Well Done Abba- Witty political satire,
Rating: 3 out of 5*, Starring: Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, Sameer Dattani, Rajit Kapoor, Ila Arun, Ravi Kissen, Salim Ghouse and Sonali Kulkarni, Director: Shyam Benegal

Benegal's Well Done Abba is a sweet gem that works despite no big names. A very witty film that's very well written (by Ashok Mishra) packing in many things together that are relevant to today's society. The satirical humour may not exactly be of the laugh out loud variety but it manages to keep you smiling throughout the film. It ends up making just the right statement on the many development projects that the government initiates but which frequently get hijacked by systemic corruption. Only issue many may have is with the pacing of the film. The initial few reels are extremely slow paced but with the introduction of each new character, the film picks up pace. However, one feels, too much screen time is given to the forever horny couple played by Ravi Kissen and Sonali Kulkarni and their track gets repetitive. Music by Shantanu Moitra works in the context of the film.

But the film works big time because of the casting. Benegal has a keen eye for roping in just the right actors for his characters and he succeeds yet again. Boman in a Hyderabadi accent is simply superb. He is very good in the emotional moments with Minissha. He is hilarious in his twin brother's role who is a thief. Minissha Lamba finally gets that role which she can be very proud of in her career. She fits the role to the T. Sameer Dattani is very natural and likeable. Ravi Kissen brings in the laughs as the engineer who is forever in the mood of making love to his wife. Sonali Kulkarni is wasted though. Amongst the rest cast are Shyam Benegal regulars such as Rajit Kapoor, Ravi Jhankal, Yashpal Sharma and company who excel in their parts. If one remembers the TV serial Farmaan, its pretty lead actress Deepika Deshpande makes a comeback with a cameo in this one playing Rajit Kapoor's bickering wife.

Well Done Abba is not your usual comic fare. This Shyam Benegal gives a strong message without compromising on its entertainment quotient. Do watch this one.