Movie review: Son Of Sardar, jokes fall flat, may cause headache

New delhi, Nov 13: Rating-**Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi Sinha, Sanjay Dutt, Juhi Chawla, Mukul Dev and Vindu Dara SinghDirector: Ashwani DheerMusic Director: Sajid Ali , Wajid Ali , Himesh Reshammiya , Sandeep ChowtaForget it's competition with Yash Chopra's swansong Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Ajay Devgn's flick may cause you headache once you come out of the cineplex. Last week the flick ‘Its rocking dard-e-Disco' went kaput with even Bappi Da probably regretting why stepped into an actor's shoes. And this week the much awaited ‘Son of Sardar', four days before a Friday release enters the multiplexes in order to garner eyeballs this Diwali weekend.Bursting firecrackers this weekend would be a better option than to shell out your cash on ‘Son of Sardar'. The show opens up with Jassi played by Devgan, doing his two horse riding stunt while reinventing his ‘Phool aur Kaante' and ‘Golmaal Returns' trademark which then had looked more feasible. Ajay comes to Punjab to sell off his 5-acre land, but it's not a cakewalk. Back in town, there is age-old rivalry, brought forward by Billu portrayed by Sanjay Dutt, who is desperate to destroy Jassi. The situation looks more infuriating when Sanjay's two younger brothers played by Bindu Dara Singh and Mukul Dev in their childhood are made to take vows they won't have ice-cream and cold drinks until and unless they take revenge for their father. Poor little kids! Don't worry they are grown up now, but it's still worse. Being a Punjabi, no drinks. Awful!Appearing for the fourth time this year on screen, Sonakshi playing Billu's sister Jiya, falls in love with Jassi, in a typical love at first sight. Jassi is invited as a guest to her home where the age old Indian tradition "guest is god" applies. But the moment they walk out of the house they act as real angry Punjabis. But yup, this so-called rule works as a savior for Jassi's s life. Apart from Jia who else has a soft corner for Jassi? Well it's comeback lady Juhi Chawla, who supports the duo and also flirts with Billu.The chase sequences take places at numerous intervals and end up with predictably. Billu forgets his rivalry after a gruelling duel with Jassi and agrees to Jiya's marriage with him. Even the old-aged Bebe who provoked him for the revenge, calms him to forget the rivalry.Mr. Director Ashwani Dhir, please understand, the Sikhs formula is not the hit formula anymore. The jokes used in the flicks don't fit the portrayal of Sardar. In a scene Ajay asks a heavily bearded man aged around 80: which is the oldest Sikh temple in the town? The clueless aged man accompanied by two others say the answer could be given by an old person only. You want to laugh but you end up with an unreal smile on your face. This fake smile you have to maintain throughout the 2 hrs 20 minutes runtime. The action sequences have nothing new to offer you; instead they resemble sequences from a Rohit Shetty drama. A climax scene where the baddies are bashed up high into the air will remind you of a Hollywood flick ‘Immortal' but when you realize that it's Jassi's bag which did the wonder your excitement dies down.Ajay Devgan, after Golmaal 3 and Singham and Bol Bachchan show, we didn't expect a bizarre filck from you. You told us, “Paaji kaddi hass vi liya karo” (Please do laugh at times) why should we? In fact it was the hardest thing to deliver. Sonakshi Sinha comes out with “Chal Jhoothi” verdict on every other person. At last it makes one wonder whether she is the biggest liar as she didn't deliver as she promised in her promotion that she's giove all of us a blast this Diwali. Her nakhras doesn't work at all this time. Sanjay Dutt, after Agneepath, we can't expect anything lesser than the monstrous Kancha. The one liner used in the flick doesn't work. And even the animated storm following him doesn't add to the weightage.Rather the supporting actress Juhi Chawla looks better in her acts. Her way to slay Sanjay looks charming and would remind you of some of her fine acts from her archives.Apart for ‘Tu Bichlan' and ‘Son of Sardar' tracks, no other song will stay in your mind once you leave the theatre. The first half could have been trimmed a bit as it would be difficult to digest the poor jokes. While in the second half if you are done with your pop corn or other stuff you won't wait for a single minute to go out to the beverage counter whatever extra time it takes.I'll go 2 out of 5 for Son of Sardar. The flick is a Sardar of headache. Go in with dollops of patience and carry some cotton for your ears.