Going by the trailers, Mere Baap Pehle Aap looks exciting, an out-n-out comedy flick directed by Priyadarshan! The name Priyadarshan itself is reason enough to visit your nearest movieplex, and when the ace director combines with Paresh Rawal and Akshaye Khanna, the expectations rise further. Does Mere Baap Pehle Aap entertain? Lets find out.
Mere Baap Pehle Aap Story
The movie is about Janardhan Vishvanbhar Rane (Paresh Rawal), who has spent his entire life in the upbringing of his two children, Gaurav (Akshaye Khanna) and Chirag (Manoj Joshi). Gaurav, now grown up, takes care of his father, like a father! He shouts, screams, orders and even threatens his baap (father) but all in love. The father and son duo manage the business as well as the household chores. Janardhan is good friends with Madhav (Om Puri), who is almost desperate to get married, but Gaurav is dead against their friendship. The reason being, Janardhan and Madhav are forever on look out for a bride and almost always land themselves in trouble, Gaurav has to bail them out and face the embarrassment.
One day, Gaurav stars receiving calls from a girl named Rose, who claims to be his classmate. Rose is in real Shikha (Genelia D’Souza) and she is just playing a prank with Gaurav, Shikha accepts the prank and they become friends. Shikha lives with her Teacher Anuradha (Shobhana). The moment Janardhan sees Anuradha, his life changes forever. What happens next forms the rest of the tale.
Mere Baap Pehle Aap Review
Before I entered the movie-plex to watch Mere Baap Pehle Aap, I was literally hoping Mere Baap to be an out an out comedy movie. Priyadarshan has made it a habit to make movies with a hilarious first half, but a utterly disappointing emotional and dramatic second. Unfortunately, Mere Baap Pehle Aap is no exception.
The movie starts off great, the first half although it tends to drag extensively just before the interval, is hilarious. Some scenes like the scene between Akshaye Khanna and Rajpal Yadav is extremely funny, but atleast 15 mins from the first half should have been chopped off from the final print. The second half, takes a dramatic turn, its emotional but doesnt make any impact. But the biggest problem is, the second half completely lacks comedy. There is not a single scene in the half that makes you laugh. The post interval portions drag endlessly and severely tests your patience. The run time of Mere Baap Pehle Aap is an unacceptable 2 hours and 50 mins. The movie should have ended 20 mins before it actually did, its hard to sit through the climax. Vidyasagar’s music is strictly okay. The cinematography is great, Kerala has been captured beautifully.
Coming to the performances, Akshaye Khanna is consistent throughout. Paresh Rawal has a meaty role and does a good job, nothing exceptional. Genelia D’Souza looks very sweet and her extremely expressive face and eyes are superb. She makes a lasting impact, you carry her performance even after the credits roll. Om Puri is funny. Rajpal Yadav is great but non-existent in the second half. Shobhana, a great actress has very few dialogues and no scope for histrionics. Archana Puran Singh is decent. Naseeruddin Shah in a special appearance, is okay.
In short, except for a few scenes, Mere Baap Pehle Aap disappoints. It has its moments but not enough to warrant a trip to the theatres. At the all important box-offfice, with a average start at the ticket window, the next few days should seal the fate of Priyadarshan’s latest offering.
Avoid!
Rating: 
