Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl

Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, director Maneesh Sharma, writer Habib Faisal and producers Yash Raj Films. That's basically the same team that made Band Baaja Baaraat. When they collaborate for the second time, you obviously expect another BBB. Though not the whole enchilada, Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl has that ever so slight hangover. You know the Delhi wallah lingo, the crack jack characters and their quirks. Even the chak de phatte Ranveer Singh has the same verve. So what's different? A con story. A con man taking women for a ride and then falling in love with his victim. It's not fresh but it has enough desi masala to charm you through two hours.

The story seems like a hybrid between Jeffrey Archer's Not A Penny More Not A Penny Less and Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. The protagonist's a conman and his nemesis are three women he's conned in the past. They turn the tables on him and take him for a ride. On the way the film throws up some pretty interesting developments. A cat and mouse game between the three ladies and their unsuspecting but clever victim. That's the soul of the film. Pulling strings behind the curtains for a heist. It's almost as engaging as an Ocean's movie plot.

But then the film does the cardinal sin of indulging in movie cliches and cinematic liberties. The competing con persons fall in love and there's bound to be a hitch in the plan. Things veer out of control and then magically fall back in place as the conspirators hold their breaths. In the light of the countless times we've overlooked finer details in our favourite films, it's all forgivable in Ladies... too.

The film and it's makers owe a favour to debutant Pareeniti Chopra. She's the show stealer with her loud-mouth Dilli ki kudi act. She's got the best punch lines and she delivers a comedy performance Kareena Kapoor would be proud of. Dippanita, Aditi and even the leading lady Anushka are left filling in the gaps. Ranveer Singh on the other hand is seen in a subdued avatar. He's not the edgy and bubbly Bittu from BBB. He's suave, he's charming and he's a smooth operator. But there’s a spark missing from the young actor's performance. He gets the job done but doesn't capture our imagination the same way he did in his debut.

Thankfully the movie doesn't con you of your time and effort. It entertains you and serves up enough thrills and spills to please. But it also doesn't give you something you'd remember till Yash Raj’s next film.