Jhootha Hi Sahi
- Year:2010
- Rating:M
- Director:Abbas Tyrewala
- Cast:John Abraham, Omar Khan, Pakhi, Raghu Ram
- Release Date:October 22, 2010
- Distributor:Mind Blowing Films
- Running time:127 minutes
- Film Worth:$12.00
- FILMINK rates movies out of $20 - the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
This simple tale avoids rom-com clichés thanks to its unique but heartfelt screenplay and the charismatic performances of the two leads.
Sid (John Abraham) is a gawky London bookstore owner who floats through life with a routine of fun friends, an infatuated girlfriend, and a stammer. His habitual bliss, however, is heavily shaken when his number is accidentally posted on signs for an Indian suicide helpline, DOST, and he befriends a suicidal stranger, Mishka (Pakhi).
Concerned for Mishka's mental well-being, Sid forges an anonymous friendship with the young woman by phone. He offers her late night consoling for her broken heart and gives her a reason to live, while creating a fake persona for himself as a much more interesting and confident person. When their paths cross in the real world though, complications arise as Sid becomes smitten with Mishka's charm, and attempts to pursue her while concealing his true identity. Lying, naturally, comes with a price. Soon enough Sid is deeply entrenched in his web of deceit, which threatens to destabilise his blossoming relationship.
This enchanting Bollywood offering could easily have fallen into predictable rom-com drivel, but an endearing screenplay about friendship, love and life affirmation rescues it from the genre's snare. Even though it plays to conventions, the film has a fresh approach to the humdrum staple love story, opting for interesting characters, unusual circumstances, snappy dialogue and lilting music. It's a simple tale - at once tragic and humorous - filled with ordinary people, plagued by realistic insecurities, finding love.
The romance is bolstered by charismatic performances and chemistry from the lead pair. Pakhi moves seamlessly from suicidal to content, and though Abraham struggles in some of the stammering scenes, he plays the subdued Sid with a sincerity and maturity not displayed by the actor in previous films.
Conversely, the story does have limitations. The motley crew of friends are one-dimensional, the subplots are used to fill time rather than story progression, some songs drag, the female protagonist's obsession with love is dated, and Sid's reasons for initially lying are not sufficiently explained. Nevertheless, the limitations pale in comparison to the charm and vivacity that exudes from almost every scene in the movie.
