Aladin Hindi Movie

Feature Film | 2009 | Children's film, Fantasy
Critics:
Audience:
Aladin is high on Visual effects and low on substance. One more to the long list of Bollywood fantasy disasters.
Oct 30, 2009 By Ashok Nayak


Aladin belongs to a genre that hasn't been too successful in Bollywood. Sujoy Ghosh inspired by Disney's Aladdin directs this romantic fantasy flick with Riteish Deshmukh, Amitabh Bachchan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sanjay Dutt headlining the star cast.


Aladin lives a miserable life, as his friends bully him into rubbing every lamp in town. During one of his birthday's he's gifted a lamp from Jasmine, his gorgeous classmate. And voila, out comes Genius, who grants him 3 wishes. While Aladin uses all his wishes to win Jasmine's love, the evil Ringmaster, in search of the lamp, prepares to kill him.


The first half starts off well with light moments involving Riteish Deshmukh, but soon after Genius makes an appearance, the movie begins to drag. Songs after ever reel act as major speed-breakers. Seriously, those songs in the pre interval portions add zero value; instead just add up to the run time and boredom. While Sujoy Ghosh has handled the light hearted first half with brilliance, it's the second half - the battle of the good over evil - when the movie goes from good to bad and eventually hits an all time low with a terrible climax.


The director also seems to be confused over the genre. What stars off as a fantasy film of an underdog, quickly turns into a stretched romantic comedy with song - dance routines and eventually a good vs. evil battle. In an effort to please both masses and classes, children and adults, Sujoy Ghosh ends up satisfying none.


Visual effects are top notch, music by Vishal and Shekhar is average.


Amitabh Bachchan's performance gets too loud and irritating after the initial reels. Riteish Deshmukh lacks the exuberance, charm and energy required for the character. Quick tips from Hrithik on his Rohit act in Koi Mil Gaya would have helped. Jacqueline is beautiful, but her role offers her little scope to make an impact. Sanjay Dutt is hardly there.


To sum up, Aladin is high on Visual effects and low on substance. One more to the long list of Bollywood fantasy disasters.


Ashok Nayak

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