SWEET "Sheet" Happens!. Review on Delhi Belly

DELHI BELLY: (Sweet) "Sheet" Happens!

Three room-mates Imran Khan (Tashi Dorjee Lhatoo), Vir Das (Arup) and Kunaal Roy Kapur (Nitin Berry) live in a dilapidated room in the dark corners of Old Delhi. While Tashi is a stringer, Nitin is a photographer (who doesn’t mind a little blackmailing to escape paying rent) and Arup is a cartoonist. Tashi is courting an air-hostess Shenaz Treasurywala (Sonia). Sonia doesn’t know that the “package’ of diamonds she will be delivering is smuggled. She is obliging a friend. She gives it to Tashi, Tashi to Nitin, who is suffering from “Delhi Belly” and he in turn gives it to Arup along with his stool sample. The two “packages” are delivered to the wrong addresses. And then begins a roller-coaster ride.

Vijay Raaz (Somiyajulu) as the local gangster is what the doctor ordered for. He infuses life in the role with his deadpan acting, just like any dilli ka thug would be – with guns, goons and “goo” (this really stinks!). I can never get over his role play. He is a pleasure to watch and savor. Poorna Jagannathan (Menaka) a journalist finally bags Tashi, who has been slapped by Sonia and left on his own. But that’s all right. That happens in life (I mean, the slapping).

And the icing on the cake is the item number from Aamir Khan – I Hate You (Like I Love You). You will end up rolling in your seat. Who could think of this innovative movie and an equally innovative song than the master of all creative thinking that is Aamir. You hate the movie but more than that you end up loving it. It is a part of your daily life. It is an integral part of your life – just like the loo duty first thing in the morning. After watching the movie, “diarrhoea” will become alright and loo visits will be a pleasure. In fact, they will be looked forward to and eagerly awaited. (Maybe constipation will occur later.)

I don’t know, when last I laughed so much watching a movie. Tears (of joy) were voluntarily flowing down my cheeks. My stomach was aching with laughter and I couldn’t handle it any more. And then the movie ended, a little too soon. But the viewer had already tasted blood (not goo) with the new anthem – DK Bose. Very innovative.

It is a slice of life.

AfterReady,Delhi Belly is truly an enjoyable fare. A refreshing piece on the realistic life of Delhi, it brings alive what was a big no-no for screen. Let’s face it, an average Delhiite cannot complete a sentence without a Ch-word or Behen/Ma/Biwi/Beti-word. Very colourful language that at first sounds strange but by and by one becomes accustomed and then it is way of life. One does not flinch when it is this common. It loses its offence and sounds like one is discussing prices of vegetables or TV serials. And youth are the active practitioners of this lingo. The more colourful, the better it goes.

This is the first time real life is shown as it is – REAL. There is a no-holds barred language. Probably other regions will find it strange but this is what Delhi is – a youthful city with a youthful language. And we cannot say no to realism. Terrorism movies, war movies etc etc depict true happenings. So in today’s age why can’t today’s movies depict a true city life. If a majority uses cuss-words, then that is presented as it is in Delhi Belly. And that’s what adds to the fun. The Censor Board has shown its maturity in approving the movie. Finally Censor Board has come of age and that is worth praising. Let’s cheer to the coming of age of Indian cinema.

Twenty years back, the same movie would have been rejected outright. I don’t approve of four-letter words but that is what is all around you. You just can’t escape it. It is like eating bread pakoda and asking for price saying, “behen…, maa… or chu… Times have changed hugely. Kids and youth of today are more mature than their parents and grand parents. They know what is right for their times of today. And this is the reason the movie is hitting it big time with youth and others. It is a hit from day one. You can’t change this reality but accept it and enjoy. There are no fake characters or over-the-board acting. It is all as it is in Delhi, probably less. It is so unusual to see “this” reality coming alive on screen. If sheet is so sweet, one needs it every Friday. Enjoy! Taste this “shit” and you will be addicted.

Can anyone compliment this movie? I am going for the movie again.