The mad, blind sequel mania has reached such a stage that now we are witnessing sequels being made of just average films like HAPPY PHIRR BHAG JAYEGI and sequels of flops too as YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA PHIR SE.
The third film in the franchise actually should not have been made learning from the poor public response to its part two released in 2013. But the Deols still went for it and the result is yet again quite identical as a badly executed film that fails to entertain its viewers in any manner.
The biggest reason why YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA PHIR SE doesn’t work remains its writing as well as the direction which never pulls you in despite a decent plot that could have been dealt differently as a comic-investigating thriller-cum-courtroom drama. What also doesn’t work is the overall Punjabi feel of the film, for which the entire team coming from Punjab has to take the blame including the director (Navaniat Singh), writer (Dheeraj Rattan) and actors namely Binnu Dhillon, Anita Devgan and more.
The first half truly gets affected by this strong Punjabi feel ruining the important build-up. And the impact further gets diluted when you see Sunny Deol playing a mismatched role of a traditional Ayurveda practicing Vaid (Hakeem) at one end and a middle-aged (jean-wearing) pahalwaan on the other fighting like a lion, going overboard many a times to an unbelievable limit. Moreover the presentation of Dharmendra (with an utterly silly idea of apsaras/angels by his side) disappoints the most, which ideally should have been the loveliest character of the film reaching out to his die-hard fans.
YPDPS even doesn’t work in terms of comedy due to all unfunny dialogues or one liners that also become ridiculous at times, particularly in the court sequences towards the end. The music (by more than three names) is below average and so is the annoying (forced) background score which again reminds me of the most neglected and casually taken department among the Punjabi filmmakers.
Surprisingly the key actors deliver in terms of their individual performances but it’s the writing and presentation that never allows them to be entertaining and engaging as required. Sunny Deol is sincere continuing with his ‘Dhai Kilo Ka Haath’ image, Kriti Kharbanda is fine looking pretty, Mohan Kapur is impressive, Rajesh Sharma is decent and Shatrughan Sinha as the judge is a pleasant surprise who could have added a lot more in the courtroom scenes.
On the other hand, Bobby Deol is just okay and nobody among Satish Kaushik, Asrani or Binnu Dhillon is able to add something worth mentioning as the supporting cast. But above all Dharmendra visibly keeps trying hard without any great results and I seriously believe that the respectable veteran should now only accept short cameos in films, instead of any long or such full-fledged roles. Interestingly he plays a lawyer, contesting a court case in the film, for the first time in his career of more than half a century since MAMTA (1966) - wherein he was an assistatn barrister, not actively participating in the court proceedings. He also played a lawyer in the punjabi remake of ANGOOR as DOUBLE DI TROUBLE, but there too, he didnt have any case to fight in the court as in the present film. Anyway, it’s nostalgic to see him dance to the old remade hits from KAHANI KISMAT KI (1973) and other films with Rekha, Salman Khan, and Sonakshi Sinha (played along the end-credits) - the only thing I thoroughly enjoyed to be honest.
In all, I seriously wish Deol family had not made either of the 2 and 3 of YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA series. Plus its time they give a serious thought to writing in their own productions instead of always relying on the ‘Three Deols Together’ craze which is not working anymore.
Besides, as the key representatives of both Punjab and Punjabis in Bollywood and the world over, the Deols essentially need to reconsider that what would be the general perception of the community in the people’s & youngsters mind, if 'they' only present Punjabis as big drunkards and non-vegetarians in their own home productions?
Rating : 1.5 / 5
(Note : Earlier we used to see Saregama’s CARAVAN placed in important scenes of many films as product placement. But in this film, we go one step further as a voice over even speaks the name of CARAVAN in a dialogue making it a too blunt, at your face kind of brand promotion)
