De Dana Dhan Movie Review
Akshay Kumar’s much hyped De Dana Dhan released worldwide today and the expectations quite obviously are high. For one, the film reunites the Hera Pheri team of Akshay Kumar – Paresh Rawal – Suniel Shetty and director Priyadarshan. Over the years, Priyadarshan films that I have loved in particular have been Hera Pheri, Hungama and to a certain extent Hulchul. De Dana Dhan promises more – 25 character actors along with a thrilling water-flood scene as its climax.
Story is something, we cannot expect from Priyan’s films. But is it entertaining enough to deserve the price of your tickets? Read on..
Nithin (Akshay Kumar) works for a rich mall-owner (played by Archana Puran Singh) in Singapore. He is in love with Anjali (Katrina Kaif) and with dreams of quitting his slave-job and marrying the love of his life, he is always on a look out for a shortcut to richness. With help from his friend Ram (Suniel Shetty), the two hatch a plan to kidnap his owner’s Dog! What follows is utter chaos filled with innumerable misunderstandings and confusions.
De Dana Dhan Review
The negatives first, for a change
- The fact that Paresh Rawal and some of the other character actors have more screen-time than Akshay Kumar is simply unacceptable. Most parts of the second half Akki is locked in the wardrobe, which would be terribly disappointing for Akki fans and the roar when he is finally released, proves just that.
- Katrina Kaif has nothing to do. No role, few dialogues and the sizzling Gale Lag Ja dance number has been kept away as a bonus by director Priyadarshan for the post-weekend shows. Again, unacceptable.
- For a movie hyped as the return of the Hera Pheri team – Paresh Rawal has absolutely no interaction with neither Suniel Shetty nor Akshay Kumar. Unacceptable, disappointing and with a hint of exaggeration cruel!
- The runtime is close to 3 hours and the director has wasted loads of time in introducing all the 20 odd characters. With each having multiple misunderstandings with two of the other characters, the movies gets too monotonous in the second half.
- While you expect non-stop entertainment, the funny scenes are few and far in between. The whole marriage angle in the second half and the addition of several new characters, ruins what should have been a thoroughly entertaining ride had the director just stuck to the Akshay – Suniel storyline.
- The dialogues are strictly average. Some of them work, most don’t.
- The climax which refreshes memories of the Tsumani hit resorts, looks realistic. But what’s the whole point of the scene, to evoke laughter? Sorry it didn’t.
- What’s with the abrupt end? None of misunderstandings were cleared. Are we expecting too much here? Wasn’t it Akshay who claimed ‘Take your brains to theaters’ — After watching the film, would love to know exactly why.. ?
Its disappointing, disturbing and not one bit funny anymore! Its hard to see an actor, who you have grown to love over the years, as a part of such flicks.
Positives
- About two scenes involving Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty in the first half are funny.
- When Akshay is released from the cupboard. The scene that follows is hilarious.
- Those inhaling of chloroform scenes were funny too and performed well by all the actors involved.
- Katrina looks stunning and so does Neha Dhupia, who deserves credit for putting up the best show amongst the females.
- Johnny Lever is fantastic.
Other performances
- Archana Puran Singh – Too Loud and over the top.
- Paresh Rawal has the meatiest role. He excels in certain scenes, but average in others.
- Suniel Shetty doesn’t have much to do in the second half, but does well in the first.
- Asrani as Mamu is good.
- Sameera Reddy is purely for eye candy.
- Rajpal Yadav is very good.
- Manoj Joshi is loud but effective.
- Chunky Pandey is okay.
- Aditi Govitrikar currently locked in the Bigg Boss house looks gorgeous.
- Shakti Kapoor was irritating.
Overall, De Dana Dhan isn’t close to being as good as Priyadarshan’s ‘H Series’ (read Hera Pheri, Hungama, Hulchul) of classics. Although this review wouldn’t make much of a difference to die hard Akshay fans, it is they who will be most disappointed.
Rating: 
Other comments – Not much to say really. It was better than the other two comedies of Akshay Kumar this year and probably deserves half a star more, if not a full one. But with Akshay missing in the second half, Katrina making short appearances every 20 mins and the lack of interaction between the Hera Pheri gang.. makes it one of the bigger disappointments of the year.
Let the bashing begin..!
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Comments
Ritvika: (November 27, 2009 at 10:31 pm)
Best of luck to ddd.
Wishing you all a very happy eid.
amish: (November 27, 2009 at 10:38 pm)
Payal, and al those who say theater was empty and occupancy was 40% ,50% etc…
these days movies r released not in one screen.. in a multiplex 15-20shows r played.. in different screens, so ppl get distributed among them.. its obvious some screens `ll be full n some just 20% or even less.
ppl have this strange idea tat if dey see a particular screen empty dey declare d movie as flop.. it s d collections tat matters not d occupancy in a particular screen..:)
one more thing… before goin for a movie if u read al d reviews and d negative points , even if d movie s gud u feel somethin s lackin. and finally end up not likin tat particular movie.. its a natural psychology in man..
eg- if some1 keeps tellin me my gf s not gud lookin, den even if she s gud i feel mentally ok she s not..;)
so never read a bad review of a movie before u watch it(atleast those with ur fav actor)..;)
Usman solo: (November 27, 2009 at 10:41 pm)
Hey Nauman 4get about indicine we who are they that’s it, chect out what boxofficeindia said about the business of the film.
De Dana Dhan Has A Good Start
Friday 27th November 2009 12.30 IST
Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network
De Dana Dhan opened well in its morning shows. The collections for the first few shows were on average in the 70% region. At many places the collections were excellent with full and near full houses while some places in Bengal and South had collections in the 50-60% region.
E Square in Pune had a 77% start with first show having 450 tickets sold from a possible 584. At Wave Ludhiana the film opened to 100% collections in first two shows with collections being 29,680 for each show. Indore opening ranged from 70-100% while Ahmedabad was 60-70%.
The morning start is good at multiplexes but not bumper like a Love Aaj Kal. The collections should get better as the day goes along and evening collections have a good chance of being big.
Just calm my friend did u remember ur akshay’s song Everythings Gonna Be All Right, so just chill.
Suniel: (November 27, 2009 at 10:43 pm)
But if you truly love your gf you wont care about what others say. Similarly if the movie is good you will like it… reviews wont matter. Reviews stop us from liking mediocre films.
Payal: (November 27, 2009 at 10:44 pm)
Indicine
Yes u r right, lead stars haven’t given much attention . I wonder why priyadarshan said he is repaying akshay in his bad times when his role has been shortened?
Was priyadarshan’s ‘malamaal weekly’ a hit?
Suniel: (November 27, 2009 at 10:45 pm)
LMAO at Usman….. hahaha. Everythings Gonna Be All Right why cc2c ki blue flopped?
Usman solo: (November 27, 2009 at 10:46 pm)
I mean we know who are they, and understand their manifestation.
amish: (November 27, 2009 at 10:48 pm)
Suniel- tat was an eg…;) ha ha,.. i dont have 1 so i dunno…
but in case of movies it does happen… some with gud will power do it or else dey end up gettin bored….;)
Payal: (November 27, 2009 at 10:53 pm)
Amish
ya sort of emptiness was there. I knew it was my fav actor’s movie bt ya i read a lot of reviews b4 watching. Some were bad, some were good and due to that i felt the desertion.
I m nt denying the fact that movie is entertaining. It is.
Usman Solo: (November 27, 2009 at 10:54 pm)
Why u guy’s always saying things about cctc and ki or blue, this films is past we know the verdict of it even indicine they didnt call these films a flops apart from cctc. Why dont u 4get it at take on, since that u 4get the day of your stars disasters. Suniel can u tell me who is your actor, to tell u more about his flop if u 4get.
amish: (November 27, 2009 at 11:06 pm)
payal- ya tat emptiness was bcoz of its huge release. 1100 prints.. with 15-20shows u can imagine hw ppl “ll get distributed… i dunno wer u from but in banglore it was like tat i heard..
Usman solo- u need not ask any1 in this site who s their fav.. many r salman fans.. and some ppl just want akki movies to flop so dey come to akki`s page n give negative reports.. der r some who tell d movie s bad in each site.. bcoz i visit most sites i know their names.. every wer same thing.. uff..
Bristi: (November 27, 2009 at 11:09 pm)
Indicine team..let’s talk about the negative sides of DDD,
In the 2nd half Akshyay’s role is small..u people r saying..that’s negative..But I don’t think so..die hard fan of Akki..but other characters r so strong..we did not feel boaring..and even may be Akki’s role was small that’s why when he appears on the screen evrybody r enjoying.his presence..it’s fantastic..and as Akki was closed that’s why other characters get chance…to perform
Katrina’s role was small…that too some extent ok as she does not have nice comic timing..
Paresh rawal-Akki-Sunil…no conversation…that a nice change..otherwise maybe another repeatation
Length…As Nauman told it’s about 160min..so ok..
Dialogue…as it’s a fast movie..so in that respect ok..
Last sequence…totally disagree…it’s mindblowing…yaspal yadav’s ballance act,bikram gokhle’s sequence..
lots of there..it’s nice smooth comedy..
As a whole it’s not at all 1.5 out of 5..
Totally disagree
amish: (November 27, 2009 at 11:18 pm)
Bristi- if u watch bollywood hungama– ppl`s reaction u `ll know hw ppl wer enjoyin d movie..
and imp thing- one who gives a negative review `ll like d person who gives same ratin as theirs..;) so even if u tel or question wy.. dey `ll have a ready made answer- its our opinion!
have u seen indicine agreein or replyin any1 who have a positive review.. dey replied only who gave 1.5 or 2/5.. ha ha
Bristi: (November 27, 2009 at 11:24 pm)
Amish critics really..I don’t why try to down Akki…ki given 1.5 also..they told bad..but it was nice..always negative publicity..
Love aj kal..got so many positive reviews..But Akki’s movies still try to servive..inspite of these reviews..
halakoo: (November 27, 2009 at 11:24 pm)
I just want to say to all users that please dont compare taran adarsh reviews with indicine reviews. Taran Adarsh is the worst critic ever. he just knew some vocab and juggle those words in his all reviews. you can imagine he gave jab we met 3 star and films like kambakht ishq & karzz 4 stars. what a mockery to critics. Indicine reviews are 90% of the time spot on and have best review system. I haven’t yet watched de dana dan and after reading indicine review i will wait for the dvd.
bristi: (November 27, 2009 at 11:31 pm)
That is negative publicity..because of 1.5..someone decided not to watch…
Pls frnds it’s really not 1.5..I don’t know why they given..minimum of 3 out of 5 u have to give..
It’s really a worth to watch..
amish: (November 27, 2009 at 11:32 pm)
^ exactly wat negative reviews do…
Payal, good and honest review. Yes it probably did deserve a bit more than 1.5.
But the fact is 90% of the people would be watching it for either Akshay or Katrina. When the two don’t have proper roles and enough screentime, you are bound to be disappointed. Hence the rating.