Duplicate

Duplicate

MAIN CAST:
Bablu/Manu -- Shahrukh Khan
Sonia -- Juhi Chawla
Lily -- Sonali Bendre
Bablu's mother -- Farida Jalal

BRIEF PLOT OVERVIEW:
The innocent mama's boy Bablu dreams of becoming a world famous chef. There's just one problem: he's the physical duplicate of the vicious criminal Manu Daddu, and Manu intends to exploit their similarities for his own dastardly plans!

FILM -- 5/5
Oh, 1990s masala, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Duplicate almost immediately establishes itself as a true classic, flooding the screen with melodrama, slapstick comedy, flashy dance routines, and catchy tunes. You'll laugh your ass off when the police start flipping through pictures of Manu's disguises, and the humor just keeps on coming. I almost wet my pants when Shahrukh appeared in drag! The story is well-written, with memorable dialogue and a relatively simple but engaging plot. As soon as "Wah Ji Wah" started, I knew the dance sequences were going to be neat, and sure enough, the picturizing has all of the charm with none of the horrible editing and "modernizing" that some Bollywood films suffer from. The choreography is some of the best and most original I've ever seen, and the choreographers aren't afraid to make you chuckle. The costume department deserves extra applause for putting Shahrukh Khan in to leather pants and the female leads in to skimpy skirts, which are always good things. Bollywood's special effects were behind the times a bit in the 90s, but the action-packed moments are still good, especially when Manu kills his old partner with a TV. Lastly, unlike most Bollywood films--which can't help but suffer from a little bit of tedium over the course of 2-3 hours--there's never a dull moment in Duplicate.

CHARACTERS -- 5/5
Duplicate boasts an incredibly talented cast, with Shahrukh Khan leading the group in his dual role as the silly mama's boy Bablu and the violent criminal Manu. He brings a distinct personality to both characters through their walk, talk, and on-screen presence, caricaturizing and differentiating them through minor details. Manu is hyper-masculine, which a broad stride, scratchy voice, and a tendency to snarl; Bablu is a charming young man with a bounce to his clumsy step and a quirky giggle. Shahrukh's Manu seems a bit ridiculous, but I think it's just because his Bablu is so damn adorable and sweet by comparison. Juhi Chawla shines as soon as she and Shahrukh "meet cute" in a cab, and she really brings personality and vibrancy to her character. I have nothing special to say about Sonali Bendre except that she's incredibly sexy and charismatic throughout the film and dances beautifully, although they put way too much make-up on her in some scenes. As per usual, Shahrukh works well with both of his co-heroines, and the three create two completely different chemistries. Farida Jalal always makes the cutest doting mother! There's also an absolutely hilarious cameo appearance from Kajol, who walks past Baabul while DDLJ's "Tujhe Dekha" plays in the background and calls out for Raj (Shahrukh's character in DDLJ). The police officers, gangsters, assistant chefs, and various other extras flesh out the final product. In short, the cast--both primary and supporting--is flawlessly funny.

MUSIC -- 5/5
What gives Duplicate's music a leg-up is the energy behind it. It's clear that writing it wasn't a chore, it was a pleasure. Most non-Indian viewers immediately panic when they realize there are no English subtitles during some movies' music sequences, but in this case, you're having so much fun that you don't even realize you're lost in translation until the song is over! Each track is immediately recognizable, from the elaborate "Wah Ji Wah" to the danceable "Tum Nahin Jaana." I don't really care for "Kataai Aankhon Wali" beyond its lyrics and picturization, but I can see how other people would like it. Duplicate isn't in my top 10 Bolly soundtracks list, but it's definitely in my top 50. Fair warning: it IS very 90s, so if you prefer something a little more modern, you probably won't enjoy it.

OVERALL -- 5/5
In all honesty, Duplicate is so off-the-wall that I'd feel a bit embarrassed if my non-Bollyfan friends watched it. Yet that just goes to show how prototypically masala this film is: it's full of exaggeration and classic Bollywood goodness. You can tell from the first 10 minutes that this movie has real replay value, and with the average online Bollywood purchase ranking in at $10 a piece, it's definitely worth picking up. With a great cast, excellent script, and catchy music, Duplicate will charm you from start to finish.

TOTAL SCORE -- 20/20 (perfect)