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FILM REVIEW OF DOSTANA

By Eye TV India Bureau

Critic's I-view

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The much-awaited Karan Johar's 'Dostana' (Friendship) hit the screens on Nov 14th with a lot of fanfare. Producer Karan Johar has cast top stars including John Abraham, Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra. Karan did his best as they say, but director Tarun Mansukhani's efforts perhaps fall short in several respects. A directorial lapse didn't dampen excellent performances by the top cast. On the very first day, one heard a lot of 'oohs and aahs' as the audience commended John, Abhishek and Priyanka. In fact, these three actors carry the movie on their shoulders.

Bobby Deol comes across as wasted in the absence any specific role for him - a weak point of blame on the director. One feels the pre-interval session was exciting, but the post-interval session boring. And, that's when Bobby Deol enters the flick. One got the feeling that Karan's big entertainer ends sadly. Viewers and reviewers were disappointed that the much-promoted promise to present Shilpa Shetty in a scorching performance with sexy John Abraham could not be found!

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It's the story of Sam and Kunal played by Abhishek and John. They hire a room as paying guests. Priyanka plays a young Neha who lives with her aunt played by Sushmita Mukherjee. Sam and Kunal don't seem to be able to get around to finding a permanent accommodation, so they pose as a gay couple. Sam's mother hits the roof when she learns of her son's 'leaning'! Both Abhishek and John secretly try to woo Priyanka!

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The above lapses outweigh as technically the movie is well done in sound, style and rocks at least in the pe-interval first session. The designs of every character's outfit match with the actors and are expensive. Priyanka looks 'super hot', undoubtedly much better than in 'Fashion'. John Abraham is the topmost actor in the movie; he plays a perfect gay. Similarly, the junior B has also proved his credential in this type of movie by playing a gay.

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Technically, the movie stands as the best of the year so far. Karan has given it an unusual treatment. The screenplay has one-liners. Boman Irani creates a huge laughter by his gay acting. So also are the scenes between Abhi-John and Abhi's mom played by Kirron Kher. The music provided by Vishal- Shekhar and the picturisation of songs happen to be excellent. Though this is Abhishek's first comedy, it is brilliant. John looks hotter as never before.

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Priyanka steals the show by mixing with co-star gays. The movie revolves around a male nurse named Sameer played by Abhishek and a photographer named Kunal played by John Abraham. . Both look out for an apartment and coincidentally land at the same house at the same time. But the landlady refuses to take two hot macho men into her home that also houses her young niece, Neha played by Priyanka Chopra. They pretend to be gay to hire the apartment.

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However, they lose Priyanka in the bargain. After Neha moves in, the trio gets inseparable. Neha becomes one of the boys and the boys are one of the girls! And just when you think this is one happy and gay friendship in comes the twist and turns. Both the guys realize that they have feelings for Neha and each of them wants her to him. Both try to outdo one another and end into a big fight. But ironically, Neha takes the fight as a lovers' tiff! When both are about to reveal the truth, enters Abhimanyu played by Bobby Deol , who is Neha's new boss. He shows his love for her and she too starts reciprocating. Consequently ,John and Abhishek plan to remove Abhimanyu from Neha's life. Though they succeed to some extent but end up losing her in this bargain.

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