Happy Bhag Jayegi
Cast: Abhay Deol, Diana Penty, Jimmy Shergill, Ali Fazal
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Rating: 3/5
It’s neither a Runaway Bride remake nor is it borrowed from Pyaar Ke Side Effects. The only connect is that the bride leaves her house in a hurry. From there, Happy Bhag Jayegi rises on its own and is a surprisingly good entertainer.
An Amritsari strongman and local corporator Daman Singh Bagga (Jimmy Shergill) is paying his tributes to Sunny Deol by dancing to ‘Yaara O Yaara’ when his would-be wife Harpreet aka Happy (Diana Penty) goes missing.
She lands up in Lahore, in the house of Bilal Ahmed (Abhay Deol), a reluctant politician. Fearing a political storm over keeping an Indian with him, Bilal tries to hide Happy’s presence from the local media. But, his plans take a wild turn when some Indians cross the border in search of Happy.
Happy Bhag Jayegi is a light-hearted comedy where actors don’t go overboard. They take liberties to be funny, but understand the gravity of the situation. For example, Bilal, who wanted to be a cricketer, was forced into politics by his father. But he is a smart enough to exploit the situation in his favour, if need be. In one scene, Bilal makes his father believe that the girl he has seen is his late wife’s soul.
There are other laughter-worthy instances. Bagga, who walks with an army of henchmen, downplays it once inside Pakistan. Ali Fazal’s Guddu and Piyush Mishra’s Usman Afridi add more to the drama.
You may find some scenes repeated, or ‘inspired’ from other films, but Happy Bhag Jayegi has a funny tone to it.
The whole idea of the film seems far-fetched initially, but the build-up to the climax washes all our doubts away.
Diana Penty is the cohesive force behind Happy Bhag Jayegi. Abhay Deol’s return to form ensures you keep laughing for more than two hours. Jimmy Shergill continues from where he left in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, and with more fervour. Pakistani actor Momal Sheikh as Bilal’s fiancée is a revelation.
Watch: Diana, Abhay, Ali and Jimmy in Happy Bhag Jayegi trailer
Overall, director Mudassar Aziz’s film is a good watch. The supply of situational comedy won’t end till you leave the theatre.
