This time around the reason for delay is simply because I could not make up my mind on what exactly I liked about the film. ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ is adman Vinil Matthew’s entry into Bollywood. That aside, it also has a huge ad-film janta in the team. I tried to contemplate on this entire trend and expectation surrounding an ad-film producer/director getting a Bollywood break scenario.  This is what I think is my final opinion – It meant so much more only because I had been a part of the ad film/media industry and had heard about these people. For everyone else, it was a debut film maker having huge names backing him up as producers. So yes, my expectations were higher as were the expectations of most media people, particularly the agency crowd.  I guess that’s something that’s adding to biased reviews these days.

Hasee Toh Phasee did not exceed expectations because I would have wanted Vinil to deliver the same 30 sec/ 90 sec magic for 90 mins+ and that seemed like a rather difficult task. But yes, if I now put myself out of those shoes and try to think like a random film viewer, it was entertaining. That’s eventually the sole purpose of most films, right? Not cheesy, not boring and not stale though it was depended a lot on the big fat Indian wedding scenario.

Parineeti Chopra’s performance as a pill-popping genius was brilliant and so was the hero, Sidharth Malhotra. Performances in general were all good. What was also up to the mark was the casting. Everyone just seemed so perfect though there was a lot stereotyping – again, I thought that was typical and mostly because of the ad background. Sanu John Varughese, a noted DOP in the ad industry, did a good job. I’m sure he could have done better. What would have appealed to most people would have been the treatment and the look and feel – just like a plush ad film with fancy casting (and yes, perfect locations and sets).  Vishal & Shekar were average.

It’s surely a good watch and a very very good attempt by the entire team. Henceforth, I will try to keep myself aside and not expect a lot (the rule surely won’t apply when Anurag Kashyap directs it and not just produces). It’s a promising film and won’t let you down. And yes, you will love it when you here the sound of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai pair up with ‘F’ se Phantom!