Star Cast: Abhay Deol, Preeti Desai, Lillete Dubey, Rati Agnihotri, Preetika Chawla, Geetika Tyagi, Darshan Jariwala

Director: Devika Bhagat

Run Time: 2 Hrs 19 Min

Over the years, Abhay Deol has fetched for himself a repute that, he is one such cine performer of Bollywood, who doesn't believe in being a part of the herd. And this Abhay has proved number of times by his choice of cine flicks, where he has not only performed his characters with utmost conviction, but at the same time has exhibited that he is the one who loves to sail against the tides.

Be it "Socha Na Tha", "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!","Dev.D", "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" or even "Shanghai", every time this sinewy Deol scion has not only proved his mettle, but has raised the bar tremendously. But unfortunately this time this bravura performer seemed to be alien to that "marvelous sense" of picking up those unconventional yet entrancing cine themes.


After seeing Abhay excelling in numerous avatars, it's quite obvious for his fans to get apprehensive about the movie in which besides acting he is leading the producing front too, but after watching this ho-hum affair, probably many of those Abhay Deol's die-hard fans will be left heartbroken.

As soon as the plot of "One By Two" starts crawling, (that too at a pace of 1/2 miles per day), it unfurls the story of a simpleton, Amit Sharma (Abhay Deol) who after being dumped by his girlfriend Radhika (Geetika Tyagi), could not come out of her thoughts and has only one aim and that is to get her back in his life.

On the other hand we have a parallel running story of Samara Patel (Preeti Desai) who aspires to make it big in her life, but at the same time have to deal with an alcoholic mother back at home.


With the frames rolling ahead, both these leading protagonists who are trying hard to deal with their own set of problems, many a times cross each other's path, but never get an opportunity to have a rendezvous till the culmination.

Ever-since the inception of cinema, it is seen that, many a times cine anecdotes belonging to the purview of unconventionality despite having a low earning potency have thoroughly succeeded in making a place for themselves among the diehard cineastes at the power of its captivating potency. But this rule doesn't holds true for "One By Two", which certainly have an unconventional idea beneath it accompanied by tonnes of tedium. From the very onset of narration of "One By Two" looks like an aimless nomad ignorant about its final destination.


With no stable idea flowing beneath it, "One By Two" takes tonnes of your effort to understand and comprehend this irrational enmeshed saga, and even after putting so much of yours voracious labor in doing so, you completely fail in drawing any entertaining relief out of it. Garnished with some stinky flatulence humor and lack of smartly fitted story couplings, narration of of "One By Two" looks nothing more than an irritating bunch of ideas which simply adds to your frustration. So only a "one by two" score for Devika Bhagat for coming up with such a doleful premise, which certainly has unconventionality but too stodgy to entertain.

Even the dialogues of "One by Two" are more of a sorry affair which seems to be totally detached from entertainment quotient and completely fail in arousing any emotion in you, except the boredom.

Not satisfied with her efforts of adding dreariness to "One By Two" movies director, Devika Bhagat, further consummated her desire by sketching a crumbling and ill-paced screenplay. In fact it won't be wrong to say that in both halves of the movie it's screenplay which maintained its consistency by remaining shoddy throughout the time. As far as flow and pace of the narration of "One By Two" is concerned, then it's such that even a lame snail can outmanoeuvre it by miles.


Well, what to say about the editing of a tale which neither has a plot nor a screenplay, so no denouncement for, Shan Mohammed of editing department who too fails in doing any graceful job for the movie.

So far it is seen that movie which have an unconventional idea latent to them are often full of pleasing musical carols, but "One By Two" flunks on that front too. Starting from "Kaboom" till "I'm Just Pakaoed" every track of the movie is strictly forgettable. And so is the music of Shankar Ehsaan Loy.

There are no doubts about the fact that, over the years Abhay has established himself as one of the sinewy performers of Bollywood, who has constantly left us speechless by his numerous magnificent performances. But this time the man who is know for his conviction and choice of movies has thoroughly disappointed us with "One By Two". Although, Abhay tries his level best to shoulder this sinking ship, but due to badly tailored script and roles, even he fails in leaving any impressive mark. Preeti Desai, could not prove much, besides exhibiting her dancing skills and looks more of like a mannequin when it comes to donning that emotional expressiveness.

As far as performance of some of the seasoned actors like, Lillete Dubey, Rati Agnihotri, Darshan Jariwala, are concerned then certainly they did a thorough justice to their respective roles, but due to a very confined onscreen presence could not leave a long lasting effect.


Although Abhay Deol is the leading man of "One By Two" but due to lackadaisical content, the movie is not expected to garner much on the ticket window and may end being a below average release of the year.

To sum up, with everything half baked and half cooked, and not even a single grace saving point in it, "One By Two" is an immensely "PAKAO" kind of "non entertainer". And keeping in view the stodgy entertainment which it offers, I would have preferred to go ahead with One By Two i.e. half a star for this humdrum cine affair. But as it will be too rude to decorate this, Abhay Deol starrer with half star, hence keeping in view the performing potential of, Abhay I am going ahead with one and a half star for this avoidable cine delight.