Halla Bol tried to combine an insider's look at the film industry (a la Page 3) with a serious moral story about acting on behalf of those with no voice (a la Rang de Basanti). Although the combination didn't work on an overall scale, there were some very effective scenes, and Ajay delivers a very good performance as "Sameer Khan, Superstar." (Method acting, perhaps?)


One part this and -


- one part this.


What made this film so odd for me was not only the combination of the above, but that the whole film was so much an ego piece for Ajay Devgan while he was playing a character who learns not to care about his ego as a film star!!!! About 90% of the screentime was Ajay's, giving the supporting cast very little to do - including lovely Vidya Balan who was wasted in her supporting role as Sameer's wife. Yet, Ajay really is a compelling actor and the story was a good one.

Sameer Khan (nee Ashfaque) is a Big Time Superstar who lives the typical life of superstar debauchary. He has mistresses and goes to parties and is very rude to the little people. He also leads a barren emotional and family life - rarely seeing his wife and son. It wasn't always this way, as we are told in flashbacks that Sameer used to be a rabble rousing street theatre performer and he used to care about what people thought of him.

He witnesses a murder of a young lady at a party, but instead of coming forward, he pretends that he doesn't know anything about it. Various events occur to make Sameer change his mind about coming forward to the police and this changes his whole life. He reconnects with his wife and his old street theatre gang and his enemies end up punished. THE END.

I think Halla Bol would have been a better film if it hadn't been so Ajay-focused, as much as I like Ajay. There are so many interesting plot threads that are hinted at but are never picked up in favor of more scenes of Ajay doing stuff and assorted cameos.


(Ajay doing something in one of the many montages of Sameer's films.)


(Kareena Kapoor!)

We see Ajay blow off a famous director near the top of the film. The director comes back to help Ajay at the end, but we don't really get a sense of why he would do such a thing. That guy should have gotten more screen time. Vidya Balan does her best as the Little Angel of the House, but she only gets one scene of outrage at Sameer's infidelity.



And even that scene was shared with Ajay being all defensive about his infidelity.

In case you do decide to watch The Ajay Devgan Show, here are two scenes to look out for where he really knocks it out of the park.

1. "Sameer" pees on his nemesis's Persian rug and then 'tings' his nose as a further insult.



2. "Sameer" is beaten by thugs as a huge crowd of people looks on and does nothing - after a street play decrying the people who watch and do nothing as the innocent are beaten. This one made me get a little teary.


I have to add that it was odd watching a modern film after all the 1970s films I've been watching. I kept waiting for the comic subplot featuring Mehmood to start.