Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji

Unlike a Bhandarkar movie, it has no memorable characters, no social commentary, and sadly, no big laughs either

Madhur Bhandarkar is a literal minded director, as the titles of his movies suggest—Page 3, Corporate, Fashion, Jail. So when constructing comedy, he applies a geometric equation to his plot.  Three parallel love stories begin at even pace in Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji , accelerate at the same time,  turn  a blind corner together, and then falter  almost simultaneously.

While waiting for his divorce to come through,  Naren  (Ajay Devgn) wants company to tide over the lonely evenings.  So he advertises for two house mates, gentlemen who claim not to drink, womanise  or demonstrate alternative sexual orientation. 

Naturally, neither of his tenants adheres to the asceticism so earnestly professed. Abhay  (Emraan Hashmi) is a philanderer of epic proportion.  As the ‘toy boy’ of a rich married woman, he makes serious moves on her step daughter.  Milind (Omi Vaidya) is a simpleton, poet and romantic, but he too is no saint and aspires for an aspiring actress.

These dulcet notes of love and lust are infectious, and Naren gets over the trauma of his divorce proceedings and  starts to notice the cute 21-year-old intern who has just joined the bank that he works in.

Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji is barely recognisable as a Bhandarkar movie.  It is lightweight, has no memorable characters,  makes no comment on social issues and hasn’t a clue about the key to comedy,  good lines and timing.

Only one scene in the movie stands out. This is when the bubbly young intern, June Pinto (Shazahn Padamsee), asks her boss the most important question of her generation: “So when did you lose your V, sir?” After a moment of embarrassment, Naren answers, “Oh, when I was about 20.” She squeals with delight:  “My God, sir, that means  when you lost your virginity, I was only three years old!”

And that, is about the best conversation in the movie.

About The Author

Ajit Duara