Dum Maaro Dum review: "Script had the dum but execution didnt!!!"

Goa is one of the most sought after destination of the world for its beaches, famous parties etc. However, it is an open secret that its slowly turning into the hub of the drug world. Drugs, sleaze, prostitution; you name it & its there, in other words "the land of seven deadly sins". It is this very topic that Rohan Sippy attempts to portray in this latest venture " Dum Maaro Dum". Just has it been in his previous two ventures "Bluffmaster" & "Kuch Na Kaho", this also stars his childhood friend, Abhishek Bachchan. With all his movies falling like nine pins, Jr.AB would definitely be keeping his fingers crossed. So will it provide him with the elusive hit???

The film unfolds with Lorry (Pratheik Babbar) being denied US scholarship thereby virtually shattering his dreams of going abroad with his girl friend. Just when life doesnt seem meaningful, his friend Ricky offers him an opportunity to provide him with the necessary amount  in exchange for being a drug carrier. With no other means of getting scholarship, he reluctantly agrees to the task. In the meantime, ACP Vishnu Kamath (Jr.AB) who is rejoining the force on the back of a personal tragedy is assigned with the mission of cleaning up the drug mafia thriving in Goa. Kamath was aware of the fact that Lorsa Biscuita (Aditya Pancholi), a prominent industrialist was the major drug lord & has been hot on his trails. On one of such trails, he nabs Lorry & on further investigation stumbles on the name of Michael Carbossa. So who was this person without a face & how will this lead to Lorsa??? All this & more, takes us through a little more than two hours.

Shridhar Radhavan, credited with the script has definitely performed a commendable job; but its pretty unfortunate that the execution wasnt able to do full justice to it. The first half keeps us engrossed with its rapid & interesting story telling however in the second half, the film inevitably drags. Though it is just over 2 hours, you cant help feeling that it should have been a bit more crisper. Rohan Sippy cant be totally faulted, as I feel the screenplay is what let the movie down. Coming to other aspects, the editing by Aarif Shaikh was slick while the background score by Midival Punditz was awesome. Pritam does produce a couple of catchy numbers which personally speaking I didnt find so impressive.

In the performance department, Jr.AB has done total justice to his character & his wry sense of humour infused into it did impart an added flavour to it. Rana Daggubatti as Joki was a complete natural while Aditya Pancholi lacked the menanceness of a villain. As for the remaining crew, Pratheik Babbar was fine along with Govind Namdeo & Bipasha.

Verdict: There is no doubt that the movie would have a decent initial but its a multiplex type of film thereby shunting the rewards that it could reap from the masses. Inspite of having a good story to tell, the execution falters in the second half which in turn is going to be its Achilles heel. In short, its not a must watch movie & even if you do, it wont hurt!!!

Regards...Ben