Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – It revolves around the pandemonium in a small town when a CD containing an intimate video of Vicky and Vidya in 90s is lost.

My Take – You have probably seen director Raaj Shaandilyaa’s earlier films, Dream Girl (2019) and Dream Girl 2 (2013), two crude but also crowd-pleasing successful comedies anchored by their unconventional stories and quirky characters. Lightweight packages of entertainment that offer a dose of emotional gratification and a whiff of moralizing. His latest is no different.

Especially in the department of delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. But while the film’s fun premise and nostalgic late-90s vibe work well enough, the narrative stumbles when it tries to delve into serious territory, leaving us with a somewhat disjointed experience.

The ensemble had the potential to be a comedy of errors like filmmaker Priyadarshan’s famous hits, but it’s way too inconsistent in its approach and intent on the delicate subject, a subject that would not appeal (even though it should) to a mass audience.

Sure, not every moment or comic punch lands, but at least the absurdness of the situation gets you to chuckle.

Set in 1997, the story follows a newlywed couple, Vicky (Rajkummar Rao), a professional mehndi-artiste, and Vidya (Triptii Dimri), a doctor, who had been secretly dating each other for years, fearing disapproval especially from her parents. But as soon as the nuptials are done, they secretly defy the family tradition of seeking blessings through a religious pilgrimage and head towards Goa for their honeymoon. Where they even end up shooting a s*x tape, with the aim of using it to reignite themselves whenever things become sour between them.

However, upon returning home they forget the CD in the player, and wake up in the morning to find that the house has been robbed, along with the player and the video in it. What follows is how Vicky and Vidya desperately hunt for their precious video. And about all the assorted characters like Vicky’s errant sister, Chanda (Mallika Sherawat), who come in, from cops to criminals.

Here, the humor ranges from witty to being completely unhinged and that makes for a great combo. The film will either makes you laugh a lot or it makes you feel nostalgic about the comedies of the 90s and the 2000s. The wordplay is spot on in most places and does induce a smile.

One of the hilarious sequences featured a dupe duo of Suneil Shetty, who not only act like the actor but also dress like him.

The film doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has its intentions clear and that is of taking its viewers on a trip down memory lane, to a time when things were simpler and when we used to find pleasure and happiness in the littlest of things.

However, these elements aren’t enough to compensate for the screenplay’s lack of cohesion in the 3rd act. As director Shaandilyaa, who has also written the film tries too many things. He starts off as a cornball comedy, then it becomes a comic mystery caper, then it segues into paranormal comedy and then finally, turns the comedy into a public service advertisement about privacy and faux women empowerment. The whole voyeur racket that becomes the main focus in the climax is way too bizarre and long for one’s liking.

Performance wise, Rajkummar Rao delivers yet another standout turn, showcasing his versatility and charm. Rao is ever dependable as a love-sick, happy-go-lucky guy who brings an understated feeling to the otherwise garish setup. It’s truly marvelous that the actor never dials up the pitch and tone of his performance, yet feels the most natural in Shaandilyaa’s world.

Triptii Dimri shines alongside him, reaffirming her versatility and bringing depth to her character with a captivating presence. Proving she is worthy of her sudden success due to her ability to carry both dramatic and lighthearted roles. Vijay Raaz seems to be having a blast mouthing the corny lines. He is in his element here and so is Mallika Sherawat, who taps into her comic timing and makes sure we know there’s more to her than the sex symbol tag.

The rest of ensemble cast consisting of Tiku Talsania, Rakesh Bedi, Archana Puran Singh, Mukesh Tiwari, Mast Ali and Ashwani Kalsekar add an extra layer of comedy and warmth, enhancing the film’s overall appeal. On the whole, ‘Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video” is a very decent and harmless entertainer that is hampered by its final act.