Master Review: Bollywood spoof 'Luck By Chance' wins critics

A spoof on India's Bollywood film industry 'Luck By Chance' by debutant director Zoya Akhtar has received rave reviews on its release. But the director, fearing any backlash from the insiders, is keen to clarify that it's not a spoof. A number of film critics have given three to four stars out of five while reviewing the film. Struggling with recession and highly paid stars, Bollywood has welcomed the news.

Rishi Kapoor as a Bollywood producer in Luck By ChanceThe plot revolves around an actor (Hrithik Roshan) who is caught in the web of his own stardom. A producer (Rishi Kapoor) who is finding it hard to find stars for his film. A star kid (Isha Sharvani) who is getting into 'Helloji Namasteji' mode. A diva mummy (Dimple Kapadia) who is looking at taking her brand name forward. A film maker (Sanjay Kapoor) who looks towards the west for inspiration. And, Vikram (Farhan Akhtar) and Sona (Konkona Sen sharma), newcomers in Bollywood, who both want to be successful at any cost.

The New York Times calls the film 'a Bollywood satire.' Paper's film critic NEIL GENZLINGER says: It might seem as if Bollywood couldn’t possibly satirize itself — the genre is already so over-thetop — but Zoya Akhtar manages the trick deftly in “Luck by Chance,” an appealing tale of two would-be actors looking for movie stardom.

Ms. Akhtar, who also wrote the screenplay, shows herself to be a master of extremes. A fabulous circus-theme musical number pulls out all the stops, but a scene in which an acting teacher explains why Hindi stars have to be more talented than those in Hollywood is a subtle comic gem.

It is Vikram who finally manipulates and lucks his way into a breakthrough, and it is Mr. Akhtar whose understated performance holds together this far-ranging, cameo-filled film. He manages to remain sympathetic even while wreaking romantic havoc.

Farhan Akhtar in Luck By Chance 2009Nikhat Kazmi reviewing for The Times of India says: The highpoint of the film are its performances. Both Farhan and Konkona are complete naturals before the camera, just as Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia prove that vintage never does lose its flavour, does it! The jibes are gentle, the tenor is fond, yet firm. But most importantly, the characters are completely real: feisty and flawed, even as the end is exhilarating- *** 1/2

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express writes:`Luck By Chance', a wonderful colloquialism which you hear only in Mumbai, opens a wide window on our dream merchants : strange-yet-familiar characters we've met in fanzines, other films-on-film-people, on TV shows. What makes this debut of Zoya Akhtar, daughter of Javed, sister of Farhan, less than what it could have been, though, is in the way `Luck By Chance' unspools—shutting between the generic and specific and back again can sometimes diffuse a film : this one, the latest in the line of Bollywood-looking-at-Bollywood ensembles, needed to have been both newer, and sharper to make it the definitive insider story.

The roundedness of their characters is one of the high points of the film.

So are the other performances, drawn with a fine, sardonic-yet-sympathetic eye. The be-ringed , jowly director ( Rishi ), his trophy wife ( Juhi), the hangers on ( Aly, Sheeba) ; the talent-less but `bade star ki beti' ( Isha, very good ), her mom, the super-ambitious yesteryear diva ( Dimple, terrific ), the script/dialoguewriter who has to include the foibles of his paymasters when he writes ( Anurag Kashyap in a stand-out cameo; he should seriously start thinking of acting).

Enjoy also the walk-on parts of real A-listers. Everyone's here—Shah Rukh, Aamir, Kareena, Rani, Akshaye. And Hrithik's large-ish special appearance, as Zafar Khan the star who dumps his producer to sign with another, more happening one, without a qualm, threatens to run away with the movie.

Despite the occasional lapse into the sort of indulgence a first-time director displays, and the indeterminate end, there's enough in the film to keep you going. Now that Zoya's got Her First Movie out of her system, it'll be fun looking out for her second.

Konkona Sen Sharma as Sona in Luck By ChanceFinally, Rajiv Masand's review for TV channel CNN IBN puts Zoya Akhta on a high pedestal: A significant debut by director Zoya Akhtar, Luck By Chance is heartwarming and heart-breaking in equal measures; look closely at those layers beneath the laughs. An impressive achievement both in writing and direction, the film is full of witty moments and sharp observations that stay with you, starting with the opening credits sequence which is the best I've in years. ((pause)) I'm going with four out of five and two thumbs up for director Zoya Akhtar's Luck By Chance, it's that rare Hindi film that deserves a repeat viewing just to savour its charm all over again.

Sanjay Kapoor in Luck By ChanceHe adds: Despite its languid pace, Luck By Chance is rarely boring because it's got a solid story at its heart and the characters arouse such empathy. The film is helped considerably by razor-sharp dialogue and keen casting, and the acting is consistently first-rate. Farhan Akhtar delivers a simple-enough likeable performance that is just what the film required - no showy flourishes, no loud outbursts, just a straight off spontaneous act that works like a dream. Konkona Sensharma proves yet again she's the go-to-girl for complex, layered characters, and she does a swell job of investing heart and poignancy into the picture. In smaller roles, Juhi Chawla shines as the doting Mrs Rolly, and Isha Sharwani hits the right note as the not-very-bright star-kid; Dimple Kapadia is terrific as the has-been star who is so easily seduced by a youngster's praise; and Hrithik Roshan never disappoints.

Cast & Crew

Written and directed by Zoya Akhtar; director of photography, Carlos Catalan; edited by Anand Subaya; music by Shankar, Eshaan and Loy; production designer, Anuradha Parikh; produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar; released by Adlabs Films. In Hindi and English, with English subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 36 minutes.

WITH: Farhan Akhtar (Vikram Jaisingh), Hrithik Roshan (Zaffar Khan), Konkona Sen Sharma (Sona Mishra), Rishi Kapoor (Romy Rolly) and Isha Sharvani (Nikki Valia).