Prakash Jha Productions and Drama King Entertainment’s Fraud Saiyaan (UA) is the story of a man who has multiple wives, each having been conned by him into marrying him so that he never has shortage of money. While some girls bring dowry in property, others are cash-rich.
Bhola (Arshad Warsi) is married to several girls. Sunita (Deepali Pansare), one of his wives, asks him to receive her uncle, Murari Chourasia (Saurabh Shukla), at Lucknow railway station and bring him home. But before Bhola can reach the station, Murari informs Sunita that since he is going to Banaras, he won’t be able to drop in at her home. At the station, Bhola is being chased by goons and so he also boards the train to Banaras to escape them. Even otherwise, he had to go to Banaras. In the train, Murari recognises Bhola as Sunita’s husband but since Bhola has never met Murari earlier, he is not aware that he is the same person whom he had come to receive. Murari overhears a telephonic conversation of Bhola with another wife of his and sees red. But Sunita fires him when he telephones her to complain about Bhola’s waywardness. Even after Murari gives Sunita proof, she is so blinded by her love for Bhola that she refuses to see reason. Then, one day, she catches Bhola in bed with wife Shraddha (Flora Saini). Again, the charmer that Bhola is, he succeeds in fooling both the wives and escapes before the police comes to nab him.
Unable to have Bhola arrested, Murari now joins forces with Bhola. It is clear that Murari is working for someone who wants Bhola arrested. It is also clear that Bhola agrees to take Murari as a partner as it suits him for the present, at least.
Soon, Chanda (Bhawana Pani), a firebrand girlfriend of Bhola, forces him to marry her. But right after the wedding, Bhola and Murari desert her and run away, only to be caught by her brother, Dulare (Piyush Suhane). Again, he sweet-talks Chanda and gets a fortnight’s time from her to clear all his mess and settle down with her. His evil mind is ticking away to find someone who can give him money to escape abroad. In his quest, he happens to meet Payal (Sara Loren) who he had met in a train earlier. Payal is distraught because her husband, Badri (Varun Badola), is presumed dead in a car accident. Bhola tries to come close to her because, as he says, he loves her. He also, by chance, meets wife Astha (Anangsha Biswas) while searching for Payal. He chats with Preeti (Preeti Sood), another wife of his. He calls on wife Mala Dubey (Nivedita Tiwari) when he learns that she has won a lottery of Rs. 2 crore. She almost gives him the lottery money but before he can ditch her, she realises why he has come to her and so she drives him away from her house. He also happens to meet ex-girlfriend Chandani (Elli Avram) and half-decides to woo her for which she is more than ready, but he runs away when he learns that all the money and property are in her husband’s (Parag Tyagi) name. His only hope is Payal.
Does Bhola marry Payal? Is Badri really dead? Does Payal give Bhola money? Which wife does Bhola settle with? Do Bhola and Murari continue as a team? Or does police officer Durgalal (Faizal Malik) succeed in nabbing Bhola? For whom is Murari working to have Bhola arrested?
Sourabh Shrivastava has penned a story that seems to celebrate illogicality. Anything is possible anytime here. The story has no element of emotion or intrigue. Despite having so many wives, there is hardly any romance in Bhola’s life. Even the comedy is not of the kind which will make the audience laugh. The screenplay, written by Amal Donwaar and Sharad Tripathi, is full of holes. Therefore, rather than entertaining, the screenplay simply moves the story forward, that too, in a predictable manner oftentimes. The toilet humour (Murari passing gas) is so reminiscent of several earlier films that it irritates more than entertaining. Also, Bhola has so many wives and girlfriends that it becomes difficult for the audience to keep track of who is who, more so because several of them are played by lesser-known faces. The worst part of the screenplay is that it lacks badly in funny or hilarious scenes. Amal Donwaar and Sharad Tripathi’s dialogues are funny but only at places.
Arshad Warsi acts ably and is very easy and free in the role of Bhola. Saurabh Shukla is good as Murari Chourasia. Sara Loren looks pretty and acts ably as Payal. Deepali Pansare does a fine job as Sunita. Bhawana Pani is effective as Chanda. Flora Saini exudes oomph and acts well in the role of Shraddha. Preeti Sood is entertaining as Preeti. Varun Badola makes his mark in a special appearance as Badri. Piyush Suhane leaves a mark as Chanda’s brother, Dulare. Faizal Malik is alright as police officer Durgalal. Nivedita Tiwari is natural as Mala Dubey. Elli Avram, in special appearance as Chandani, looks bewitching in the ‘Chhamma chhamma’ song-dance number. Anangsha Biswas is okay as Astha. Parag Tyagi (in a special appearance as Chandani’s husband), master Mohit Balchandani (as young Bhola), Parul Bansal (as Shrishti) and Amanda Rosario (in a special appearance) provide fair support. Others are routine.
Sourabh Shrivastava’s direction is average. Sohail Sen’s music is fairly good. The ‘Chhamma chhamma’ song has been effectively remixed by Tanishk Bagchi. Kumaar’s lyrics are appropriate; the ‘Chhamma chhamma’ lyrics are by Shabbir Ahmed. Rajeev Surti and Aadil Sheikh’s choreography is fairly nice. Background music (by Sohail Sen, Simaab Sen and Vaibhav Sen) is so-so. Prakash Kutty’s camerawork is nice. Vikram Dahiya’s action scenes and stunts are okay. Udai Prakash Singh’s production designing is okay. Nirav Soni’s editing is quite alright.
On the whole, Fraud Saiyaan will find it tough to impress the audience as it’s not half as funny as it should’ve been.
Released on 18-1-’19 at Maratha Mandir (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: dull. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark everywhere.