After indulging a few hours of N. Chandra’s Style, you will realize a few things. One, N. Chandra without Anil Kapoor or Madhuri Dixit is apparently like fish without water. Secondly, N. Chandra is on the wrong boat, that too which is sinking fast. Style presents a horrible way to end off the year and the film tackling Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham couldn’t have been proven a bigger nightmare at the box office (even if K3G’s collection are dropping, it certainly doesn’t help to add flavor to Style’s business). Not that the abnormity is missing in Chandra’s part, for there is definitely a feel of “it could have been” in this film; but sadly, it isn’t.

Style’s story is not half that bad, which makes it seem that perhaps, just perhaps there could have been a better product. Sadly mistaken are those like myslef, who thanks to some mildly entertaining music, may have decided to give the film a chance.

At a college in Mumbai, Bantu (Sharman Joshi) and Chantu (Sahil Khan) are two big fishes in a small pond. They are loved for their humour, their popularity and their attitudes. However, these one-dimensional characters are all too carefree and come to learn about the need for money the hard way. Surprisingly enough, two heroines join the film, with money. Not too long before Bantu and Chantu try to get Sheena (Riya Sen) and Rani (Shilpi Mudgal), eh? Unfortunately, this couldn´t have been a Bollywood film unless Sheena and Rani didn’t like Bantu and Chantu, thus the narrative soon changes from comedy to romance and a peppy number, “Excuse Me” (the one saving force). Thankfully the crux of the film is not about winning Rani and Sheena (as the viewer may come to fear with the lethargic pace that the film moves with) but the role of a mysterious character portrayed by Tara Deshpande. Mystery, Suspense, Comedy, Romance, where oh where could Mr. Chandra go wrong?!

Let’s confirm that it is quite safe to say that N. Chandra is no washout of a director. Yet, as of late it seems he has been stepping down the scale of directors and accepting B- grade films. After all, what exactly was Shikari about? Could that even compare to the interesting Teezab or the meaningful Wajood? However, with Style, it seems he places too much emphasis on the wrong things.

Rajiv Rai made the same mistake with Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat; he gave his characters no dimensions. Were it not for Bantu and Chantu’s comical characteristics they would appear to be cardboard cut outs! There is no room for humane connectivity or in given an argument of the genre of the film, no room for understanding these poorly etched characters. The film could also be edited, but most Bollywood films suffer from too much time and too little substance. Directorially, it is there he suffers. The music is not what Chandra promised. I’d give Sanjeev-Darshan or Nitin Raikwar the benefit of the doubt if comedic soundtracks were surefire winners all around, but they aren’t. “Excuse Me” is the only number which is tolerable and its on screen presentation isn’t much to talk about. In the acting department there is no way one can compare these actors to any of the fresh faces Bollywood has seen this past year. Most newcomers don’t skip a chance in being in the news, on covers of magazines etc. These newcomers have been lying low, pretty much with reason, and will probably suffer from it. While in the beginning you’d think Sharman Joshi (who was seen last in an equally small role in Lajja) and Sahil Khan were pretty good with their timing with comedy, in the end, it comes across as overdone and incessant hamming on everyone’s part.

I suppose the film does stand a chance; in fact, it isn’t half that bad considering its down points. Nor does it lack the possibility of entertaining you once in a while thanks to its subject matter. However, you will have to agree that it could have been a heck of a lot better especially under the helm of N. Chandra. It is unfortunate that Bollywood now has four more newcomers trying to make it big and a sequel in the making for a film that no one probably watched in the first place.