Movie Review: Happy Bhag Jayegi

Release Date:  August 19, 2016
Cast: Diana Penty, Abhay Deol, Jimmy Sheirgill, Ali Fazal, Momal Sheikh, Piyush Mishra
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Duration: 2 hours 6 minutes

Indo-Pak relations have always been the topic of intense discussion among people of both countries. While a number of movies have been made to reduce the hatred and enmity, most of these were too serious to make a lasting impression. Happy Bhag Jayegi is different because it uses humour to good effect to send ripples of laughter among the audience, all while carrying the subtle message that the common people across borders may not be as bad as is often portrayed by the political class. The movie is also a tale of love across borders and how it unfolds, as it traverses through the myriad rituals, biases and prejudices of the social and political system in the two countries.

Happy (Diana Penty) from Amritsar is a gutsy and impulsive girl who values love more than anything else. She would do anything for love, something that is evident when she runs away from her own wedding. She ditches her would be groom, Bagga (Jimmy Sheirgill), who is a wannabe politician, and goes in search for her love Guddu (Ali Fazal). The dramatic twist comes when Happy accidentally crosses into Pakistan, where she meets Bilal (Abhay Deol), a budding politician. Something starts to build up between the two, but there’s a problem, since Bilal is engaged to Zoya (Momal Sheikh). Three musketeers and a headstrong Punjabi kudi; so who gets to be happy with Happy?

The cat and mouse game between the comic characters, played across borders, is quite hilarious and entertaining. Jimmy Sheirgill’s witty one liners and his amusing mannerisms will make you laugh and chuckle. Diana Penty looks gorgeous and sets the heart beats racing among her 3 suitors. Abhay and Ali have also delivered good performances.

Go for Happy Bhag Jayegi for loads of laughter and fun. The best way to enjoy this movie is to watch it with an open mind and leave your rationality and logic at home.