Hattrick

Director: Milan Luthria
Cast: Nana Patekar, Danny Denzongpa, Hema Malini, Paresh Rawal, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Rimi Sen

World cup cricket fever is fast gripping the nation and UTV's Hattrick, featuring world cup cricket as its backdrop released last week to bank this cricket mania at the box-office. But what's surprising is that more than cricket the movie explores human values that are fast fading in today's world. On the lines of Munna bhai series director Milan Luthria tackles the human emotions quite entertainingly. However unlike Munna bhai where a single individual solves the misery of people, in Hattrick, director, Milan Luthria picks three real life tribulations common to all and in the latest trend of Bollywood, he ropes in three different stories that are clubbed in the climax in a fascinating manner bringing about solutions to each.

In the Nana Patekar track the director brings home the point that life without smile is useless. Danny Denzongpa plays an ex-cricket legend and for him it's cricket and only cricket. While the young couple Rimii Sen and Kunal Kapoor's story reveals that for a happy married life it is necessary for both husband and wife to appreciate each others liking, since Rimii is attracted to cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However the saga that moves us most is the heart rendering tae of Paresh Rawal who strives hard to get a British citizenship. Performance wise all the lead actors are fantastic. Nana Patekar's character as the stern doctor is tailor made for him. While upcoming actor Kunal Kapoor concretes his position in Bollywood with this movie. The Bengal beauty Rimi Sen is seductive but the actor who steals the show is Paresh Rawal who as the middle aged Indian Gujarati, Hemu Patel, struggling to make it big in Great Britain is marvelous. What makes the movie above average is Rajat Arora's emotive screenplay aided with brilliant editing by Aarif Shaikh that keeps the movie fast pace and the viewers are bored not for a second.

The dialogue too are hilarious and satirical particularly the punch line - Mard bano, sar dard nahin (be man and not head ace). The only let down is Pritam Chakraborty and Rajesh Roshan flop musical score. In nut shell helps Hattrick scores a sixer at the box-office!

B4U spoke to Mumbaikar's about the movie:

Sajid Kahnedwala, 21, a die hard cricket fan, looked impressed with the movie. He said, "In fact I came to see some cricket action in the movie but in name of cricket the movie has just the backdrop. Nevertheless the movie triumph as it has a very good theme. I believe the incorporation of the cricket angle is perhaps the maker's last minute decision because even without the cricket backdrop the movie has potential to be a hit."

Professor, Mahesh Chavan, 40, feels, "Movies like this must be made more and more as today the younger generation is drifting away from Indian tradition
and culture and human values are dying a slow death." Hemantbhai Cheda, 55, a retail shop owner, was deeply moved by Paresh Rawal's character. He said, "Through Paresh Rawal's character the director has exposed the true plight of the Asain staying in Europe. The scene where the air port authorities' harass an Indian in the name of checking is pitiful. Rawal's character is an eye opener to all Indian, who lure to live a luxurious life in Europe but ultimately curse their fate on reaching there!"

Arthi Bhatt, 28, loved the movie and was bowled over by Danny's performance. "The seasoned baddie, Danny, is the surprise element in the movie. In the
role of an ex- cricket legend, who, is fighting for life due to kidney failure, Danny is rocking and is the key factor for success of the movie."