‘Nautanki Saala’ Review Roundup: Critics Blown Away by 'Clever Theatrics'

Romantic comedy film "Nautanki Saala", featuring Ayushmann Khurrana, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Pooja Salvi and Evelyn Sharma, has received mixed reviews upon its release.

The film is directed by Rohan Sippy and Abhishek Bachchan is doing a cameo in "Nautanki Saala". The film is about the bonding and friendship of two friends - Ram Parmar (played by Ayushmann) and Mandar Lele (played by Kunaal).

Here is what critics have to say about the film:

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama said: "NAUTANKI SAALA! is Rohan's lowest budget film so far. But this thought hardly crosses your mind as you embark on this voyage. For, this one's armed with a fascinating premise that's nourished with care by the raconteur, magnificent act by its lead actors, dollops of humor [wicked, sparkling, smart] that's punctuated so well in the scheme of things and eye-filling production design. NAUTANKI SAALA! is, without doubt, Rohan's most accomplished work so far! 

"An official remake of the French film APRES VOUS [2003], NAUTANKI SAALA! is *not* another slapstick comedy that uses every trick in the book to make you laugh. On the contrary, the humor here is tailored for spectators who love new-age cinema. At the same time, comedy is serious business and very few film-makers have the knack of making people chuckle/giggle at the right places/episodes and Rohan gets it absolutely right all through the first hour. To give the credit where it's due, Rohan steps into a new terrain with NAUTANKI SAALA!, but the plot as well as the situations are so unfussy and uncomplicated and the characters so convincing [and timid too!] that you start taking to the goings-on without much struggle. 

"On the whole, NAUTANKI SAALA! is uncontaminated, witty and amusing, offers an interesting premise with plenty of good laughs. A lightweight fare that caters to cineastes with an appetite for contemporary cinema, this movie ought to be on your 'to watch' list for sure!"

Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV said: "At a time when it might seem that mainstream Bollywood is stuck in the rut of cannibalising Hindi hits of the past, here is a Mumbai film that is nothing if not different. It is inspired by a French romantic comedy of a decade ago. Rohan Sippy's Nautanki Saala!, with its robust desi twist to a very Gallic idea, has the feel of an oasis in the desert. It ultimately turns out to be just a mirage, but all said and done its idiosyncrasies have the heft to lift the film high enough and keep it afloat all the way through to the end.

"Nautanki Saala! is character and dialogue-driven rather than action-oriented. The humour flows from the core of the situations and the verbal exchanges. It does not have to fall back on meaningless gags for effect.

"Ayushmann Khurrana is an absolute natural. He does not miss a single trick as he sails through the role of the nice guy who takes acting too seriously for his own good. Kunaal Roy Kapur is just as good although the character he plays is somewhat inconsistent in the way it is etched out.              

"The film deserves full marks for intention, if not for execution. But give me Nautanki Saala! any day after the merciless assault of Himmatwala and Chashme Baddoor!."

Sneha May Francis of Emirates 24/7 said: "After being overfed on a diet of over-the-top slapstick comedies, Rohan Sippy's 'Nautanki Saala!' tweaks our sensibilities and treats us to incredibly clever theatrics.  Evidently, reiterating our faith that good humour does not necessarily translate into shameful buffoonery.

"Rohan layers it with side-splitting comedy, some great lines and incredible performances. His story, although borrowed from 2003 French movie 'Apres Vous', has been aptly adapted to fit into the Indian psyche, with the Indian epic 'Ramayana' being framed in.

"Of the innumerable hilarious moments, the most outstanding is during the audition for the main lead of the stage show, where an unsure actor banks on his director-friend to dumb-charade the dialogues for his part. 

"Chances are you'd crack up just by looking at him!

"If, it's clean, intelligent fun that you are looking for, then 'Nautanki Saala!' is where you need to be headed."

Reza Noorani of Bollywoodlife.com said: "Rohan Sippy's film is a stylish comedy about love, betrayal and friendship. Nautanki Saala, as the name suggests, is a story about people who have a flair for drama in their lives. A comedy at heart, the movie turns into much more, yet doesn't act preachy and does what its main job is - to entertain. A simple storyline, where we see a semi-successful theatre actor-director Ram Parmar witnessing a suicide attempt by a depressed guy, Mandar Lele.

"This stylish comedy by Rohan Sippy is a smart low budget film that reaches its conclusion slowly, yet when it does, it does so in a very clean and complete manner. No loose ends. The slick film takes time to unravel, but keeps you entertained. Visually it's a treat, with the theatre sequences turning out to be a playground where the filmmaker introduces another dimension by showing a Ramayana that works as a parallel narrative to the events unfolding in the protagonists lives. Rohan Sippy is a master of ambience and here he nails it with some amazing lighting and set designs, right from the jazzy, opening credits.

"Overall, Nautanki Saala is a clever comedy with some amazing characters. Its comic appeal doesn't lie in its buffoonery but its storyline, its characters and its performances, all of which come together to tell a tale that is refreshing and genuinely funny when it's meant to be."