Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara Movie Review

Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara arrives in theatres today after undergoing half a dozen spelling changes in the title, a few casting changes and the most important of them all – a change in the release date from the lucrative Eid day to the almost equally lucrative Independence Day. A lot of promotion has been done for the film with Ekta leaving no stone unturned to get the audiences to see her film and justifiably so, since this is the biggest film of her banner. So does the sequel of the 2010 smash hit Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, come together? Does it work? Let’s see.

Story: The movie picks up from where the first part ended. Shoaib (Akshay Kumar reprising the role of Emraan Hashmi from the original) is now a major gangster-cum-don in the middle east. He chances across an upcoming gangster called Aslam (Imran Khan) and grooms him to become his man friday. Aslam meanwhile meets a struggling actress Jasmine (Sonakshi Sinha) and falls in love with her. The problem arises when Shoaib lands in Mumbai to deal with his enemy and instead also falls in love with Jasmine. The story moves forward with the two men looking to out maneuver each other. The whys, hows and whens of the rest of the story should be discovered by the viewer. Watch out for the surprising climax!

Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara
Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara Review

Screenplay, Dialogues, Direction: The director-writer combo of Milan Luthria and Rajat Arora achieved tremendous success recently with OUATIM and The Dirty Picture so when they decided to team up again, massive fireworks was to be expected on the screen. To be honest, the flare seen in their past outings hasn’t diminished completely but their effect in OUATIMD is not even nearly as potent. The dialogues are applause worthy and seeti worthy (especially for the aage ke teen row wali audience). But where the film lags in, is dealing with the storyline. The screenplay falters in places where it was expected to rise and even though the climax acts like a last minute CPR, the damage has already been done. The film drifts and struggles to find its true calling and manages to end up neither as an intense love triangle nor as a revenge gangster flick. I came out of the film thinking that they had written the dialogues first and then chose to make the film around it. And Milan Luthria must take blame for the haphazard way this film was made.

Miscellaneous: The technical aspects of the film are top notch, though. The period setting is almost spot on and credit must be given to the set and costume departments. The finer details in the production design give that edgy raw feel to OUATIMD. Another aspect of the film that stands out is the cinematography by Ayananka Bose. The film looks stylish due the slick frames this ace cinematographer churns up in regular intervals. The editing is also of noteworthy quality with no scenes and shots being stretched more than required.

Music: Pritam’s music in OUATIMD is a dampener. Much was expected from the music of the film for a variety of reasons. The music of the first part has become cult, and Pritam has been in fine form recently delivering commercial chartbusters almost regularly. So when you come out of the theatre after watching OUATIMD, you’d expect yourself to be humming a few of the songs. Alas, only “Yeh Tune Kya Kiya” stuck with me afterwards with the other songs being just bearable. The new age “Tayyab Ali” was a big disappointment too. Having said that, let me mention that the background score is scintillating.

Performances: OUATIMD would have been a much better film if the actors were chosen carefully. Heck, it would have worked if the actors had chosen to actually ‘act’. All the three main protagonists give stale performances. Akshay Kumar as Shoaib doesn’t create any aura in his personality or mannerisms that a Don like him should have. There are only fleeting glimpses of his off screen charisma and that too few and far between. His dialogue delivery also leaves a lot to be desired. Imran Khan just doesn’t cut it as the street smart Aslam. Casting Imran in OUATIMD could very well turn out to be one of the biggest casting guffaws of the year. His acting is, bluntly put, bad. Sonakshi Sinha who delivered one of the finest performances of the year in Lootera is back to her normal self with this film. She delivers her dialogues in a mostly one note tone and ruptures ear drums with her screaming in the climax. Mahesh Manjrekar delivers a jarring performance but that’s mostly down to the all black shade the writers penned down for the role. Sonali Bendre was a pleasant surprise and I wish she had a bigger role.

Conclusion: OUATIMD is another example of commerce taking over art. The only reason this film was sanctioned was probably to cash in on the cult following of the previous film. I can only hope that Milan and Rajat get back to tackling original ideas and don’t follow the herd. They are simply too talented for that. OUATIMD does have its moments, but overall the film doesn’t work. It doesn’t come together as fluidly as it could and should have.

Box Office: OUATIMD faces tough competition at the box office from Chennai Express and will only see a full release on the 16th. Competition, less screens wouldn’t have mattered if the film had content good enough to back up the hype. I see the film taking a very good opening and then audience response will carry the film forward.

Positives:

  • Dialogues
  • Cinematography
  • Production Design
  • Background Score

Negatives:

  • The screenplay falters
  • Direction not up to the mark
  • None of the 3 main actors are in form
  • Music is a disappointment

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Advertisements

78 Comments

  • OUATIMD is flop. I have nothing against Akshay Kumar but Ekta Kapoor’s luck is really bad now. All her films are flopping.

  • It was bound to be a weak film.
    Overacting from Akshay, Imran is a non actor and Sonakshi was trying to be over smart.

    Time for Chennai Express to party cos they are going to be benefit BIG TIME !!

  • SHAME that a film glorifying gangsters is releasing on Independence day. Satyagraha should have released instead of OUATIMD.

  • I think Imran ruined the film,Akshay was superb.
    Ist part was a much better movie with terrific performances by Ajay Devgan,Emraan Hashmi and Randeep Hooda.

  • This changes everything. Now chennai express has a fair chance to beat 3 idiots at the box office! As for ouatimd, I don’t think it ll cross even 100cr. Making a bad film and releasing it as competition to a shahrukh khan starrer is very bad. Ekta kapoor should have given the release date a more considerable thought. I was looking very much forward to this sequel as the first part was very good. And it will be pretty interesting to see which film becomes the highest grossing film this year. Will it be dhoom3, Krissh 3 or chennai express. I think even yeh jawaani hai deewani stands a fair chance now. Boss might work but it seems too over the top and I personally feel that it will sink much like Khiladi 786. Akshay Kumar must choose his films carefully. Besharam might work too but I don’t think it will. Moreover, this year I think 3 idiots record will be broken by 2 films and not just 1. Chennai express is almost certain to break it now as the advanced booking for 2nd weekend is also good. Out of Krissh and dhoom, I feel one of them will and the other wont. Lets wait and see what happens.

  • @indicine
    Can OUATIMD cross 100crs?
    because last year despite stiff competition from JTHJ,SOS managed to collect 100crs,despite getting very negative reviews and OUATIMD is atleast a much better film than SOS!

  • @Indicine. I heard and read in another channels that distributors have said to ekta and production team that regarding the number of screens for her film it ll only be decided after todays performance. is that true???
    what’s Ur take on that Indicine. Havent u got any news about it
    and also the wom is mixed with negativity creeping in. what’s the update Indicine.

  • Indicine, why isn’t always your critics reviews page of any single movie appearing in the mobile version of indicine? I have to login with the laptop to read critic reviews.

  • Indicine what would happen if OUATIMD would release on eid ??
    could it do same business like CE is doing or Become A Flop one ?

  • @AMIR
    Which Ekta movie flopped?

    Ek Thi Daayan:Above average

    Shootout At wadala:Above Average

    Lootera:Average

  • Kamaal R Khan – KRK ?@kamaalrkhan 1h

    Akshay kumar Bhai Jaan has proved again in #OUATIMD that he is really king of comedy films of Bollywood today.

    Kamaal R Khan – KRK ?@kamaalrkhan 50m

    It’s really superb brilliant comedy film i have watched in last 10 years so congrats to team #OUATIMD

  • All Akshay fans were dreaming “OUATIMD will be the best film of the year and crush Chennai Express, Krrish 3 and Dhoom 3”. All their dreams have now gone up in smoke.

  • Akshay, please mere paise wapis de de. Kasamse 350rs waste ho gaye. Now I will never see Akshay’s movie. SUPER FLOP HAI

  • Anybody now comes wid a sequel.
    A sequel has to b 1 step furthr of its predecesr.
    A good bunch of actors in the sequel
    better music in 2nd part
    and above all a captivating story for sequel
    bt in ouatimd all these things were lacking frm day 1
    sum good sequels wid respect 2 points mentnd above-Dhoom2 ,aashiqui2,phir hera pheri.
    Bad sequels-dabangg2,murder2 and nw ouatimd

  • @ABHI – U don’t understand sarcasm do u? The same KRK declared that OUATIMD will be flop. And if he is finding the film to be a comedy than the film has become a laughing stock.

  • just back from watchin movie….is good in parts but as a whole the film is not up to the mark… prequel was way better than this… lag raha tha as if movie mein dialogues nahi, dialogues mein movie hai…

  • The only thing OUATIMD can boast now is 100% occupancy on the first day (though everyone knows that it happened only because of limited theatres).

  • with such review, i don’t think that ouatimd is a threat for ce…ce will continue to rule and should easily cross 200 cr at domestic b.o…
    Though it was clear from the starting that ouatimd has a weak sbript and storyline, bcoz if u have a strong and universal script like 3 idiots, u will never delay ur film, even if god asks for it, forget srk.

  • in your review of chennai express, Lungi dance (which was crap) was a plus point and here pritam’s music is a disappointment? seriously?

    @indicine, why do you hide the name of the reviewer? why don’t you reveal his name?

  • its a really really bad movie. I don’t think it deserve a star. and ur right indicine ouatimd is neither as an love triangle nor as a revenge gangster flick.

  • Another Chandi Chowk To China, Joker, Khatta Metha

    Where r the haters who said that CE record will be broke on 15th August?????????

    Pray for ur Hero, i am afraid even if movie cross 100cr mark.

  • Review of Mine:
    Without Ajay and Emmi Bhai
    Ouatim series is waste of time
    Akshay Kumar’s dialog delivary is not impressive, Imran khan’s poor performence continues, sonakshi performed bit well… Weak story line. Dialogs are good but not up to mark like OUATIM… Sonali did her job well… Songs are worst in this movie… The whole gangster feel is not there.

    Rating : 2/5
    Verdict : will sink at box office after the first weekend

  • Was waiting fr review nw wil go for chennai again
    Inspite of bieng srk i am nt liking sum independence day and d’wood kind of negativity bieng spread Running others film down is nt good thing Where hardwork is there is pathetic i knw they spread against srk par iska matlab yeh nahi ki hum bhi kara and by the way
    Nly one thing want to ask if same film had srk playing dawood releasing in independence would it have release in india ???

  • it is lookin more and more difficult for outimd to collect decent figures at the box office
    but mean while everyone r praising ekta and her team for postponing the movie. this might work as a face saver.
    coz if they would have clashed with the hurricane Chennai express, outimd would have been literally wiped and washed out of the theatres by now and collection would have been below 50 CRORES. and that would have spelt disaster for the entire team boasting of so many big names

  • my question to Indicine. I would ask this question again and again till u post my comment and u reply
    WY did u post the article
    WY OUTIMD would run over or have an edge over Chennai express

  • thank you frnds I thought to go this movie bt I change my mind!! it’s better I watch Chennai express 100 times rather then watching waste movie lyk OUTIMD

Leave a Comment