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Great visuals, story delivers no surprises

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A user pointed out that the role of the 'pandit' is played by Mahesh Mishra. As per the user, earlier this had been wrongly credited as Mahesh Manjhrekar. The latter is indeed the famous producer, director and actor, who had directed the Sanjay Dutt starrer Vaastav. Now, coming back to the artist playing the 'pandit' role in Welcome, he is not Mahesh Mishra as pointed out by the user and as added in the cast list. He is in fact Sanjay Mishra, the comedian who played in films like Bunty Aur Babli, One Two Three (Pintos), Golmaal Returns (Subodh SMS), Apna Sapna Money Money (Pandit Sarju Maharaj), Aloo Chaat (Chhadaami Mama) etc.. So moderators please verify and rectify the error.

"Welcome" is a enjoyable, masala comedy with an amusing cast. It has plenty of ridiculously unbelievable, cheesy moments and the film requires viewers who don't take themselves or the movie too seriously, and who know how to suspend their disbelief. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who are unable to take the movie in the spirit it was made. Is it full of buffoons and a silly plot? Of course! But what makes this movie so charming is that - like plenty of other Bollywood films - it tells its story with such sincere, earnest conviction that you can't help but get sucked in.The story is centered on a mafia family headed by two dons, played by the unfailingly charismatic Feroz Khan and the gifted Nana Patekar. Nana Patekar is trying to find a boy from a nice, decent family to marry his sister, played by Katrina Kaif (surprisingly, she is tolerable in this film). Aiding the don in his quest to find a suitable boy is one of Nana Patekar's lesser dons, played by Anil Kapoor. When they find a suitable boy (Akshay Kumar), things are complicated by the suitable boy's uncle (Paresh Rawal), who is not terribly excited about his nephew marrying into the mafia. And from this tangled web of conflicting goals ensues chaos and mayhem. Mallika Sherawat is also entertaining (if extremely confusing) as a random girl who is...confusing people.It's a silly movie full of childish, mischievous comedy and feel-good moments, but I think that, in the end, that's what we value about Bollywood films: their family-friendly messages, the dazzling spectacle in scene after scene, fun filled madness and a talented cast. Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal were especially impressive and quite adorable. It was amusing to see Akshay Kumar play a clueless good guy after being so used to seeing him as an action hero.The only way to enjoy this movie is to throw brains and common sense out the window and enjoy it for what it is - a family-friendly comedy with lots of laughs and entertainment. It's a question of expectations. If you get this movie expecting to see something similar to a Hollywood film, then you will disappointed. Bollywood isn't anything like Hollywood, and there is nothing wrong with that. I didn't get this DVD expecting to see an Indian version of The Godfather. There are plenty of funny references to The Godfather in this movie, but the director clearly intends to parody the world and lifestyle of a mafia don, and I think he did a good job. It's a happy story that laughs at itself at every turn, and that's great.

When you have such a strong cast, you also have lot of expectations from the film. 'Welcome' does not live up to the expectations at all! It is a "so-so" film, okay to watch on cable, but definitely not worth spending money in the theater. There is nothing new to it; it is another example of good actors coming together and not being able to create anything special! The story is very predictable, and is a kind of patchwork from various films. For example, Nana Patekar's character Uday Shetty is a cross between Shankar from Major Saab (a don, who is a loving brother), and Aslam Bhai from Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (LKLKBK)(a don with a strong passion for acting). He is a goofy goon, as portrayed by various actors in innumerable films; Sanjay Dutt in Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi (2002), Johnny Lever in LKLKBK (2001), to name a few. Nana Patekar is his usual self, with nothing new to offer as such. Anil Kapoor is another don, named Majnu Bhai, a close associate of Uday Shetty. He has done a pretty good job with his role, and definitely adds on to the value of the film. One can easily notice that Majnu Bhai's character takes a variety of traits from Circuit of the Munnabhai series, Crime Master Gogo of Andaz Apna Apna, and other similar "comic sidekicks". Paresh Rawal is decent as Dr. Ghungroo, but his acting is repetitive from so many of his other movies. Even though Akshay Kumar is the hero, he is often sidelined by the dons, and we don't get to see much of his impeccable comic timing. Feroz Khan is OK as the "Godfather" of the dons. The heroines (Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat) seem to exist merely to add oomph value.The film drags all along until the climax, which is pretty much the only enjoyable part. The dialogues are not great..or rather, they are quite "ghise peete". Songs are okay, but often seem forcefully inserted into the script in places where no song is needed! All in all, a forgettable movie.It definitely did not seem like a "Welcome" change from the norm!

If Anees Bazme had set out to make a load of crap, he has succeeded brilliantly. 'Welcome' probably has one of the best star cast seen in 2007. But all have been wasted without regard on a script that is worse than what kindergarten kids come up with.It is a wonder that still some people, other than Feroze Khan himself, want to cast him in their films. Thankfully, he does not have much screen time. But even he seemed much more bearable compared to the rest of the mindless proceedings of the film. I hardly understood some of the song lyrics. I guess it was intended to just add to the crap. Not much to write about, but hope this sounds a warning bell to Akshay Kumar. He has an excellent sense of comic timing. But he is getting boringly repetitive. If he does not want to end up like Govinda, it is high time he looked seriously at his work profile.