De Taali Movie Review

India Fm
E. Niwas doesn't get in right this time. He knows the job well, but if you've noticed his last few outings as well as DE TAALI, you'd agree that he needs to concentrate on the script than making the frames look alluring. Vishal-Shekhar's music is a mixed bag. Barring the above-mentioned two numbers, the remaining songs lack fizz.

Riteish is lovable and his range is finally being tapped by film-makers. Aftab lends his part the required class. Ayesha Takia is getting better and better with every film. Rimi Sen spices up the otherwise bland scenario with her performance as a gold digger. Anupam Kher is wasted. Ditto for Pawan Malhotra and Mukul Dev.

On the whole, DE TAALI is a poor show. It's an apt case of the promos looking great, not the film.

Times of India

The film seems to be shot and edited in patches and the continuity lapses clearly show. The screenplay by Abbas Tyrewala has an exciting buildup but a weak and weird culmination. After a point of time, it simply takes your sensibilities for granted. The only redeeming factor is the few funny moments that the film serves in the initial reels before diverting to psychotic subplots.

Ayesha Takia puts up a confident act as the lovelorn friend but her puppy-fat keeps varying through the film. Despite her bizarre characterization, Rimmi gives an interesting shade to the grey streak of her character. Aftab is good as long as he lasts onscreen.

But it’s clearly for the impeccable comic timing of Riteish Deshmukh that you refrain yourself from ‘giving gaali ’ to this caper. Else it’s certainly not all that clap-worthy.

Hindustan Times

Now if you want to know what these actors are asked to do by the screenplay, don’t. Because a sane plotline is not on the agenda. It has something to do with falling in and out of love, friendship and Alcoholics Anonymous (represented by one bhoola bisra Mukul Dev). As for the finale, it’s set around a wedding pandal that should raise the ire of pundit mandals. Oh yes, there’s that golden dog, too, who refuses to carry out Anupam Kher’s instructions. Understandable.

The upbeat aspects involve a jibe at the permanently-lampoon-worthy Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag, the repartee between the three friends, fluid cinematography and the bright Bangkok locations.

So what’s the overall picture like? Okayish but so infuriatingly slow and tacky that it’s not likely to be remembered by anyone but poster-and-oddity collectors such as De Tulli.