Coolie No. 1

Coolie No. 1
Image source: Google

Ratings: 1.5/5

Duration: 02 Hrs 14 Mins

Language: Hindi

Genre: Comedy

Director: David Dhawan

Writer:  Rumi Jaffery (screenplay), Farhad Samji (dialogue)

Based On: It is the remake of the 1995 film ‘Coolie No. 1’.

Producers: Jackky Bhagnani, Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshika Deshmukh

Music: Tanishk Bagchi, D.J. Chetas, Lijo George, Javed-Mohsin, Salim Sulaiman

Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran

Editing: Ritesh Soni

Art Direction: Parijat Poddar, Shujauddin Quazi

Release Date: 25 December 2020 (USA)

Released On: Amazon Prime

Star Cast: Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan, Bharti Achrekar, Anil Dhawan, Javed Jaffrey, Ashrut Jain, Manoj Joshi, Shashi Kiran, Johnny Lever, Rajat Rawail, Paresh Rawal, Shikha Talsania, Sahil Vaid, Rajpal Yadav

Plot: Pandit Jai Kishen (Jaaved Jaffrey) after getting insulted by a rich businessman named Rosario (Paresh Rawal), teaches him a lesson by getting his daughter Sarah (Sara Ali Khan) married to Raju - a Coolie (Varun Dhawan), posing as a millionaire. Soon Raju's real identity gets exposed, but he cooks up a story of having a filthy rich twin. One lie leads to another and things start to go out of hand, and this forms the rest of the story.

Review: ‘Coolie No. 1’ is David Dhawan's redo of his 1995 film of a similar name starring Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, which was loved not just for its humour, songs, and drama, but just about everything. Since he makes each film for the mass crowd, the previous film has stayed fresh in our minds to-date, therefore, his attempt to remake the much-adored entertainer is bound to be judged minutely.

The new version maintains the essence of the Hindi original, including some chartbusters - but sprinkles it with some fresh punches, to adapt to the current times.

However, the new form isn't close to what the first was. It has more colour and slickness, but all its gloss is strictly superficial. That is, the new version is flashier and louder.

Varun Dhawan glides into the character effortlessly. Though the act may come across loud at times, it works well in a film of this genre. However, Sara Ali Khan though looks all glammed up and gorgeous, but gets the limited scope to prove her credentials.

Matching Varun Dhawan is Paresh Rawal. He is an absolute joy to watch!  The comic timing of the two actors is fantastic. Even the supporting characters Sahil Vaid, Johnny Lever, Jaaved Jaaferi, Rajpal Yadav, and Manoj Joshi fit in their roles wonderfully. In short, we have some ace comedians here to save the day.

As far as the music is concerned, the soundtrack is energetic and the idea to retain the original songs from the 1995 movie ‘Mirchi Lagi Toh’ and ‘Husn Hain Suhana’ is a masterstroke since these are timeless melodies.

Overall, Coolie No. 1 is crazy, outrageous but over the top!  The film should have considered that the world has changed since the David Dhawan-Govinda combo churned out hit after hit!