My Friend Pinto (2011) - Hindi Movie Review

Cast :

• Prateik Babbar as Michael Pinto
• Kalki Koechlin as Maggie
• Arjun Mathur as Sameer
• Shruti Seth as Suhani
• Makrand Deshpande as Don
• Raj Zutshi
• Divya Dutta as Reshma

Directed by : Raaghav Dar
Produced by : Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ronnie Screwvala
Screenplay by : Raaghav Dar
Story by : Raaghav Dar
Music by : Ajay-Atul
Editing by : Shan Mohammed, Dipika Kalra
Distributed by : SLB Films, UTV Motion Pictures

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and UTV. Two names synonymous with qualitative films. Bhansali is a brilliant storyteller who has dealt with myriad subjects in his films. With MY FRIEND PINTO, directed by Raaghav Dar, Bhansali moves from dark and intense subjects to a light entertainer. But comedy is a tricky territory. It needs aptness, practice and of course, comic timing or else, the magic cannot be observed on screen. That's where MY FRIEND PINTO falters and falters badly.

MY FRIEND PINTO tries so hard to be a crazy roller coaster ride. The character of Michael Pinto, portrayed by Prateik, bears similarities to the iconic characters played by Charlie Chaplin and Raj Kapoor. But what comes across is an exercise in vain. The film stands on a waferthin plot and to make matters worse, the film tries so very hard to tickle your funny bone. But falls flat on its face!

Michael Pinto [Prateik] has grown up in a small Goan village, believing everyone in the world to be simple, kind and honest, just like him. When Pinto's idyllic world is shattered by the sudden demise of his mother, he decides to head to Mumbai in search of the only friend [Arjun Mathur] he knows. What happens next?

MY FRIEND PINTO suffers on various counts. First of all, it is hard to believe that someone can be so naïve in today's times. Even if one were to believe that Pinto is indeed the 'innocent' one, the film is packed with ridiculous situations and characters that make you squirm in your seat. If the intention was to make you laugh, sorry, this film doesn't! Even the music, which has been a hallmark of Bhansali's movies, is plain mediocre this time.

Prateik fails to deliver. He tries so hard to look the congenial but not worldly wise Pinto, but doesn't succeed. Kalki is an effortless actor, but she looks disinterested here. Arjun Mathur does well. Divya Dutta is passable. Makrand Deshpande is wasted. Amin and Karim are strictly okay. Raj Zutshi is effective. Shruti Seth is alright.

On the whole, MY FRIEND PINTO is a terrible waste of a terrific opportunity!