Awara Paagal Deewana
{{Short description|2002 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Awaraa Paagal Deewana
| image = Awarapaagaldeewanadvd.jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| director = Vikram Bhatt
| producer = A. G. Nadiadwala
Firoz A. Nadiadwala
| writer = Anand Vardhan
Mangesh Kulkarni (Story & Screenplay)
Neeraj Vora (Dialogues)
| story =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Akshay Kumar
- Sunil Shetty
- Aftab Shivdasani
- Paresh Rawal
- Preeti Jhangiani
- Aarti Chhabria
- Amrita Arora
- Johnny Lever
- Rahul Dev
}}
| music = Songs:
Anu Malik
Score:
Franco Vaz
| cinematography = Pravin Bhatt
| editing = Amit Saxena
| studio = Base Industries Group
| distributor = Shemaroo Entertainment
Pen India Limited
| released = {{film date|2002|6|20|df=yes}}
| runtime = 164 mins
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}13 crore {{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=597 |title=Awara Paagal Deewana |website=boxofficeindia.com |access-date=2024-04-08}}
}}
Awara Paagal Deewana (Wayward, Crazy, Insane) is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film directed by Vikram Bhatt. Anu Malik composed the film's score with lyrics by Sameer. The plot is loosely based on the 2000 American film The Whole Nine Yards.{{cite web |last1=Jha |first1=Shubhash K. |title=Whose movie is it anyway? |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/19copy.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=19 May 2003}} Dion Lam, who worked on The Matrix and Hong Kong action films was the stunt director.{{cite news |last1=Renuka |first1=Methil |title=Hong Kong-based stunt director Dion Lam to choreograph 'Aawara Paagal Deewana' |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20010716-hong-kong-based-stunt-director-dion-lam-to-choreograph-aawara-paagal-deewana-773781-2001-07-16 |access-date=20 April 2020 |work=India Today |date=16 July 2001 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111204343/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20010716-hong-kong-based-stunt-director-dion-lam-to-choreograph-aawara-paagal-deewana-773781-2001-07-16 |url-status=live }} The film's cast includes Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Aftab Shivdasani, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Preeti Jhangiani, Aarti Chhabria, Amrita Arora and Rahul Dev.
Awara Paagal Deewana was released on 20 June 2002 to a global audience. It received mixed reviews from critics. The film was notable for lavish and exotic song sequences, action scenes involving Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, and the performances of Paresh Rawal and Johnny Lever.{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/15-weirdest-character-names-in-bollywood-films-29201-7.html|title=15 weirdest character names in Bollywood films|work=filmfare.com|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en|archive-date=19 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182208/https://www.filmfare.com/features/15-weirdest-character-names-in-bollywood-films-29201-7.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Khakee (2004) - Akshay Kumar's successful action films {{!}} The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/akshay-kumars-successful-action-films/khakee-2004/photostory/50455229.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927122918/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/akshay-kumars-successful-action-films/khakee-2004/photostory/50455229.cms |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=2018-06-04 |website=The Times of India}}
Plot
The MacGuffin is $200 million worth of diamonds held in a New York bank, left in the will of Indian underworld don, Baba Baldev Prasad. His bequest is to be distributed equally between his son, Vikrant, his daughter, Preeti, and Preeti's husband, Guru Gulab Khatri. To claim the diamonds, all three beneficiaries must present themselves to the bank.
Shortly after the don's death, Vikrant plots to disguise himself as Guru and assassinate the Indian home minister while he is live on television. Guru is falsely accused and evades prosecution by fleeing to the United States under an assumed identity.
In the United States, Guru is identified by Anmol, a dentist. Anmol's mother-in-law sends Anmol and her husband, Manilal to India to collect a reward for finding Guru. However, Vikrant reneges and sends Anmol and Manilal back to the United States, accompanied by Vikrant's henchmen, Yeda Anna and Chota Chathri, who are tasked with killing Guru. It is later revealed that Yeda Anna is a double agent working for Guru.
Vikrant and Preeti arrive in the United States to receive their inheritance of diamonds. At their hotel, Vikrant is kidnapped and killed by a mysterious group of Chinese thugs. However, Yeda Anna discovers that the kidnapped Vikrant is an imposter.
With Vikrant seemingly dead, Preeti and Guru claim one half of the diamonds each. As they leave the bank, a group of policemen apprehend them and take them to a remote location. Then, the real Vikrant appears. In a confrontation with Guru, Vikrant is killed by Guru.
In the aftermath, Anmol, who wishes to marry Preeti, asks Guru to divorce Preeti in exchange for her portion of the diamonds. Yeda Anna double-crosses Guru, and tries, in vain, to steal the diamonds from him.
In the end, Anmol and Preeti return to India together. Guru gives them some of his diamonds and Preeti is grateful.
Production
Cast
- Akshay Kumar as Guru Gulab Khatri, an underworld don.
- Aftab Shivdasani as Dr. Anmol Acharya, a dentist who worries about family issues.
- Suniel Shetty as Yeda Anna, a double agent working for Guru Gulab and Vikrant Prasad.
- Paresh Rawal as Manilal Patel, Anmol's ex-father-in-law, Paramjeet's husband, and Mona's father. He forgets the names of the people around him and also forgets his own name.
- Johnny Lever as Chhota Chhatri, a stammering goon, who is working for Yeda Anna.
- Preeti Jhangiani as Preeti Acharya, Baldev's daughter, Vikrant's sister, Guru Gulab's ex-wife, and Anmol's wife.
- Aarti Chabria as Tina, Anmol's secretary, Guru’s love interest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/20preeti.htm|title=rediff.com: Movies: 'My heart is in Bollywood'|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=17 November 2022|archive-date=17 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117043109/https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/20preeti.htm|url-status=live}}
- Amrita Arora as Mona Patel, Manilal and Paramjeet's daughter, and Anmol's ex-wife, whom she pesters.
- Rahul Dev as Vikrant Prasad, Baldev's son, Preeti's brother, and Guru Gulab's ex-brother-in-law.
- Supriya Pilgaonkar as Paramjeet Patel, Manilal's wife, Anmol's ex-mother-in-law, and Mona's mother.
- Om Puri gives a cameo appearance as the dying Don Baba Baldev Prasad.
- Asrani gives a cameo performance as Champaklal, Baldev's greedy lawyer.
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Awara Paagal Deewana
| type = Soundtrack album
| artist = Anu Malik
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 6 March 2002
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length =
| label = Saregama
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Anu Malik composed the film score with lyrics by Sameer.
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Awara Paagal Deewana
| extra1 = Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan
| length1 = 4:00
| title2 = Jise Hasna Rona
| extra2 = Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Alka Yagnik, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sarika Kapoor
| length2 = 7:30
| title3 = Love
| note3 = Theme
| extra3 = {{dash}}
| length3 = 1:10
| title4 = Maine To Khai Kasam
| extra4 = Sunidhi Chauhan, Abhijeet
| length4 = 5:02
| title5 = More Sawariya
| extra5 = Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, Anu Malik
| length5 = 6:36
| title6 = Ya Habibi
| extra6 = Adnan Sami, Shabbir Kumar, Sunidhi Chauhan
| length6 = 7:19
| title7 = Yeh Tune Kya Kiya (not used in the film)
| extra7 = Sonu Nigam, Anuradha Paudwal
| length7 = 7:18
}}
Critical response
Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM gave the film 2 stars out of 5, writing, "On the whole, Awara Paagal Deewana has an excellent first half, but a just-about-okay second half. From the box-office point of view, the fabulous stunts, excellent music, and an aggressive promotion will help the film reach the safety mark. Business in metros should prove to be the best. Well worth a watch!" {{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/awara-paagal-deewana/critic-review/awara-paagal-deewana-movie-review/|title=Awara Paagal Deewana Review 2/5 | Awara Paagal Deewana Movie Review | Awara Paagal Deewana 2002 Public Review | Film Review|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=21 June 2002|access-date=17 November 2022|archive-date=17 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117042927/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/awara-paagal-deewana/critic-review/awara-paagal-deewana-movie-review/|url-status=live}} Anjum N of Rediff.com wrote, ″Director Bhatt should concentrate on what he does best - making small budget, non-star cast films (Ghulam being an exception). Here, he shows his capability in handling the comic scenes well - there weren't many light scenes in his earlier films. But overall, he fails to hold the audience's attention. See the film only if you are a diehard fan of Rawal's comic talent or Akshay's action scenes."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/21apd.htm|title=rediff.com: Movies: The Rediff Review: Awara Paagal Deewana|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=17 November 2022|archive-date=17 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117043412/https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/21apd.htm|url-status=live}}
Awards
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|2003
| rowspan="3"|Paresh Rawal
| Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/48th-manikchand-filmfare-awards-2002-winners/articleshow/38074867.cms|title=48th Manikchand Filmfare Awards 2002 - Winners|website=The Times of India|date=21 February 2003|access-date=17 November 2022|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113145429/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/48th-manikchand-filmfare-awards-2002-winners/articleshow/38074867.cms|url-status=live}}
| {{won}}
|-
| Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|2004
| rowspan="2"|Screen Award for Best Comedian
| {{won}}
|-
| {{nom}}
|}
References
{{Reflist}}