Hello Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2008
Critics:
Audience:
Hello is a decent watch, which holds appeal for the youth.
Oct 10, 2008 By Ashok Nayak


Hello based on Chetan Bhagat's "One Night @ A Call Center" is a story about 6 friends working at a call-center. Sharman Joshi, Sohail Khan, Gul Panag, Isha Kopikaar, Amrita Arora, Sharat Shaxena, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif feature in Atul Agnihotri's second directorial venture.''


Hello narrated through the views of the protagonist, Shyam, it is a story of almost lost love, thwarted ambitions, absence of family affection, pressures of a patriarchal set up, and the work environment of a globalized office.


Shyam is losing his girl friend because his career is going nowhere as he trudges his way around in a call center. His girl friend, Priyanka, is also an agent like him at the call canter who is about to be snatched by an NRI techno geek.


There is also the aspiring model, Esha, who is hopping for the break that seems to be always already eluding her and the man about town, Vroom, who is into well, things. The housewife, Radhika, who is constantly at the receiving end of her mother-in-law and a beleaguered grandfather, Military Uncle, who has been barred from interacting with his grandchild make up the rest of the call agents who see their worlds crumbling around them as the decisions of right sizing are conveyed by Bakshi, the boss.


It is a night when dreams will finally crumble. Or will it? For there is that call from God.


Not having read the book, I went with a clear mind without any expectations to watch Hello. As it turned out, the movie isn't a bad watch but the biggest flaw is the pace, it's too long and quite simply boring! The director takes his own time in defining the characters of the film; in fact the entire first half is consumed in establishing the characters. The songs too act as a major hindrance to the flow of the film, especially in the second half. But director Atul Agnihotri has sure come a long way as a director since his disastrous Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha; some scenes have been executed quite well. The Gul Panag - Sharman Joshi sex attempts in the car, Sharman and Sohail antics, as well as some scenes in the call centre are hilarious.


Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif fans will be very disappointed. For a movie that was heavily promoted around Salman and his gorgeous girlfriend, the couple is hardly there for 15 minutes and that's including a song!


Sharman Joshi is amazingly brilliant as Shyam. Gul Panag tries hard to look hot in bad costumes. Sohail Khan is his usual self. Amrita Arora and Esha Kopikkar for a change, act! Salman Khan looks disinterested.


To sum up, Hello is a decent watch, which holds appeal for the youth.


Ashok Nayak

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