First, a bad news---the sultry and sensuous Mallika Sherawat isn't indulging in erotic bed scenes with Rahul Bose, and second, she is not wearing bikini to pump up male passions. But the surprising news is that she impresses for the first time in a comical caper that keeps you on the edge of the seat. It's not her physical assets but the impulsive chemistry with "not so happening" Rahul Bose that keeps flags flying. Now, the good news and believe me they are plenty and playful! This time PNC (Pritish Nandy Communications) along with new whiz kid Saket Chaudhry has burst loads of comical crackers to delight the urban youth. Debutante director Saket Chaudhry deserves accolades for delivering refreshingly delightful funny script that works on wafer thin plot but still succeeds. For a change, the film works on metaphors, funky one-liners and self-possessed rules of break-ups, dates and love. The camera lens rolls through the whimsical and witty love formulae of love-struck Sid (Rahul Bose). This boy next door carries the capricious and undependable love relationship with Trisha (Mallika Sherawat) through comical bumpy rides. The love conquers hidden territories but confronts the unpredictable emotional hiccups that jitter the relationship.
The impressive narration is carried out like chirpy and bubbly conversation between Sid and the viewers as he is carrying out counseling on dating and love. GOOD EXECUTION! The frivolous escapades of Sid encapsulate the escapades of prankster next door Nanoo (Ranvir Shorey), Anjali alias Dracula (Suchitra Pillai), Vivek (Jas Arora), Shalini (Taraana Raja), Kapil (Aamir Bashir) and hot item girl Tanya (Sophie Chaudhry) to make this conversation worth listening.
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The comical crackers burst at relevant happenings with perfect timing. Thanks to fine tuning between the actors and the director that makes "not so happening" actors working wonders. After all it's love hate relationships of Gen Next, so it has to be carried out with the youth culture fancies, fantasies and attire. Goodbye to "forced humor" comical theories ('Shaadi Se Pehle', 'Kis Kis Ki Kismat' and 'Bachke Rehna Re Baba') , which wrote obituary for Mallika's prospects in comical entertainers. This time she sails through with vehemence and glitter due to Rahul Bose' excellent comical act and Saket Chaudhry's direction.
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'Pyar Ke Side Effects' surmounts the finicky attitudes of hesitant lover Sid who resents the predicted marital bond. The film works on simple plot - Please Marry Me! Ironically, this time it's girl (Mallika) who proposes to boy (Rahul Bose) during the winning moments of cricket match between Team India against Pakistan. Sid, a professional Disco Jockey nurses love for his beloved and this relationship lives a life of three important years. The relationship tumbles when Sid fails to respond to Trisha's proposal. The story flashbacks three years back when Sid had met with Trisha for the first time. The chemistry germinates in an unpredictable manner. It's Trisha's marriage to Vivek (Jas Arora) in posh locations of Delhi. This time Sid is a hired DJ who entertains through his loud and funky music.
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The story has anticlimax as bride Trisha decides to run away from the imposed marriage. The scenario shifts to the stage when Trisha moves to Mumbai and meets Sid, outside the discotheque. It was a sad day for him as he is voted out from "War of the DJ's" but new dimensions surface in his life. Sid develops bond of friendship with her but finds that they are breed apart. Despite all this the love germinates between them. There is Nanoo (Ranvir Shorey), who runs into a wrong girl after breaking up with his lady love. The unsuccessful love bug never misses any opportunity of philandering and materializes in every possible move to woo girl. Sid and Nanno are odd couples living under one roof but with different theologies. Shalini (Taranaa Raaja) who plays sister, advises her brother to patch up and then there is Kapil (Aamir Bashir), Shalini's husband who befriends him in all his silly acts.
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Finally, the love birds patch up and now it's time for parents' consent for marriage. Sid gets the shock of his life when he confronts General Mallik (Sharat Saxena), Trisha's father. The love and hate relationship between Sid and Mallik ends up in emotional break-up. So, there are brief dramatic moments when real love is misunderstood as an act of sacrifice or compromise. Hot item girl Tanya (Sophie Chaudhry) enters Sid's life and offers him to compose music for his next music album -"Baby Girl Vol.4". There are hot vibes between Sid and Tanya but these fail to culminate into relationship. On the other hand, Vivek re-enters Trisha's life. Destiny makes them meet again in parties and malls and sparks flow between them. The plot culminates into an unstoppable comical bumpy ride and creates euphoria of hilarious moments.
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At a time when Bollywood is riding high on comical wave this comes as a fresh breather and probably this year's biggest surprise. It correlates the fussy state of mind of pop genre that develops a phobia for marriage and resents real love. The film has wafer thin theme but its spotless execution and treatment make it cut above the rest. The "couch potato" generation that cherishes every different taste and mood of flickering TV channels fails to confront their real life melodramatic moments; either they surrogate counseling or surrender to the situation but fail to believe in the importance of real love. The elegantly and aesthetically written script works well and runs to the final conclusion on thrilling notes. Well punched witty one-liners and quizzical body language make it lucid and apt for the characters to develop. If inspirational lift is the need of the hour, then 'Pyar Ke Side Effects' makes the best use of it. This time the film carries its skin and soul from successful Hollywood comedies like 'Along Came Polly, Love Actually' and 'Meet the Fockers' in melting out the final caricature of characters, scripting and treatment of the film.
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Rahul Bose deserves standing ovation for delivering his best performance. The short stature actor's perfect comical timing is well suited for this lively entertainer and the film completely belongs to him. The actor who has been sidelined in parallel cinema makes first promising presence in commercial mainstream cinema. Similarly, for Mallika Sherawat, the film has proved a blessing after strings of hopeless disasters. It has come at a time when Bollywood biggies are making big news at box office registers. The sexy lass should try to polish acting skill rather than overacting of body show. This time she has emphasized on a finely crafted character and script and luckily the film has proved resurrection for her. Ranvir Shorey can be easily termed as the "discovery" of the film. The fun loving prankster who showed different comical facades in "The Great India Show" has come out as competent comical artiste. The brilliant comical timing, well executed witty lines and impressive body language make him hot property for comedy adventures in future.
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Dark and dusky Suchitra Pillai and Sharat Saxena live their part well. Jas Arora adds to the glamour quotient to the film rather than adding anything substantial. Taraana Raaja and Aamir Bashir show competence in well punched characters. MTV VJ Sophie Chaudhry's sizzling and sensual act is delightful to watch. It becomes more raunchy, seductive and funny in the climax when Trisha and Sid re-unite after break-up. After forgettable 'Shaadi No 1', this comes out as her best performance till date. Pratibha Acharya's witty dialogues are enjoyable and carry the flavor of the film till the end. Manoj Soni's cinematography is flashy and upbeat in funky soundtracks. Choreography by Remo is entertaining and Subi Samuel's publicity stills give promotional boost. The art direction by Omung Kumar creates a trendy ambience. Pritam's music is delightful. The soft number - "Is this love" - shows the development of love chemistry and "Bad Boy" shows the raunchy flavors of the DJ culture. No soundtrack retards the flow of the film, rather entertains with rollicking feel and zest.
Debutante director Saket Chaudhry is the surprise package that will make news in coming years. He deserves all the applause for carrying scripting and direction with finesse. Like Farhan Akhtar, the whiz kid he has flavored the film with entertaining elements, will draw appreciation from urban youth and teenagers.
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PNC (Pritish Nandy Communications) has had a depressing start to the year with miserable flop 'Ankahee' but props up winner with this film. Despite the fact that 'Lage Rao Munna Bhai' is ruling the show, 'Pyar Ke Side Effects' will bring cheers to filmmakers and distributors. In multiplexes, it will be a money spinner and will add to the list of successful comedies of the year. In nutshell, Saket Chaudhry has cracked comical cracker! So, grab your popcorn and enjoy this bumpy ride with loads of laughter.
