Before heading into lackluster plot of this movie, there are few things one has to think about. Think about the number of films for whose promos you’ve seen for over five months (some almost a year…). Then think about the films for which you’ve seen promos for the length of time a normal film’s promotions begin. Then think about the big name films that are hyped and then flop, like this year’s Rahul, which was deserving of some notice that it didn’t receive, and the disappointing One Two Ka Four. What does a film in the previous scenario have to have to actually make it? Well, whatever it may be, Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao does not have it. In fact it doesn’t come close to it and sadly, it is one of the worst attempts because of the somewhat accredited names it has behind it, like Rekha, Prakash Mehra, and even Harry Baweja.

Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao was launched a long time ago. It then went in to the backburner and all of a sudden surfaced again (only to torment fans who would actually go to theatres to watch it, or Rekha fans who just must see her…) Perhaps motivated by his hope for success with what seemed like a bright project, Deewane, (which was another good project gone wrong…), Harry Baweja released MMBSB, and is about to get a double flop accredited to his once decent record (consisting of Diljale and Dilwale).

This poor attempt at a comedy revolves around an obese Kamini (Rekha) and Anand (Naseeruddin Shah). Anand’s one compensation for his dull life is being able to spend his little money on whatever he can, which is within the scope of attempting at acquiring any woman he can. Stylish, no? Happily they have lived together until mid life crisis strikes Anand, while Kamini just remains fat. Of course, life compensates for making one’s looks bad with money, no? Well, at least that is what Baweja thinks when he has Rekha inherit a large empire with big money. So now she’s fat and rich, and Anand, well, he’s still going through his mid-life crisis with about the same assets he had when the movie began (in every aspect of the word).

In an attempt at breaking free from his view of a redundant life, Anand utilizes his three acquaintances, Vijay (Mukul Dev), Natwar (Mushtaq Khan) and Wakaria (Suresh Chatwal). Vijay is the friend that has high hopes of making it big, Natwar is his partner in crime who serves him loyally and Wakaria is the person in a high place that ends up helping him. Oh, let’s not forget Anu (Suman), whom he ends up falling head over heals in love with. Consequentially, they all want Kamini’s money, and plot to get it.

Taking from a number of English and past Indian movies, MMBSB doesn’t even come across as an attempt at cinema. It’s more like a few drunken people who get together to hang out and have some fun at acting, more like the parodies you see on TV today. One would sure hope that Rekha is regretting such an insipid role. There is no sign of her even attempting at making her character seem likeable let alone believable. All the other actors fail horribly at their attempts and their failure is more evident than their honest attempts at success. One really can’t tell who needs the “Bachaao” here, is it Kamini, who needs to lose weight, Anand, who desperately needs a change or Anu whose greed has forced her into a relationship with Anand (can you say twisted?)

The music of the film was a loser from the beginning. The cassette cover looked stale, and for the most part collected dust in stores worldwide (sorry, just a reality of things). Even Rajesh Roshan seems bored and lifeless with this project. Costumes, screenplays are all poor, and what makes it worse is the choreography for the song “Nach Nach.” Now when a movie looks as bad as this one does, why make it worse with an attempt at something ‘flashy’? What you end up with is something that looks like an attempt at a hit number from twenty years ago, and even that might not have worked then either.

Saying that the movie had flop written all over it would be unfair. Only because, it had a few once accredited names behind it, Rekha, Prakash Mehra, Harry Baweja. As long delayed as it was, those who actually see it will be wishing it went back into hiding. My advice: watch Lagaan.