Welcome (2007)

Fresh and Exciting

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A user pointed out that the role of the 'pandit' is played by Mahesh Mishra. As per the user, earlier this had been wrongly credited as Mahesh Manjhrekar. The latter is indeed the famous producer, director and actor, who had directed the Sanjay Dutt starrer Vaastav. Now, coming back to the artist playing the 'pandit' role in Welcome, he is not Mahesh Mishra as pointed out by the user and as added in the cast list. He is in fact Sanjay Mishra, the comedian who played in films like Bunty Aur Babli, One Two Three (Pintos), Golmaal Returns (Subodh SMS), Apna Sapna Money Money (Pandit Sarju Maharaj), Aloo Chaat (Chhadaami Mama) etc.. So moderators please verify and rectify the error.

When you have such a strong cast, you also have lot of expectations from the film. 'Welcome' does not live up to the expectations at all! It is a "so-so" film, okay to watch on cable, but definitely not worth spending money in the theater. There is nothing new to it; it is another example of good actors coming together and not being able to create anything special! The story is very predictable, and is a kind of patchwork from various films. For example, Nana Patekar's character Uday Shetty is a cross between Shankar from Major Saab (a don, who is a loving brother), and Aslam Bhai from Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (LKLKBK)(a don with a strong passion for acting). He is a goofy goon, as portrayed by various actors in innumerable films; Sanjay Dutt in Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi (2002), Johnny Lever in LKLKBK (2001), to name a few. Nana Patekar is his usual self, with nothing new to offer as such. Anil Kapoor is another don, named Majnu Bhai, a close associate of Uday Shetty. He has done a pretty good job with his role, and definitely adds on to the value of the film. One can easily notice that Majnu Bhai's character takes a variety of traits from Circuit of the Munnabhai series, Crime Master Gogo of Andaz Apna Apna, and other similar "comic sidekicks". Paresh Rawal is decent as Dr. Ghungroo, but his acting is repetitive from so many of his other movies. Even though Akshay Kumar is the hero, he is often sidelined by the dons, and we don't get to see much of his impeccable comic timing. Feroz Khan is OK as the "Godfather" of the dons. The heroines (Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat) seem to exist merely to add oomph value.The film drags all along until the climax, which is pretty much the only enjoyable part. The dialogues are not great..or rather, they are quite "ghise peete". Songs are okay, but often seem forcefully inserted into the script in places where no song is needed! All in all, a forgettable movie.It definitely did not seem like a "Welcome" change from the norm!

When you know that Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal are together, you know that you are in for a typical Masala comedy. Jaded Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor and Feroz Khan join in the Melee. While what you might expect would be another Hera Pheri or a No-entry, this one falls flat even if you get into a movie hall with Nil Expectations.Nana plays Uday Shetty, a don whose sister Sanjana (Katrina) falls for Rajiv (Akshay) whose uncle Dr Ghungroo (Rawal) wants him to be married to a family with no criminal record. In a comedy of errors, Rajiv falls in love with Sanjana and is now faced with the prospect of marrying someone from a crime based family or face mafia style death.The film’s only selling point is Akshay Kumar who has been having a run with his comic Movies. With Katrina in it, this one looked like a mafia version of Namaste London, in a silly style. If Akshay continues with mediocre stuff like this, his luck may run out. Nana is past his sell by date. Anil Kapoor and Paresh Rawal are just around average.Coming to comedy, the rare comic parts in the movie are when Nana, the don tries his hand at acting in a movie and is courted by Mallika Sherawat. Partly funny are scenes where Anil Kapoor turns painter and is courted by Sherawat again. The climax sequence involving almost all characters is too pointless to be even discussed.Talking of its entertainment value, Welcome makes you regret for paying to watch this movie. You may even fall asleep during some clichéd scenes. As for the songs, most of them are way below average and are all thoroughly ill timed. Keep Out!

I thought this film was just brilliant, the only thing that kind of ruined it for me was Mallika Arora's Item number, it was really cheap and cheesy and i really hated it, but apart from that the rest of the movie was just fantastic.Rajiv is on the lookout for a bride, he meets Sanjana played by (Katrina Kaif and i must admit that her acting skills have improved a lot since she first came into the industry and she was really good on this movie) and it is love at first sight anyways as the story progresses Sanjana brothers Majnu (Anil Kapoor, he played his part so well and is a true villain) and Uday (Nana Pataker who is so underrated as an actor, i really hope he makes more great films in the future, he was also brilliant in this films and had me in stitches ) Anyways my favourite character would have to be Gungaroo LMAO (Paresh Rawal) he was so funny in this film and i could not stop laughing, there is no one like him in the industry and he is one if the best in a comedy role, He plays Rajiv's uncle who is trying to find him a bride.Feroz Khan another great actor i loved his part as RDX in the film and i just love him to bits, he is one of the best and i hope that he makes more great films in the future.As for Mallika Sherawat?????????? well she played the love interest for both brothers Uday and Majnu, her part was pretty pathetic and useless, Mallika really is boring, until she plays a part where she can act and not play the same cheap role i am going to stay away from her films in the future.Like any typical Indian film Rajiv gets his bride in the end.