[rating: 3.5]

Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam is one of the nicest surprises I have had all year(in watching movies ie). Firstly I wasnt expecting much from the movie but the promising star cast was looking good. It had Paresh Rawal, Rahul Bose and Kay Kay Menon, three actors whose movies I have truly admired.

The movie is supposedly the remake of a classic Mel Brooks movie “To Be or Not to Be“. This Indian version uses the backdrop of the 93 bomb blasts and produces a hilarious comedy of a bunch of theater artists trying to stop the bad guys.

What I loved about the movie was the brilliantly sketched out characters, who even when saying clinched lines are really funny. The comic twist to Urdu Shayari and on stage improvisation had me running out of breath laughing. I think I was laughing for atleast 80% of the movie!

Paresh Rawal as a paranoid husband, coward and an actor with an ego the size of Bombay is immaculate. I havent enjoyed such a wonderful performance by him(comically) in a while. Rahul Bose seems to work well with Mallika Sherawat, I thought “Pyar Ke Side Effects” was fun and this one clearly proves that their chemistry works well. Kay Kay is perfect playing a Gazhal singer involved deep into terrorism(almost a spoof of Sarfarosh), another great performance by him. Mallika Sherawat is funny and plays the damsel in distress well. I really dont get ppl who say she cant act for nuts coz I have no complaints about her acting.

So should you watch this movie? If you liked “Pyar Ke Side Effects” you will surely enjoy this one. If you like spoofs or if you enjoy Urdu Shayari this movie will be a laugh riot for you. All in all the movie is worth one look.