T-Series, Balaji Telefilms, Wakaoo Films and Kathavachak Films’ Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (UA) is the story of the lost CD of the first-night video recorded by a newly-married couple.
Vicky (Rajkumar Rao) and Vidya (Tripti Dimri) get married and go to Goa for their honeymoon. While Vidya is a doctor, Vicky is in the profession of applying henna on the palms of girls. On their first night in Goa where they go for their honeymoon, Vicky suggests that they record the proceedings so that they can watch the video recording whenever the love in their married life seems to be diminishing. As bad luck would have it, there’s a robbery that takes place in the couple’s house. Along with the CD player, the CD also gets stolen. The two are, obviously, very tense about the CD getting into wrong hands and they move heaven and earth to trace the robber so that they can retrieve the CD. The investigating police officer is Laadle (Vijay Raaz). Vicky has a sister, Chanda (Mallika Sherawat), who does not believe in the institution of marriage but is very flirtatious by nature. Laadle falls head over heels in love with Chanda. Incidentally, the name of Vicky’s house help is also Chanda (Archana Patel), which often results in confusion for people.
Raaj Shaandilya and Yusuf Ali Khan have written a story which meanders here, there and everywhere as a result of which it looks scattered all over the place. The larger issue of clandestinely shot videos of newly-weds, which are sold for a price, is topical, making the otherwise light-hearted film somewhat serious and message-oriented. However, this also makes the audience wonder what exactly the story-writers want to convey. The screenplay, penned by Raaj Shaandilya, Yusuf Ali Khan, Ishrat R. Khan and Rajan Agarwal, looks more like an assemblage of jokes, anecdotes and gimmicks rather than a free-flowing drama. Besides this major flaw, there are other defects in the screenplay: for one, Vidya is shown as a doctor, but there are no scenes to establish her profession; secondly, her actions sometimes don’t quite behove a doctor; thirdly, the relationship between Vicky and Vidya seems weird at times — as, for example, Vidya tells Vicky in one scene that their relationship has no meaning now, and in the very next scene, she chides him for attempting suicide, stating that before thinking of ending his life, he should’ve thought about what would be her state after he would die; several characters have been added to add to the gimmick value of the drama rather than to make a wholesome and seamless drama; the track of house help Chanda seems to have been included not as much for anything else as for making scope for a comedy of errors; the sequence of Vidya’s parents making out looks absolutely weird and uncalled for in the scheme of things; etc. This is not to say that there are no plus points in the screenplay. Of course, there are. Some scenes do evoke laughter and are quite entertaining. But more than the scenes, Raaj Shaandilya’s dialogues are praiseworthy. His witty and humorous dialogues are, in fact, the best part of the script and induce laughter at several places.
Rajkumar Rao is such a wonderful actor that even in this drama, in which he doesn’t quite fit, he has given his cent per cent to the character of Vicky. Tripti Dimri looks fetching as Vidya; her performance is so-so. Vijay Raaz is extraordinary as police inspector Laadle. His acting is phenomenal and he entertains thoroughly. Mallika Sherawat stands her own and is pretty confident in the role of Chanda. Tiku Talsania shines as Vicky’s grandfather. Mukesh Tiwari makes his presence felt in the role of Sajjan Kumar. Rakesh Bedi has his moments as Vidya’s father. Archna Pooran Singh is pretty earnest as Vidya’s mother although she gets limited scope in a not-so-well-defined character. Ashwini Kalsekar leaves a fine impression in a brief role. Mubeen Bakhsh Saudagar (as Sunil) and Jaswant Singh Rathore (as Shetty) are lovely as clones of Sunil Shetty. Archana Patel is lovely as house help Chanda. Saharsh Kumar Shukla is natural to the core in the role of Pardesi. Ishtiyak Khan is impressive as Chaabiwale Chacha. Jitendra lends able support as Shukla. Akshobhya Gauniwal is very good as the kid in Vicky’s family. Mast Ali does a fine job as Badshah. Manjot Singh is entertaining as the lawyer whom Vidya is to be engaged. Shehnaz Gill creates a lovely impression in a song-dance. Daler Mehndi and Pawan Singh (in two different song-dance numbers) lend star value. Others do as desired.
Raaj Shaandilya’s direction is fairly nice but his narrative style is not one which is able to make the drama cohesive and seamless. Sachin-Jigar’s music comprises a couple of tuneful numbers and a couple of average ones too. There are also remixes of old hit songs. Song picturisations (by Ganesh Acharya, Raju Khan, Vishnudeva, Sushma Sunam and Piyush-Shazia) are quite eye-filling. Having said that, it must be added that the dances have their limitations as neither Rajkumar Rao nor Tripti Dimri are extraordinary dancers. Hitesh Sonik’s background music is quite good. Aseem Mishra’s cinematography is of a fine standard. Action and stunt scenes (by Manohar Verma) afford some thrill to the viewers. Production designing (by Rajat Poddar and Parijat Poddar) and art direction (by Mukesh Chauhan and Krishna Swain) are of a decent standard. Prakash Chandra Sahoo’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video is not a very entertaining fare as it relies on dialogues and gimmicks more than a wholesome drama to keep the audience engaged. However, it has tremendous title value (naughtiness) and trailer value to do above average business.
Released on 11-10-’24 at Inox (daily 9 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru AA Films. Publicity: very good. Opening: fair. …….Also released all over. Opening was fair at many places.
