DVD Review - Welcome 
By Joginder Tuteja, March 11, 2008 - 17:47 IST
MOVIE DETAILS
Cast: Akshay Kumar (yes, unlike the film, his name come first on the credits on DVD cover!), Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Feroz
Khan, Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat
Director: Anees Bazmee
Producer: Firoz A. Nadiadwala
Music: Himesh Reshammiya, Anand Raaj Anand and Sajid-Wajid
Lyrics: Sameer, Anand Raaj Anand, Shabbir Ahmed, Ibrahim Ashq, Anjaan Saagri.
THE FILM
Some films are packaged in such a manner that they are destined to be successful at the box office. Welcome was one such film. With
such a terrific cast in place, a producer who knows how to promote his film and a director who has gathered a great fan following over the
years with his work speaking for itself, Welcome was always a 'hit' material in the offering. Everyone knew that Welcome would
be a 'hit'. No one would have questioned if the film had become a 'superhit'. However, it came as a pleasant surprise when this laugh riot
turned out to be a blockbuster.
Welcome went on to do a record business and how! In spite of being mired with controversies/problems (replacement of music director,
date issues, script changes, star tantrums, Mallika's displeasure with film's promotion, Akshay's displeasure with film's climax, Nana's
displeasure with the way some shots were canned etc. etc.), the film still managed to come trumps. Director Anees Bazmee spent almost two
years making this film and though after No Entry he may have made at least 3 movies in this time span, his persistence with the
project paid off!
The film was smartly packaged as an Akshay starrer though the fact was (and would remain) that Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor were the real
stars of the show! The film revolved around their characters, had all the best scenes reserved for the two veterans, got maximum accolades
whenever the two came on frame, and mainly had Akshay as just one of the driving factors. Of course, it was Akshay's superstar quotient which
got the film it's audience but once Day One of the film commenced, it was crystal clear that the film belonged to Nana and Anil combo.
When it comes to Katrina Kaif, one can't help but exclaim that not just is she picture perfect, she is also one lucky lady (and perhaps a
woman with a Midas touch) as whatever she did in 2007, it turned into gold. Namastey London, Apne, Partner and now Welcome -
the record speaks for itself!
Of course, actors like Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat contributed to the plot too. As did the music by Himesh Reshammiya, Anand Raaj Anand
and Sajid-Wajid, which went on to, grow with the audience as days progressed. Carrying a popular appeal, the tunes turned out to be popular
across the country, whether A, B or C centers.
Writer-director Bazmee also deserves a pat on his back since he successfully made a film that had no double entendres, no foul language, no
vulgarity, no skin show and no violence - and all of this when the film has Mafia as it's background! All in all, Welcome is a fun show all
the way which is a clean entertainer that one can watch comfortably with the entire family.
PACKAGING
The film comes in an ordinary paper case though the design and layout gives it an eye catchy look. The DVD comes sans any props or frills.
DURATION
The film comes in a single DVD pack with the film's duration being approximately 160 minutes.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The DVD doesn't come with any special features. Surprising, since from a film which was the second biggest grosser of 2007 (after Om
Shanti Om) and one of the Top-5 money spinners ever in the history of Bollywood, one expected some insight at least around the making of
the film. However, the film by itself is such an entertaining watch that one doesn't miss any other inclusions in this reasonably priced DVD.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
- 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen format
- Subtitles In English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo.
PRICE
Rs. 299/-
CONCLUSION
Urban centers or interiors of India, within the country or overseas, weekdays or weekends, pleasant weather or cold wave, cricket or no
cricket. Competition (huge in the form of Taare Zameen Par) or the lack of it, good or plain average music, very good or pathetic
critic reviews; Welcome managed to beat all adversities and proved the saying once again: a) if the product is good, no challenge
(whether internal or external) is good enough and b) it is the audience which gives the final verdict!
Go for it, Welcome is welcome at any time of the day, any day of the week!
Rating: ***1/2
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