Patiala House [DVD] [2011] [NTSC]

This isn't the first film to be shot in the Sikh milieu of Southall, a London suburb. However, it would be the first one to have a dozen-odd characters to fill up a palatial Patiala House.

Bauji (Rishi) spews venom against the goras after suffering insults at their hands and losing one of his family members in a racial scuffle. A decade on, he still can't let go of the past and issues a no-firangs-allowed diktat.
His beta, Gattu (Akshay) is an aspiring fast bowler, whose dreams of playing for his country are crushed in his teenage years. Now a mere puppet in his dad's hands, he's the butt of everyone's jokes, until an army of relatives and another half-blood Punjabi lass (Anushka) inspires him to join the country's team.

What's hot: Akshay takes a break from his dime-a-dozen comedies to work in a serious role. What works for him is the fact that he looks like a real cricketer. Even the mock drills when he's rehearsing, look authentic. Given his athletic frame, he looks the part of a fast bowler. He puts in one of his most restrained performances. Rishi Kapoor is pitch perfect in the role of the dictatorial patriarch. His scenes with the Khiladi stand out, delivering the required amount of drama. Anushka has played the chatterbox girl next door before, but she still comes across fresh and likeable. Even though the climax is predictable, Advani succeeds in roping you in using the patriotism card.

EXCELLENT ACTING. EXCELLENT SCRIPT. EXCELLENT VIDEO QUALITY , SOUND RECORDING AND KUDOS TO AKSHAY KUMAR. This touching performance of a dream destroyed and reborn again like a phoenix is a real gem.

NRI Sikh Indians in London in the 80's were being brutalized by skin heads and Akshays father becomes a vigilant activist, as I like to call them ,after the vicious murder of a family member. His mother is terrified and cuts his hair off to change his overt appearance to more British . He is raised in English schools as an English citizen . At the same time of these vocal overlays by Akshay , you see him becoming a Cricket superstar at his schools . He has been raised up by his parents to love the game of cricket and has a chance after school to play for his home team London southall. His dad screams and carries on and emotionally bullies and blackmails him into giving up his dream and become a convenience store owner. He bullies everyone in his extended family into doing what he is comfortable with . Which is pretty much whatever he want you to be. Forget any aspirations you might have. The constant now petty but once necessary battles with the police are trotted out as well. You begin to palpably feel the oppression that he has been living under while trying to be a good first generation son. On one hand trying desperately to live up to his fathers expectation, and on the other, his relatives dreams . Caught in this perpetual crunch he is basically ostracized in his own home with no acceptance by anyone. Trying to please all and being loved by none has wiped any semblance of his former self from his current life. He is shown doing a mind numbing routine of work to home work to home and then....a ritual of OCD cricket bowling until he's exhausted. He only gets to do this in the middle of the night like a thief trying to find some value in his personal moments. This is all done in quick progression within about the first 15-20 min so don't look away or you will miss a lot.

Lest any viewers think this movie would be depressing , remember I said the first twenty minutes or so. You also in the first five minutes get to meet the adorable Anushka Sharma playing her heart and soul out of a well written part of irritant/savior . Into everyone's life a little rain must fall but you have to be ready for the cloud breaks (especially in London LOL) and Anushka is a sure sign there is a little rainbow waiting to pop out. The rest of the cast is represented by some unknowns that do a great job and will keep you laughing when you aren't wanting to strangle them. There are dreams aplenty in the Patiala House and they need Akshay to chase his second chance at his original dream . He's playing a 32 year old has been when a cricket strike puts the chance available again. A local man who used to watch him bowl in the middle of the night happens to be on the selection committee . He thinks Akshay should try out. When approached he vehemently denies any interest in it . This is in front of Anushkas adopted brother character. He runs to google info on him and is blown away at the different person staring out of the screen . Purpose, passion and drive burning out of his once alive eyes. He starts to pester Akshay to try again. He tells his sister and she gets Akshays whining family in on the pressuring. He is finally emotionally blackmailed by the family into trying for his dream so that they can follow with all of theirs . Father will weaken on his suffocating stance if you will use this opportunity to break the wall of oppression . We are behind you all the way. These are some of the things they try to convince him with. We will take care of everything Newspapers , tv exposure the works . You just show up to practice. The rest of the movie is about rediscovering yourself and acceptance. The betrayal scene when the very family that forced him into trying one more time for all their sakes, turns their backs on him after using him for their supposed unrealized dreams. Akshay's excellent emotion held in check to the point of breaking ,still more concerned for his father than himself... It never fails to move me every time seeing the despair of isolation within his own family and having the guts to stand up TO them and FOR them. The way he finally handles the situation with courage and grace and at last love. He finally remembers how to swim. ( a line from the film)

This film is Akshay Kumar AT HIS BEST. An arcing story line that is relieved with light humor and much family manipulation for their own sake by Anushka. This is any actor at his or her best. He even produced this movie and put his all in it. The only reason this wasn't a block buster is that people who say they want different things at the cinema are big ole liars. Sounds like this plot line. Yep good old human nature screws you every time . Stick to whats familiar whether it is your prejudices or your familiar warm fuzzy's never break away and try something new..nooooo ..then make sure you bitch about nothing new ever being shown. Idiots. I mean 3 Idiots ...different but great..Now do that with a drama. Much harder. If you want change you have to change and Akshay kumar proves he's more then capable of doing all sides of a roll. Are you capable of appreciating it . If not, quit bitching when he goes back to the same old movies when you give him a crappy return on his investment. Side note the songs are amazing . Hauntingly beautiful is Gattu's theme, the house club scene intertwined with the wedding upstairs and music mix is awesome. Don't miss the cute mix at the end. Enjoy this film and remember to be fair, it takes a lot to make people WANT to change.... Do you have it in you to change how you see him. AS always watch and judge for yourself.