing movies like 'Mixed Doubles', 'Mithiya' and 'Dasvidaniya' are now back with a new movie about urban marital relationships. Saurabh Shukla now occupies the director's seat and tells the story of three married couples. What really captured me about Shukla's direction is how he subtly portrays each couple struggling in their marriage. While it is clear that their marriages aren't working, Shukla cleverly peels the layers as he gradually reveals the reason. The subtle comedy is a plus even though the pace is a little slow in the beginning. The film also manages to capture the urban feel. The twist in the end, even though I saw it coming, is well handled.

The overall performances are good. However, Rajat Kapoor doesn't exactly nail the part. Vinay Pathak is brilliant, even though this kind of character isn't anything new for him and writing required more depth. Dalip Tahil makes a welcome comeback and so does Navneet Nishan as the irritating chatterbox housewife. Aamir Bashir is adequate. Neha Dhupia is sensational and finally it is Iravati Harshe who delivers the best performance.

The execution is pretty good and the soundtrack is terrific. Even if 'Raat Gayi Baat Gayi' isn't among the best of what the team has delivered, it is a nice effort on Shukla's part. He ought to direct more and I'll be looking forward to such ventures.

This movie begins at a party with a married man named "Rahul Kapoor" (Rajat Kapoor) flirting with a beautiful woman named "Sophia" (Neha Dhupia) and then waking up the next day with his wife "Mitali Kapoor" (Iravati Harshe), being rather distraught with him and subsequently taking their daughter and leaving. To make matters even more complicated, Rahul drank too much that night and doesn't remember whether he slept with Sophia or not. So, to sort everything out and get some idea why his wife is angry, he decides to ask his friends who were at the party about what exactly happened. Unfortunately, the first person he asks is his friend "Amit" (Vinay Pathak), who is also having domestic problems with his own wife due to certain issues at that same party, and he is equally bewildered and confused. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I was slightly disappointed in this film because it had a certain amount of potential which was never fully realized. To be sure, the actors were competent enough, but the humor wasn't nearly as keen as it could have been. Even so, this certainly wasn't a bad movie by any means, and for that reason, I have rated it accordingly. Average.

Raat Gayi Baat Gayi? Means is meaning gone if night is gone? Not really, if you are a married man, you were with a bombshell in a cocktail party last night and can't remember a thing in the morning. So you gotta wake- up and find what happened last night? This movie is a mini satire on high class society, their two faces; one for public and one for personal life. Directed by Saurabh Shukla and played by few good known names like Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak and Dilip Tahil, the movie never looses you in its less than two hours length. At the end, bad characters come good and good as bad ones and you understand that everything is not what it seems, every chatter box is not a fool, every intellectual person is not honest, independence does not mean not listening to your mind and anything can happen to anyone in this funny life. Enjoy this small satire for its honest characterization and lovely messages to keep your love intact.

Rajat Kapoor camp has given us some memorable offbeat flicks in the past (remember mithya and mixed double!!). So I had pretty high expectations from RGBG which I feel sorry to say did not meet them fully. The movie is not too disappointing, it has its funny moments and a good ending; but it seriously lacks in the script and screenplay. Though the end is surprising, the first half does not generate much curiosity about "What the hell really happened last night between Rahul and Sophiya?". A few more twists in the tail and a tighter screenplay could have done the job.

The movie scores well in most of the other aspects. The actors are at their best, especially Vinay Pathak, Navneet Nishan and Ranvir Shourey (he creates magic even with such few scenes). Neha was amazing as a 'totta' and I am glad she is emerging as a fine actor with movies like Dasvidaniya, Ek Chaalis, Maharathi and RGBG. Iravati is a refreshing entry in Rajat's camp and I hope she stays. The background music is good, could have been better.

Overall, it is a nice watch for multiplex crowd, but not the kind of stuff you expect form the ensemble.

When you look forward to watch the next outing from the trio namely Rajat, Vinay and Ranvir - the expectations are nothing short of "Bheja Fry" to least to speak. Especially if you give it a topping of Saurabh Shukla helming the affairs, there is absolutely no room for going astray.

The good news is the product works and the sad news is only in parts.

The narrative is unique and keeps the audience intrigued however there seem to be lapses at various junctures.

Performance wise the entire star-cast have delivered a spectacular performance.

The beard doesn't deliver the impact of the usual "suave" Rajat look. He seems to be straight out of "Siddharth" sets.

Vinay role as a bosom buddy was okay'ish. Required more depth. In addition, he "fit" looks he sported for "Straight" seems to be waning and it shows.

Ranvir hardly contributed with his jibes about "Austraaliaa".

Neha Dhupia seems to have developed a penchant for the character since "Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local". Ecdysis warranted asap.

Dilip Tahil character was over-emphasised. The "Jack out of the box" was as big as a bus.

Irawati, Dilip Tahil, Anu Menon, Navneet Nishan - all did a great job there.

Verdict: Not a bad watch if aired on telly.