Govinda Naam Mera Review: A full-on masala entertainer packed with some humorously solid performances

Govinda Naam Mera Movie Review Rating: 4/5

Govinda Naam Mera has been in the news even before the coronavirus pandemic brought the entire world to its knees. Filmmaker Shashank Khaitan had earlier planned it with Varun Dhawan. However, he could not do the film for a variety of reasons and the filmmaker had to look out for another actor. His search ended with Vicky Kaushal, who had played such a flamboyant character never before in his career. Joining him on the cast are Kiara Advani and Bhumi Pednekar. A Dharma Productions’ offering, Govinda Naam Mera has opted for a direct-to-digital release instead of the traditional theatrical one. The film began streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on December 16. Our reviewer has seen the film, and here is what he has to say about the same. Read the detailed review to know if the film deserves your watch or not.

STORY: Govinda Waghmare (Vicky Kaushal) is a small-time choreographer who wants to make it big in Bollywood. He is head over heels in love with Sukku (Kiara Advani) who also wants to be a successful choreographer in the industry. But the twist in their romantic tale is that Govinda is already married to a domineering and nagging wife Gauri (Bhumi Pednekar). He tries to divorce his wife while also dealing with the betrayal of his step-family which is in the process of usurping the entire ancestral property. As if this much chaos was not enough, Govinda soon finds himself involved in a murder case. What happens next forms the crux of the story.

HIGHS & LOWS: One of the major highlights of Govinda Naam Mera is whistle-worthy performances from the entire cast. Filmmaker Shashank Khaitan, who has also written the film, has fleshed out some of the whackiest characters seen lately in Bollywood. And the one actor who surpasses all your expectations with his performance is Vicky Kaushal. The actor, who made his acting debut with Masaan in 2015, has largely played serious characters in films before. But Govinda Naam Mera presents him in a completely different avatar and he delivers a performance that will definitely bring more comic roles for him in the future. His comic timing is simply perfect and he aces each and every scene. Talking about Kiara Advani, she lights up the screen every time she appears on it. Her performance is more impactful in the second half than in the first one. She gets some of the best-written scenes in the second half and nails them with elan.

Coming to Bhumi Pednekar, she is a complete stunner in the film. Though she does not have enough screen time, she still manages to deliver a fantastic and memorable performance. Her character has her own sass which will leave audiences in splits more often than not. We would definitely like to see her in more comedy films in the future. Actors in the supporting cast are the backbone of the film, especially Renuka Shahane, Amey Wagh, and Viraj Ghelani.

Coming to direction, this is a complete departure for filmmaker Khaitan who has previously delivered such blockbusters as Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017), and Dhadak (2018). With Govinda Naam Mera, he attempts a completely different genre and succeeds at it like a pro. His direction is very natural and you do not feel at any given point in time that there is forced comedy in the film.

FINAL VERDICT: Govinda Naam Mera does complete justice to its quirky title. The film is filled with over-the-top humour to tickle your funny bones. It reminds you of the mindless comic capers of David Dhawan from the 90s. And if you loved them, you are going to love Govinda Naam Mera as well. Vicky Kaushal is seen in such a whacky role for the first time in his career and he pulls it off with ease and confidence. Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani also surprise with their terrific comic timing in the film. I am going with 4 stars.

Watch Govinda Naam Mera trailer:

MOVIE CREDITS

Banner: Dharma Productions

Director: Shashank Khaitan

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani, Bhumi Pednekar

Runtime: 131 Minutes