Heavily laced in double entendre, this is a movie that will have you in stitches, but only if you’re familiar with the rich and colorful language that Hindi is. If you’re not, you’ll still get much of the humor from this decidedly Indie film which has dialogue more in English than Hindi; besides, there are certain topics such as potty humor that are universally understood, regardless. Which, incidentally, is what the title of the film is a direct reference to.
Somewhat reminiscent of the Three Idiots movie from a couple years ago, Delhi Belly also has three friends who evidently represent the modern, urban, career-minded, and often absent-minded young man, but the storyline is far from any type of a social commentary on the life and times of the young professional in the capital city of India– which actually looks more like a shanty town covered in dust.
This might not be too far from the truth if you’ve had the interesting experience of having lived in this metropolis, and have had the dubious pleasure of perhaps having taken a trip across town to neighborhoods just like the one in which our three young friends share a flat. If the flat or the one large room that all three share appears disgusting in its state of dilapidation, it is nothing compared to the distinct revulsion and bile that will naturally rise up in your chest when you get a nice long look at the bathroom in the flat. Which is where most of the action concerning the meaning of the title of the film takes place!
A comedy of errors heightened by fantastic soundtracks by indie-bands makes this a film to watch not just once, but several times over, and especially, if you’re in sore need of a laugh. Because you’ll get plenty of them– laughs, that is. Irreverent in speech and style, this is one film that might shock any delicate sensibilities with its crude and earthy language, and suggestive scenes that might make a bhaisaab and behenji squirm in their seats.
But the piece de resistance is the spoofy musical number that has Aamir Khan, gyrating to the song called The Disco Fighter. Hands down, this one is for the files straight out of the seventies! The musical score is certainly one that is extremely creative. I was particularly amazed at one of the background tracks early on that melded an old world tune by K.L. Saigal with a modern beat that was so clever and catchy, it gave me goosebumps! The YT clip that I found is also embedded within this review below.
In the final analysis, I can’t help but give this film high marks for the pure entertainment factor. The additional music videos that come with the DVD are certainly a bonus! Whether you watch it alone or with company, you’ll be laughing your head off before you know it, guaranteed!
One of the songs from the movie which has the most obvious double entendre is this one:
The Saigal Blues as it is known, it seems, is right here:
