Movie Review: Watching ‘Welcome To Karachi’ is an Endurance Test
I just about managed to survive to tell this tale, says Stutee Ghosh.
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Director: Ashish R Mohan
Cast: Arshad Warsi, Jackky Bhagnani, Lauren Gottlieb
There is a film called Welcome to Karachi that has been airdropped in a theatre near you. Directed by Ashish R. Mohan, it has Papa Bhagnani as producer and his own production, Jackky Bhagnani in the lead along with a rather disinterested looking Arshad Warsi.
Usually there are only 2 kinds of films that can leave us speechless – the ones that are terrific and then there are those that are terrible! No prizes for guessing which category Welcome to Karachi falls into but after much thought I’ve managed to pick out 5 reasons for you to go watch it –
1. Because Heatstroke isn’t Really an Option
No really, no point aimlessly wandering the streets under the scorching sun or melting away at home without any electricity when you could be in an air-conditioned theatre of an air-conditioned mall munching popcorn and sipping cola. Never mind the insipid tale of 2 lost souls (Jackky and Arshad) who mistakenly crossover to Pakistan and then jump around like headless chicken to figure out their way back home. It’s still better than falling sick!
2. The Ultimate Endurance Test
So you think you are tough? Are you really? This is the best way to find out. Wade through Bhagnani Jr’s horrible Guajarati accent, tolerate some mind numbing scenes and remain afloat inspite of some cringeworthy humor and if you can sit through it all keeping your mental equilibrium in balance then you are the dude ;) *bows in reverence*
3. Solidarity With Arshad Warsi
Ever since Munna Bhai has been pumping iron in Jail, our beloved Circuit’s career has short-circuited. It’s your duty as his loyal fan to be by his side in this hour of grief. The only thing worth our while in the whole film is Arshad Warsi and it’s just so sad to see all this effort go in vain.
4. To Quench Your Quriosity
If you are the curious sort then you shall finally have answers to lots of unanswered questions. Like how bad is bad? How terrible is terrible? How can a film go on and on for more than 2 hrs when the only worthy dialogues in it are the ones we saw in it’s 1 and a half min trailer? And just between you and me if you ever wondered how many popcorns are there in one single bucket here is your chance. The happenings on screen will hardly come between you and your meticulous counting of popcorns!
5. It’s All About Loving Your Family
If you are related to the Bhagnani’s. If Jackky is your buddy or Bhagnani Sr is your ‘rishtedaar’ it is as good a reason as any other for you to go catch this flick. Catch it by the horns I say and don’t let go till the very end. It is after all a film by the Bhagnani’s and for the Bhagnani’s and must have been left for public viewing by mistake.
I have somehow managed to survive to tell this tale.
1 QUINT OUT OF 5 is all I have to say!
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