By: Somesh Vasishth

Make sure that you take someone along to watch Priyadarshan's Hungama. That will help you keep track of ongoing events in the film. Yes, it's really a confusing film, so confusing that even the director didn't know how to wind it up. Though funny at times, Hungama is a half-baked and a shallow effort unlike Hera Pheri.

Anjali (Rimi Sen), a village belle (though she doesn't look like one) is burdened by her father's debt. She'd be married off to the mentally retarded son (Rajpal Yadav) of usurping zamindar incase she fails to pay her dues. So, here comes Anjali to the Land of Opportunities, 'Aamchi Mumbai'. She secures a job but finds it hard to get a roof over her head.

The ubiquitous guitar tells us that Nandu (Aftab Shivdasani) is an aspiring singer looking for a break. He is faced with the similar problem. Finally, he finds a landlord (Tiku Talsania) who rents his house to married couples only. To grab the only offer available, both of them decide to pose as husband and wife.

To make quick bucks, Jeetu (Akshaye Khanna) is on the look out to snare a moneyed man's daughter. He belives Anjali to be the one, who is also posing as the rich businessman Radheysham Tiwari's (Paresh Rawal) daughter. Hold on, here begins the hungama.

In order to court his lady love, Jeetu makes it a point to drop Anjali at Tiwari's home. To keep up the pretence, Anjali has to wait till he leaves before she walks back to her house. Anjali's sorties at Tiwari's house make his wife Anjali (Shoma Anand) suspicious of her husband. On the other hand, Jeetu's constant visits makes Tiwari sees red too.

Feeling giddy already? Not so soon, there is more to come! Anil (Sanjay Narvekar) is a banker who is in love with rich Tejabhai's (Shakti Kapoor) daughter. He poses to be Radheysham Tiwari's son to get married. Tejabhai meets Tiwari and Anil's wedding plans go awry. But that doesn't stop Anjali Sr from suspecting her husband more.

Meanwhile, Nandu's cover is blown by his landlady (Upasana Singh). Now it's her turn to fall for the poor guy. Like all this wasn't enough to befuddle you, Raja the mentally retarded guy, appears on the scene.

The film which starts with enough Hungama proves to be a damp squib due to it's tacky sub-plots. Nadeem Shravan's music doesn't help the film in anyway. Inspite of Paresh's mighty presence, Aftaab and Akshaye steal the show with their comic riot. Rimi is definitely worth a dekko. All in all, Priyadarshan fails to rekindle the magic of Hera Pheri with Hungama.