Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl

The problem with Yashraj Films' latest offering starts with its over-explantory title and ends with a predictable tale of affairs. But hang-on!!! D... read more

The problem with Yashraj Films' latest offering starts with its over-explantory title and ends with a predictable tale of affairs. But hang-on!!! Don't jump the gun in discarding the flick; its still a decent watch if you want it to be one :)
The story has two major flaws: The depth of loop-holes is bigger than the soul and its highly predictable. With the story-line like this, you always know what would be the climax and little-bit shock-treatment always makes it interesting. Alas 'LadiesVsRickyBehl' doesn't have those surprise elements. More often that not, con (thug) based flicks works in Bollywood and add to it good performances, you have winner at hand. All the actors play their part to perfection and it ends up as a one-time watch for sure.
Ranvir Singh proves that 'Band Baja Baraat' was not just a flash-in-the-pan and he is here to stay. The most striking feature of his acting is his innocence; hope stardom doesn't put his brain into 'side-track'. Anushka plays second fiddle to his real-life (ex) flame and is her usual self. Some might say that she has not done anything new in Lv/sRB, but for me she has don two-piece for the first time, so it clears the air for me. And for whomsoever it is concerned, she looks 'smoking-hot' in black-bikini. December-Winter, anybody?? Give it a try, might be a relief.
Dipannita and Aditi has really done better than their previous releases but the real star of Lv/sRB is Parineeti Chopra as a typical Delhi-punjabi girl. She gets 'THE' best dialogues in the movie and is surely a treat to watch.
Maverick Verdict: 'Ladies V/S Ricky Behl' doesn't have the heart of Band-Baja-Baraat but it is a stylish slick pop-corn movie. If a new Star-in-making (Ranveer), latest hot B-bod (Anushka), an innocent bubbly act (Parineet's) and a feel-good storyline excites you, go watch it or else STAY IN PEACE and wait for 'King' (Don) to return.

P.S: Sorry, couldn't resist it, so here it comes: 'Kiss badi kutti cheez hoti hai, beech me aa hi jaati hai" (watch Lv/sRB for reference). So good-bye Kiss to all, till DON2.view less

This film reminds me of another film's title "Yun Hota to Kya Hota" (If Only). Because during the entire film, I was wondering whether it would hav... read more

This film reminds me of another film's title "Yun Hota to Kya Hota" (If Only). Because during the entire film, I was wondering whether it would have been better if only:

1. The conning acts were more elaborate, less predictable and a tad believable. Nobody pays out 60 Lacs in cash in a Business-to-BUsiness sale.
2. Ranveer was not acting as restrained as he did.
3. Anushka Sharma had for a change done something different from all her past films. The same expressions, the same obnoxious attitude.
4. Dipannita Sharma could have emoted, or atleast acted half as shrewd as business women of her supposed stature.
5. Aditi Sharma had some say in the planning of the operation.
6. Parineeti Chopra had even more screentime. We could have probably done away with Anushka.
7. The songs were as catchy as Ainwayi or as extravagant as Dum Dum.
8. This film was made before Band Baaja Baarat. Because then we might have had lower expectations and appreciated it much more.

If somebody likes Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl, it would certainly not be because of Mr Bahl or the ladies, but due to one particular lady who was not at all lady-like. Parineeti Chopra as Dimple Chadha was the life of the film, with her irreverent and kameena attitude. This was one bindaas 'dilli ki kudi', with low scruples and huge appetites.

The film didn't work for me because I was probably expecting too much. I was hoping many more theatrics from Ranveer - he's not the kind of guy you would expect to be calm and composed, which is exactly what he tries to be in this movie. Acting like a suave gentleman. Even his offscreen antics defy this image. And Anushka Sharma hasn't done any homework for this film, treating it as an extension of her previous flicks. She delivers dialogues and emotes in the same insipid way, which worked in BBB because she was the hardened business woman. Here it doesn't.

Call me prejudiced and judgemental if you will, but I was looking for BBB 2, and this one certainly doesn't make the cut. view less

It is unfair to judge a director with his previous film and it is also unfair to judge a director before he has made at least 3 films. So yes Band ... read more

It is unfair to judge a director with his previous film and it is also unfair to judge a director before he has made at least 3 films. So yes Band Baaja Baarat was the surprise sleeper hit of last year and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl repeats a few from the same team. The former had story by Maneesh Sharma and screenplay by Habib Faisal. This one has Story by Aditya Chopra and Screenplay by Devika Bhagat. I guess here lies the reason why the former worked and this didnt.

Whats it about? A con man (Ranveer Singh) cons three women (Parineeti Chopra, Dipanitta Sharma & Aditi Sharma). The ladies decide to get back with the help of Anushka Sharma.

Does it work? Yes/ No

Why? The film is actually the love story of a con man but to get there it takes long winding turns through the ladies. The cons dont work here. In fact the shoe con in Badmaash Company was much smarter than all the cons in this film. Whats easy on the eyes are the three ladies. Parineeti Chopra sparkles every time she is on screen. Dipannita Sharma makes her presence felt for the first time since her debut in 16thDecember and Aditi Sharma has been conistenly performing well since I saw her in Black and White and here too she does well. Whats easy on the ears are Habib Faisals dialogues. Ranveer Singh underplays some of the scenes brilliantly but this is not a role that will be a worthy follow up to his debut. I am hoping Lootere turns out to be that film. Anushka Sharma is on repeat mode. She still holds promise but should change gears when it comes to the roles she picks. Maneesh Sharma does his job with style and honesty but that spark which was seen in Band Baaja is clearly missing here. What fails him here is the screenplay which takes too much time to come to the point and seems confused whether it wanted to be 3 ladies getting back at a con man film or the love story of a con man. Having no back story for Ricky Bahl was the biggest disconnect for me & so I didn't care for him. Aditya Chopra seems to be having a personal fetish for con films and he will not rest till he makes an almost perfect con film. Watch out for the next con!

Final few words Ladies makes this film a breezy entertainer. No band baaja in this one.

Rating : ** ( Above Average)

Ticket Meter : Worth a 100 buck ticket.
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Exactly a year ago, the YRF team set the cash registers ringing with a low key, small budget film by one of their in house assistant directors. Tha... read more

Exactly a year ago, the YRF team set the cash registers ringing with a low key, small budget film by one of their in house assistant directors. That film managed to not only set the box office on fire, but gave its debutante lead hero, Ranveer Singh, a shot at fame, glamour and glory. That film was Maneesh Sharmas Band Baajaa Baaraat. It is but natural that when the entire team comes together with their next presentation, the expectations are sky high from Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl.

The story has been very clearly shown in the promos. Ricky Bahl (Ranveer Singh) cons naive women off their money and disappears. So a Saira from Lucknow (Aditi Sharma), Raina from Mumbai (Dipannita Sharma) and a Dimple from Delhi (Parineeti Chopra) ultimately realise the game after being few of the 27 odd women conned by RB. Conveniently their paths cross and they decide to seek revenge. John Tucker Must Die anyone? Hence they decide to use Ishika Desai (Anushka Sharma) to con the conman, in the ultimate con game. Pop Con anyone?

Loosely, I repeat, loosely inspired by the 2006 hit flick starring Jesse Metcalfe, this desi version has its own charm. It is not a bad film, mind you, but it does not live upto the hype and expectations that people have from it. Sometimes it does become difficult for the same team to recreate the magic.

Maneesh Sharmas direction is passable. It is his script which lets him down in the post interval portions. While BBB had its unexpected twists, LVRB has none to speak of. Whatever little the title of the film does not give away, the promos did! So you know very well how it will all pan out. That is where the screenplay by Devika Bhagat fails. Mind you, she is the only change from the BBB team. In BBB, the screenplay along with the dialogues were by Habib Faisal. And just by changing that one clog, the entire product is a letdown compared to BBB.

The music of the film is also purely okay, besides the Aadat song. The rest of the songs in the film break the flow of the narrative.

Ranveer Singh does a good follow through to BBB and he does a good job at it, proving that BBB wasnt a one off case. His conman with values act is first rate. Anushka on the other hand is rather wasted in a half baked role. In an attempt to achieve size 0, she has lost too much of weight and it does not look good on her. But in terms of acting, she does complete justice to her character. The chemistry that the duo share does try to fill up the gaps in the storyline.

Dipannita Sharma and Aditi Sharma are very good in their respective roles. But the scene stealer of the film is debutante Parineeti Chopra! As the hardcore Dilliwali Punjaban she actually makes you wish she had a larger role in the film. The film actually belongs to the trio of conned women.

Go without expectations (rather difficult) and you will not come back disheartened.

Does it have The Y Factor:No

Rating:5/10
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Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is a decent watch however, a decent watch is not what one expected from the team that gave us Band Baja Baraat. Ricky Bahl is ... read more

Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is a decent watch however, a decent watch is not what one expected from the team that gave us Band Baja Baraat.

Ricky Bahl is a conman, who fools girls and fleeces money from them. He is a good guy at heart, morals intact, so he wouldnt exploit these girls even if they throw themselves on him. He meets his nemesis in Anushka, who is a set up by three of Ricky's victims to settle scores.

The first half of the film goes about breezily. Ranveer is charsimatic, he has a certain presence on screen that is undeniable, despite unconventional looks. The supporting casts of the three ladies are characterized beautifully, and amazingly well performed. Parineeti Chopra, as Dimple, walks away with the best moments in the entire film and dazzles.

Anushka as a salesgirl is competent giving a believability to the proceedings. Yet, where the film fails is the utter lack of authenticity or even sense in the script.

Unlike Band Baja, the script has innumerable loopholes taking the film into a mediocre spiral post interval. It is a YRF movie and we know problems get solved magically in this world, yet, a con of Ricky's callibre getting conned so easily is a tad too far fetched.

Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is not unwatchable. It is entertaining, endearing at times. What it is lacking in is some magic. And that is a huge loss for this wonderful combination of actors. view less