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: ★½☆☆☆

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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355 Comments

  • prediction of Astro numerologist Bhavikk:

    The title ‘DE DANA DAN’ adds up to Number 30 symbolizing mental superiority and material attitude. But it focuses more on increasing mental attitude than material happiness. Therefore it is neither totally auspicious nor inauspicious”, explains Bhavikk.

    “For Akshay Kumar (9th September 1967) – Number 3 is one of his strongest numbers and so he will benefit from the film. Ditto Paresh Rawal (30th May 1950). The release date of the film is November 27 – the sum total of Sunil Shetty’s date of birth (11th August 1961) adds on the same number and so he will also gain something from it”, predicts Bhavikk.

    “The period between November 24 to December 23 comes under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius which is also ruled by Number 3 – the planet of wealth and knowledge. So it seems ‘De Dana Dan’ will only spread cheer and bring some ‘good news’ for the industry”, concludes Bhavikk on a final note.

  • i have seen movie, movie is ok yaar, below expectations, aur climax to kachra hay,some seens r excellent in comedy but rest of the movie is ok not good…………..
    akki gives 5th flop of the year………..

  • I GO TO THE CINEMA YESTERDAY AND I AM TOTALLY AGREE WITH U AS IT WAS AKSHAY WHO BRING THE AUDIENCE TO THEREATERS. BUT HIS PERFORMANCE IS REALLY BAD EXCEPT IN ONE OR TWO INSTANCES..
    THERE WAS NO SCRIPT.
    I AM VERY BIG FAN OF AKSHAY BUT, NOW I THINK HE SHOULD TAKE A BREAK FROM INDUSTRY FOR SOME TIME AND HE SHOULD BE SELECTIVE WHILE SIGNING THE MOVIES BECAUSE THE WAY HIS CARRER GRAPH (IN TERMS OF MOVIES ) IS GOING DOWN AND DOWN AFTER THE BLOCKBUSTER SUCCESS OF “SINGH IS KINNG”
    IF AKSHAY CONTINUES DOING THESE MOVIES , HIS FAN FOLLOWING WILL BE REDUCED WHICH I DO THINK HE WOULD ALSO NOT LIKE…
    PRIYADARSHAN HAS IN TOTALITY WASTED THE TALENT OF AKSHAY , KATRINA AND SUNIEL….

  • 4 ALL AKKI FANS when KI was releasd akki fans said he is back with a bang.the film was really gud.but afta 1 week da picture was clear.we know how many ppl wanted money back.dnt we?? Same goes wiv blue..so plz dnt try 2 protect your fav. actor othawise he’ll nt be selective….

  • @fuad : its u who has nt liked the movie but most of the ppl have liked the movie. no movie has universal charm . As fas As Akki is Concerned He is loved the most in Comedies and Action even though he is versatile so he is concentrating on what ppl want him to do

  • Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

    De Dana Dhan grossed a good 6.25 crore nett on day one. Saturday being a holiday the film is expected to show big business over the weekend. The first day approx territory breakdowns were as follows. The film did will well in most circuits except South India which was below the mark.

    Mumbai – 2.40 crore

    Delhi/UP – 1.35 crore

    East Punjab – 55 lakhs

    West Bengal – 25 lakhs

    Bihar – 10 lakhs

    CP Berar – 30 lakhs

    CI – 22 lakhs

    Rajasthan – 35 lakhs

    Nizam – 28 lakhs

    Mysore – 22 lakhs

    Others – 15 lakhs

  • Wouldn’t like to comment on anything except two..

    1) Nauman, some of the lower middle class in India earn less than Rs 5,000 per month. Do you realise that they work for 8 hours a day in different conditions to earn so much.. The cops risk their lives to earn 200 bucks a day.. the list can go on.. read the inner pages of the newspaper for a change.. and you are comparing them to stars who charge 20 crores per film? How cheap is that? (does that sound nice? No, so avoid saying such things in the comments section)

    Guys, keep the discussion strictly movie related. You like a film that we didn’t, no issues at all, we respect your opinion. You can argue, debate or whatever.. But once it gets personal, comments will be deleted.

    2) Punter, Vivaah was a blockbuster. We didn’t particularly like it. But the movie appealed to the B and C centers where it did maximum business. Looking forward to your De Dana Dan review.

    Amish, glad you liked it. But we still would like to believe, chop the flood scene off and it wouldnt have made any difference.. The whole sequence was neither funny nor required. Waste of money, time and energy. Just our opinion though. You review was kinda expected though, much like ours was to you :)

  • Omg ddd collected 6.25cr yday.amish nauman dun worry 10cr cuming up today nd tommorow.weekand 25cr week 45cr total 80 blockbuster..paa opening 8cr weekand 13cr week total 16cr flop..radio ll be disaster 5cr in total run

  • Indicine team- ha ha.. i never gave any sort of rating…. (like in stars..) but would rather give a movie thumbs up or down from nw…;) bcoz rating has no value here….;)

    U did tel me a week back tat as long as d 2– 3 hrs spent in a cinema hall s entertainin and refreshing, need not worry bout d story,script & reviews…;)
    this movie was very much entertainin n refreshin and my facial and abdominal muscles had a very gud time..:)
    wat more s needed.. be it d tsunami thing or akshays absense i enjoyed it completely..:)

    this movie shud deserve a superhit/BB tag.. -” my opinion though”( ur dialogue),,;) he he

  • AMIT— Radio collecting 5cr is highly unlikely dude.. it may finish below 2cr…;)

    but Paa `ll do more than 20cr business for sure…:)

    last night watched paresh rawal`s interview. he said Paa `ll not work big time as it s an emotional movie.. and Radio he didnt even want to talk..;) Paresh s der in both d movies….. so he `ll know better…:)

  • de dana dan is really a watchable movie i wathed 2 times and i love it, iam again goint to watch tomorrow,third time.not see the critics reviews,go and hear the audiance what they r telling about the movie.

  • Amish:Weekend can be 20-25 crs…have to see on monday onwards…..But if it get 20-25 weekend,then it can get 35-40 crs in 1 week…..

  • nauman shut up..katrina is an awesum actor..nd atleast she has a job unlyk u hu is praisin akshay kumar..nauman luk at urself bfre comentng on othrs character..

  • De Dana Dhan Scores Heavily In United Kingdom

    Saturday 28th November 2009 19.30 IST
    Boxofficeindia.Com Trade Network

    De Dana Dhan had a huge first day in United Kingdom as it grossed £100,000 approx on Friday. This is the second biggest first day of the year after Love Aaj Kal. The film may have a £350,000 plus weekend in United Kingdom. Approx Friday business for some other major releases this year is as follows.

    Love Aaj Kal – £120,000
    Kambakkht Ishq – £83,000
    Blue – £58,000
    Kurbaan – £45,000
    London Dreams – £45,000

  • Log machaye shor……….lutaye karod…. akshay kumar tere dil ka chor…..;) way to go akki….:)

    am just hopin this movie makes akshay , KING OF BOX OFFICE once again….;)

  • i want to share one thing wid all u guys.one reason why i watches movie is amount of whistles nd shout people makes-sadly nowdays its very little coz of mulitplexes but still in ddd it appear wid veer promo nd paisa song-..m a sallu fan nd wid no offence to akki fans i want to say that people always whistle only on sallu entry..i dint found a single shout wid akki entry this year.,wanted me to tehalka mach gya tha.

  • I enjoyed in titbits . But criticaly its nothing . No story at all . 1.5/5 is fair enough. N people Why to criticize indicine. Just put up what u feel. U can’t debate on that. Its there pt of view.

    Nauman
    i ought to consider u a fool for giving 2/5 for kurbaan n 4/5 for d3. Nt just me, there are many on this site.
    Guys do tell mr nauman.

    Best actor award 2009
    SHAHID FOR KAMINEY OR SAIF FOR KURBAAN
    Best actress award 2009
    priyanka for wats ur rashee or kareena for kurbaan
    Best movie award 2009
    kaminey or london dreams or kurbaan
    and DE DANA DAN STANDS NO WHERE

    those who agree n those who don’t do tell.

    Indicine
    do create a poll on the above suitably after the release of 3 idiots
    n yes i want to share in some suggestions regarding the improvement of site.
    Where can i put my suggestions?

  • Amit– lets not discuss d whistles here….;) wanted was salmans movie, DDD is akshays movie…;)

    PPl even whistle wen beautiful gals walk around…;) ha ha

  • Amish:Very good news….Look like this can be superhit in overseas also….
    Log machaye shor……….lutaye karod…. akshay kumar tere dil ka chor

  • INDICINE TEAM:where is ur boxoffice report collection????U were very fast for other movie boxoffice report but When it comes to akshay de dana dan…y r u not puting in ur website……Daal mai kuch kala hai …

  • Sudeep– i remember tat johnny`s name- Kala in d movie…” main kala hun, to kisne kaha ke tu gora hai…” ha ha

    no dude… Indicine r waitin for full weekend collections…. they cant give false collections na.. so..;)

  • Amish:i like the scene where katrina father chase akshay in the first half n looking at mirror he say”oh deko…and clash with mirror!!!!!!haha tht was funniest part of 1st half

  • Just listen from the interview of producer of this movie”He said second day collection is very good n more than the 1st day…which indicate second day will be around 7-8 crs….and today sunday ..in india is public holiday….it is heading way to 40 crs first week…..cheers

  • ^ ya dude… this movie s awesome… der s not a single minute wer u feel bored.. superb entertainer…:)

    it deserves to be a big hit….:)

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