Cert PG
142 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild sex references, drug references,
One plus of having had a bad back for a week is that I have been able to get on top of the logistics of the everyfilm challenge.
Secondly, I am ruled out of sport for the moment so I am watching more movies.
So, on Sunday evening I found myself at Derby Odeon's screen 4 for Simerjit Singh's Punjabi comedy/drama Nikka Zaildar 2.
This was a proverbial game of two halves. The opening hour and ten minutes was packed with the sort of slapstick/innuendo comedy which is the trademark of Punjab cinema.
It is set in the countryside and both its look and the style of its comedy heavily reminded me of Manje Bistre.
Again, it focuses on the Indian obsession of weddings, be they arranged or otherwise and even the cast added to the sense of deja vu because Sonam Bajwa, Rana Ranbir and Sardar Sohi appear in both movies.
Much of its first hour is dedicated to its hero, Nikka (Ammy Virk) trying to engineer a marriage to his girlfriend (Wamiqa Gabbi).
Many of the gags surround either the antics of the village elders or a false presumption that Nikka is gay. This joke had most of the auditorium rolling around in glee but it seemed pretty weak to me.
The second half includes less comedy but prompted me to be much more engaged.
This is largely down to an excellent contribution by Sonam Bajwa who plays a young woman who is pushed into an arranged marriage with a reluctant groom.
Pretty soon she falls for him but her love is not reciprocated.
This doesn't stop her trying to win him around and pretty soon had the whole audience rooting for her.
Indeed, her contribution lifted Nikka Zaildar 2 from the usual shout Punjabi comedy to a film with unexpected and welcome pathos.
I shall reveal no more about the plot because there are some surprises which are essential to its enjoyment.
Suffice to say that, even for a grump like me, it became a fun night out. If you understand the culture and comedy, it seems like a riot.
And, interestingly, only a few days after release Nikka Zaildar 2 is reporting big success at the box office.
Reasons to watch: Punjabi audience seemed to think it was hilarious
Reasons to avoid: usual cultural differences are a bar to comedy
Laughs: a couple of chuckles for me but many laughs for others
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6/10
Star tweet
Omg 
@bajwasonam U just nailed it ! Watched Nikka Zaildar 2 Today ! Ur work & Acting was Beyond Perfect 
U Legend ! Keep it up 
10/10
@bajwasonam U just nailed it ! Watched Nikka Zaildar 2 Today ! Ur work & Acting was Beyond Perfect U Legend ! Keep it up 10/10 
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