Hari Puttar is a Bollywood - movie
directed by Lucky Kohli, Rajesh Bajaj,.
Starring Sarika,Jackie Shroff,Zain Khan (child artist),Saurabh Shukla,Vijay Raaz,Swini Khara,Lilette Dubey,Shamita Shetty,.
A child accidentally left behind alone at home tries to
protect his house against two funny criminals - does this ring a bell? You
guessed it right, "Harri Puttar", which Hollywood studio Warner Bros
alleged was a copyright violation of their "Harry Potter" franchise,
is a copy of popular Hollywood movie "Home Alone".
While Macaulay Culkin deals with two ordinary burglars trying to break into his
house, Zain Khan, who plays the title role in "Hari Puttar", tries to
stop the two criminals from entering his house.
The difference between the original and "Hari Puttar" is that in the
Hindi version the two prowlers are not eyeing valuables in the house - they are
after a chip that has valuable information saved on it.
Also, Hari is not alone in the house. He has his cousin Tuk Tuk (Swini Khara),
who has asthma, for company - again the idea is stolen from the Jodie Foster
starrer "Panic Room" in which Jodie was cooped in a room with her
daughter, who suffers from Type 1 diabetes.
Just like Macaulay, Hari too sets up the same traps using household items and
befriends a scary old man who comes to his rescue in the climax.
Sarika, who plays Hari`s mother, seems to be a perfect replacement for Catherine
O`Hara, who played Macaulay`s mom in the original. However, the actress fails to
play the role as convincingly as Catherine did.
Despite being a copy, the film is entertaining, especially the second half -
when Hari thwarts the two criminals` attempts to enter his house.
Vijay Raaz and Saurabh Shukla as the comic criminals are funny, but it is
talented Zain who shines as the protagonist. He is as good as Macaulay.
Lillette Dubey and Jackie Shroff look like extras in the film.
Children, who have not seen "Home Alone", will have fun watching the
movie.
Set in London, the film revolves around 10-year-old Hari Prasad Dhoonda (Zain
Khan) or Hari Puttar, as he is fondly called.
Hari`s father (Zakir Khan) is a professor and has been assigned to work on a
secret project at a remote location in Britain. So Hari moves to that country
with his father and mother (Sarika).
Hari`s father has access to confidential information stored on a chip and safely
kept at his house.
Within days of their arrival in London, Hari`s aunt (Lilette Dubey) and uncle DK
(Jackie Shroff) visit them with their children. The kids of DK`s boss also
accompany them.
Now, accommodating so many children in the house becomes a problem. At one point
everything goes for a spin for Hari - not only is he thrown out of his room, he
is also ragged and ridiculed by the other kids.
He in fact wishes that all his family would simply disappear, a wish that comes
true.
The film has flaws, but directors - Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj have been
successful in their endeavour to elicit laughter and entertain kids with the
film.
`Hari Puttar` - a kids` film with comedy and suspense
Hari Puttar - A Comedy of
Errors, which Hollywood studio Warner Bros alleged was a copyright
violation of their Harry Potter franchise, bears no similarity to
the English film series and is actually the story of a lonely kid played by Zain
Khan.
The film, which releases Friday, is directed by Lucky Kohli
and Rajesh Bajaj. Produced by Mirchi Movies, it also stars talented Sarika along
with Jackie Shroff.
It is a fun film and a family entertainer. The film has nothing in common
with the `Harry Potter` franchise as the story suggests. The `Hari Puttar` name
has been in the news and has appeared at places for the last 18 months,
Munish Purii, COO of Mirchi Movies, told IANS.
The story seems to be loosely based on hit Hollywood series Home
Alone. It revolves around 10-year-old Hari Prasad Dhoonda (Zain Khan) or
Hari Puttar, as he is fondly called.
Hari`s father (Zakir Khan) is a professor and is assigned to work on a secret
project at a remote location in Britain. So Hari moves there from India with his
father and mother (Sarika).
Hari`s father has access to confidential information that is stored on a chip
and safely kept at his house.
Within days of their arrival in London, Hari`s aunt (Lilette Dubey) and uncle DK
(Jackie Shroff) visit them with their children. The kids of DK`s boss also
accompany them.
Now, accommodating so many children in the house becomes a problem. At one point
everything goes for a spin for Hari - not only he is thrown out of his room, he
is also ragged and ridiculed by all the other kids.
Hari suddenly feels unwanted. But then when people try and steal his dad`s
secret chip, he displays valour and wit that shock everyone.
It talks about the freedom of a child when he is left alone in the house
with his cousin and the funny situations that follow when two burglars try
getting into the house to get hold of a chip that his father has been secretly
working on, said Purii.
So far very few children`s films have made it big at the box office. But the
legal controversy surrounding the movie may help draw some curious moviegoers.