‘HUKUS BUKUS’ REVIEW | 3 November, 2023

Shining Sun Studios’ Hukus Bukus is the story of a father and his son, who live in a village of Kashmir.

Arjun (Darsheel Safary) is fond of playing cricket and he worships Sachin Tendulkar. His father, Pandit Radheshyam (Arun Govil), does not approve of Arjun playing cricket due to a past experience when he had gone to witness a cricket match between India and West Indies.

Anyway, riots break out in Kashmir, forcing Radheshyam to flee with his family. When Radheshyam returns to Kashmir after 10 years, he is shocked to find that while his house is intact, a plot of land belonging to him has been taken over by the local MLA for constructing a shopping mall. He tries hard to get his land back but finally, it falls upon his son to use his cricketing skills to get back his father’s plot of land. Will Arjun rise to the occasion?

Ranjit S. Mashiana’s story is simplistic and not very convincing. His screenplay, with additional screenplay by Vipul Patel and Jagtar S. Kalwana, is not half as engaging as it ought to have been. The second half is devoted only to the cricket match, which is not a good point as monotony sets in for the viewers. Ranjit S. Mashiana, Vipul Patel and Jagtar S. Kalwana’s dialogues are good at places.

Arun Govil does a fair job as Pandit Radheshyam. Darsheel Safary is alright as Arjun. Naisha Khanna is fair as Palak. Sajjad Delafrooz lends decent support as the local MLA. Mir Sarwar is okay as coach Khalid. Gautam Vig lends average support in the role of coach Vikram Rathi. Others pass muster.

Vinay Bhardwaj and Saumitra Singh’s direction is routine. Puneet Dixit’s music is dull. Sanjay Masoom’s lyrics are ordinary. Tuhin K. Biswas’ background music should’ve been far more impactful. Hemant Gulshan Chauhan’s cinematography passes muster. Devendra Murdeshwar’s editing is loose.

On the whole, Hukus Bukus is a flop show.

Released on 3-11-’23 at Metro Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Inox Pictures. Publicity & opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was very poor everywhere.