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the city keeps on lengthening.
MOVIE REVIEW Review: As Devinder Sharma’s Harsh Chhaya, in his directorial debut, has
life hangs in the balance in an
ICU in a Mumbai hospital, his presented a dark yet hilarious portrayal of
close family have no choice but a family in crisis, which may seem over the
to travel to the city to be with top, yet is totally relatable. Performances
him in the time of crisis. The by the entire ensemble cast, mainly the
only thing is that Devinder isn’t husband and wife duo Manoj and Seema
blessed with the perfect family; Pahwa, are top-notch, and are the strength
they’re all perfectly dysfunctional of the film along with the dialogues. While
instead. And perfectly middle
class, too. As the eldest brother
Jeetendar (Manoj Pahwa) pays
double for air tickets for his entire
family against the wishes of his
wife, the younger one, Ravinder
(Vinay Pathak) pinches pennies
instead, hoping to get a cheaper
deal to fly to Mumbai. They’re not
being awkward here. This is how not all sub-plots are that interesting, with
Story: Hilarity ensues when a member middle-class families operate. As some even being a tad clichéd, there are
of the Sharma family tethers between life days go by and Devinder does not show several moments when the story takes
and death as his relatives from across the any signs of improving, his extended brood over and you find yourself giggling at
country set up camp in Mumbai waiting try to make the best out of their time in the the goofiness unfolding on screen. The
for the inevitable that seems to have been big city which include shopping sprees and characters are well developed though,
delayed, indefinitely. trips to the parlour by the women in the which keep you engrossed. Comparisons
family, while the younger with the Marathi film Ventilator could have
men trek out to take in the been valid, had the emotional angle in the
sinful nightlife that Mumbai film been a little strong. For now, ‘Khajoor
has to offer. A niece named Pe Atke’ is a funny situational comedy that
Nayantara (Sanah Kapoor) lacks emotional depth, but delivers belly
even goes for auditions laughs by the plentiful.
with help from her shady
Facebook friend. As the
kids run amok, the elders
too, figure out ways to
pass time as their stay in
98 |DALLAS | JUNE 2018 | VOL 153 www.thebmagazine.com
