REVIEW: Roadside Romeo

Everybody sit up and take notice! Jugal Hansraj has just delivered what can rightfully be called the first out-and-out Bollywood animation flick, and he definitely wasn't barking up the wrong tree. With the hottest couple in tinseltown Saif and Kareena, and the ultra-talented Javed Jaffrey, a fun story and Bolly-based dialogues, could Jugal possibly go wrong?

BARK AT THE MOON

Romeo (voice of Saif Ali Khan) is a dog – and a rich, spoilt one at that. He is abandoned on the streets of Mumbai and doesn't know where to go and what to do. He meets a gang of other dogs – all uniquely weird in their own ways. One is Guru (v.o. Vrajesh Hirjee), the second is Hero English (Kiku Sharda). Hero has a habit of talking in Hindi and then translating the sentence into English. Number three is Interval (v.o. Suresh Menon), who is a mimic and loves mouthing Bollywood dialogues, hence the name. Oh yes, the fourth member of the gang is Mini (v.o Tanaz Irani), a cat who speaks tapori lingo!

They run an open-air salon (adorned with a Dhoom 2 poster) and charge bones as payment. Of course, they don't get to keep all the bone-y money they earn, as the local goon is a bulldog who goes by the name of Charlie Anna.

Now Charlie Anna (v.o. Javed Jaffrey) is a ferocious and ruthless south Indian dog, who shows no mercy to those who fail to pay him the hafta (extortion money) he demands. Charlie has three bitches (heh!) aptly named Silk Sunitha, Nylon Nandini (or was it Nanditha?) and Polyester Padmini, who kill at his bidding. Being south Indian, Charlie has a strong south Indian accent and calls the trio Charlie's angels (get it?)!

One fine night, Romeo hears melodious singing and ventures on to other streets to find out who the sweet voice belongs to. It is none other than Laila (v.o Kareena Kapoor), a pretty female dog, singing on a rooftop. He dances with her and tries to kiss her, unsuccessfully.

To win her over, he goes to the nightclub called Moonlight, where she performs regularly. He dances with her onstage and thus invites the wrath of Charlie Anna, who has a crush on Laila. About to be finished off by Charlie's angels, Romeo promises to set Charlie up with Laila, and is set free…

DOGGY BAG

The second half of Roadside Romeo is far more enjoyable than the first, as this is where things really pick up. Saif and Ka, um, Romeo and Laila hook up without too much courting, and Chainu (v.o. Sanjay Mishra), Charlie’s gofer, spots them enjoying a kiss. Yes, what we have here, this liplock, is Bollywood’s best smooch ever. Charlie Anna is furious and decides to do away with loverboy Romeo once and for all.

Meanwhile, Romeo and gang keep trying to find their way out of this mess, while avoiding municipalty vans that catch stray dogs…

MOVIE REVIEW: Ridley Scott's Body Of Lies

NEXT PAGE: JUGAL HANSRAJ PAYS TRIBUTE TO BOLLYWOOD…DOGGYSTYLE!