- Movie name: Madgaon Express
- Rating: 2.5
- Star Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyendu, Avinash Tiwary, Nora Fatehi, Upendra Limaye, Chhaya Kadam, Vipul Deshpande and others
- Cinematography: Adil Afsar
- Music: Sameeruddin, Sharib-Toshi, Ankur Tiwari, Ajay-Atul
- Producers: Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani
- Writer and Director: Kunal Khemu
Kunal Khemu’s directorial debut, Madgaon Express, generated enough pre-release buzz owing to attention-grabbing posters and promotions. The association of Farhan Akhtar with the movie further upped expectations. Has Madgaon Express succeeded in fulfilling the expectations? Can the audience catch this comedy film in their nearest theaters?
Story and Backdrop
Dodo (Divyendu), Pratik (Pratik Gandhi), and Ayush (Avinash Tiwary) are childhood friends who grew up together. While Pratik and Ayush move out of India and make successful careers, Dodo struggles in life without a proper job and income. However, one common thing that binds the three is true childhood friendship.
When Pratik and Ayush decide to visit India, Dodo plans a Goa trip, which they always longed to do in childhood and youth but could not. As the three childhood buddies embark on a Goa trip taking Madgaon Express, unexpected and crazy events unfold, turning the fun trip into a dreaded chase.
A mixup pushes the three innocent friends into the world of drugs and crime, where drug-peddling don Mendoza (Upendra Limaye) and smuggling racket kingpin Kanchan Komdi (Chhaya Kadam) and the police are after the trio. How Dodo, Ayush, and Pratik end this Goa journey, which has gone mad, is all Madgaon Express is about.
Screenplay and Direction Analysis
As the promos effectively hint, the Madgaon Express story is presented as a crazy comedy. Either in narration or presentation, director Kunal Kemmu has taken a more madcap route. While this approach has worked in generating laughs, at some times, it also appears to have gone overboard.
While there are some tender and heart-warming moments between the three friends, Madgaon Express is all about crazy comedy rather than friendship and bonding. Kunal Khemu has succeeded in his directorial debut by betting on an offbeat comedy.
Actors performance
It is a revelation to see Pratik Gandhi in Madgaon Express. We are all used to serious roles when we think of Pratik Gandhi, but he has excelled in comedy roles and won hearts.
The same is true for Divyendu. Ever since Mirzapur, Divyendu has been etched in the minds of the audience as a small-town ruffian. But he has an extremely impressive comic role in Madgaon Express.
Avinash Tiwary is the serious guy among the three, and he has done decently within his role limits. Nora Fateh not only brings in the glamor quotient but also has an important role to play.
One surprise package in Madgaon Express is Chhaya Kadam. She impresses as a lady don. Upendra Limaye steals the show as a funny don.
Final verdict
The background score by Sameer Uddin and Adil Afsar’s cinematography is in tune with the genre and style of crazy comedy. Overall, Madgaon Express is a crazy comedy. The audience can watch it once, have some hearty laughs, and step into the theaters without much expectation.
