Prachi Films and Utter Action’s Pad Gaye Pange (UA) is designed as a comedy. Shastri (Rajesh Sharma) is a retired Maths teacher. He and his ex-student, Ayush (Samarpan Singh), are both diagnosed with cancer. They are dejected but Ayush loots a bank to give money to his Maths teacher who wants to buy a house for his son and daughter-in-law. What happens when it emerges that both of them are not suffering from cancer?
Manish Kumar has written a story which may have some comedy but it is so ridiculous that even the comic scenes fail to evoke laughter. Ayush and Shastri behave as if they are the only people suffering from cancer. They also assume that the fraud committed by them will be condoned if they die. In other words, they don’t even think of the eventuality of the flat being confiscated (after their death) because it was purchased with illegal funds. Once they get to know that they don’t have cancer, they once again adopt the path of crime without thinking of the consequences. In short, the two seem to be so dim-witted that it’s not funny. Given the ridiculousness of the story, Manish Kumar’s screenplay is silly and kiddish. No part of the drama really appeals or makes much sense. The writer almost propagates the theory that one is allowed to get away with murder if he is going to die shortly. Manish Kumar’s dialogues are funny at places.
Samarpan Singh does a fair job as Ayush. Rajesh Sharma acts ably in the role of Shastri. Varsha Rekhate is so-so as Charu. Rajesh Yadav is passable as Jaggu. Rajpal Yadav makes his mark with his comedy in the role of Captain Jahaaz Singh. Faisal Malik passes muster as Bhaiyyaji. Sukhdev Barnala, Arjuna Bhalla, Shivam Sharma, Hina Batra and Chandan Gill lend routine support.
Santosh Kumar’s direction is dull. Music (Dhawal Tandon and Tarun Rishi) is below the mark. Lyrics (Bhupendra Singh and Akrita Shrivastava) hardly deserve separate mention. Shaiman’s choreography is functional. Dhawal Tandon’s background music passes muster. Pratap Rout’s camerawork is average. Pawan Kainth’s editing is loose.
On the whole, Pad Gaye Pange is a poor show in spite of some comedy for the front-benchers.
Released on 30-8-’24 at Inox (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Inox Pictures. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.