Fugly
Year: 2014
Director: Kabir Sadanand
Cast: Mohit Marwah, Kiara Advani, Vijender Singh, Arfi Lamba, Jimmy Shergill

‘Yeh Fugly Fugly Kya Hai?’ A song in the background asks.

If you have not been careful enough to spot it early in the titles, then you won’t get the answer. Well, now keep it etched in your mind. Here Fugly is not 'F**ing Ugly'; it is apparently a short-form for ‘Fight Against Ugly’- no, not the fight against ugly looks of people but their ugly deeds! So the film does aim high but does it succeed in its goal?

What’s the plot?

The film shows the fight of four childhood buddies against a corrupt cop and in the process gives us a tour of national capital’s underbelly. The friends come from diverse backgrounds- an intense brooder running a mountain camp (Mohit Marwah), a Minister’s son harbouring dreams of becoming a world champ boxer (Olympic boxing medal winner Vijender Singh), a simpleton from a conservative, well-to-do family (Arfi Lamba) and a firebrand girl (Kiara Advani) hurting for her dead armyman father, who died fighting against terrorists.

When the girl is molested by a lecherous shopkeeper, the four friends decide to tie him up and give a bumpy ride in the car-boot. The late night act ends up in a disaster when a high-level police officer (Jimmy Shergill) confronts them. The corrupt cop now starts to threaten and blackmail, making them do his dirty deeds. The hounded youth are left with no choice but to fight back. How will they do that?

What’s Hot?

·        Practically nothing.

What’s not?

·        It is a failed attempt to make a contemporary socio-politically relevant buddy film.

·        A heavily unoriginal plot fusing elements from films like Rang De Basanti, Who killed Jessica?, Shaitan and Fukrey.

·        None of the newcomers make a mark.

·        Jimmy Shergill surprisingly fails to shine in a tailor-made role. He just does not look mean enough!

·        The songs are boring.

Verdict

This so-called sociopolitical thriller simply does not have anything new or powerful to keep you interested in the on-screen proceedings.

Rating

1.5 stars