A director is known by the films he makes. Also, he leaves an impression in the minds of viewers if he is committed to a certain kind of filmmaking. Directors like David Dhawan at present and Man Mohan Desai in the past fall into this rank. There are also the directors who try to defy the set mould and come out with a different kind of filmmaking. Filmmakers like Ram Gopal Verma and Vidhu Vinod Chopra are among the torchbearers of this camp. Director Kundan Shah seems to have been lured by the latter group. In his last 'Dil Hai Tumhara', Kundan Shah failed miserably while experimenting with the path-breaking subject, though he met with success in 'Kya Kehna'.
But, what comes to the mind of most of viewers with the name, Kundan Shah, is still his first film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', a super hit comedy. In his latest 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek', he returns to the genre once again, in between he also tried this formula in 'Kabhi Na Kabhi'. 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek' has been in the making for quite a long time and this factor worked against it. Though this has luckily got a solo release, not many have shown enthusiasm towards the film. 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek' is a situational comedy, where events are pre-set and goof-ups are made to entertain viewers.
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'Ek Se Badhkar Ek' is the story of two misfits joining hands for their benefit (a resemblance with Kundan's first film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron'. First, Rahul (Suniel Shetty) is a commoner who by sheer luck inherits a multi- million heritage from a rich fellow. The gift of god comes to him as a good shocking news but the twist in the tail is that he cannot enjoy it as there is a clause attached to it that he must proves himself to be a bad goon. Here comes another character Anand (Shekhar Suman) in picture. He is a lawyer and it is because of his fault that Rahul is not able to cash on his fortune.
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Rahul has no clue about getting the heritage. It is Anand who suggests to him to turn a don. Kanchan (Raveena Tondon), a police office, lives in his neighborhood. They all conceive a plan where Rahul and Anand both play crucial part. Again the story takes a curious turn with the entry of a sexy lasso (Isha Koppikar). The things that seem straight in the beginning turn bad later, creating confusion. Kundan Shah relies on this confusion. But, the goof- ups impress only in parts. Kundan Shah while trying to make 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek', a comedy of errors, ends up making comedy of its own plot that looks impressive in the beginning.
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In 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek', Kundan Shah has basically not adhered to his own style of comedy filmmaking. If in 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron', he took inspiration from stalwarts like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, his film seems to be progressing more on the path that was once traveled by director Harmesh Malhotra. 'Ek Se Badhkar Ek' is a bundle of many little mishappenings around main characters. The overall impact of the film loses its strength once the film comes in dons' den. The chemistry between the main characters is lacking from the very word go and the timing between all the characters goes haywire.
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And, the fault lies on Kundan Shah and no one else. First, he chose a very poor script and then he did a very poor casting. The film has no star appeal and all the that it banked upon was Kundan Shah's name and recent upliftment in the status of Isha Koppikar's status at the box office. Shekhar Suman may have become a big name on the small screen but on celluloid he does not have any kind of drawing power. Suniel Shetty too does not have charisma and neither does he have the personality that gels with such kind of comedy.
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The selection of Raveena Tandon as a police officer is poor and the hope rests on Isha Koppikar only. Though, Makrand Deshpande and Gulshan Grover support the film very well, their efforts are hardly noticed because of too much of characters involved in one scene. There are few remarkable scenes in the film where Kundan Shah's efforts come in limelight, notably where Raveena and Suniel meet for the first time and where Isha Koppikar reveals her intention.
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The film also lacks on technical ground in major parts of the film. The stale looks and break in continuity leave a very bad effect and what comes, as the biggest setback is its poor music. Comedy films do not need trend making music. In case the story is weak, good melodious music helps the film a lot. But that is not the case here. Kundan Shah can have his peace of mind, no matter whether the product is good or bad.
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