The Punjabi movie world has always been appreciated for serving the audience with its amazing romantic comedies, and ‘Oye Makhna’ is a perfect example of it. However, what makes this film a little more special and different than other Punjabi rom-coms is the element of emotions. Written by Rakesh Dhawan and directed by Simerjit Singh, this film tells not just one but many tales. It is a story of an uncle and nephew, it is a tale of a young love that just wishes to meet its fate, and it is an account of emotions that can make every heart feel overwhelmed. We will be talking about each of these stories one by one, starting with the bond between Shinda (played by Guggu Gill) and Makhan (played by Ammy Virk). In the ‘Qismat’ franchise, we have seen Ammy always being scared of Guggu Gill, as he never approves of his love. But in ‘Oye Makhna’, Guggu is totally on the side of ‘Team Ammy’. This fresh relationship just makes you smile every time, and their bond overshadows almost every other thing in the movie. On one hand, where Guggu Gill’s comic timing and mischievousness, tickle your funny bones, on the other hand, the way how his heart bleeds for every innocent soul makes you cry a river. Similarly, initially, Ammy Virk wins hearts with his charm and comedy, but later comes a scene where he can be seen slapping himself as he punishes himself for hurting his uncle; and that’s where your eyes again turn teary. Both their performances as individuals and as a team together is the major highlight of the film. Speaking of performances, let’s now talk about the female lead of the film - Rimple played by Tania. This movie marks Tania and Ammy’s fifth film together. In the last four films, we saw Tania as either a very docile, homely girl or as a young lady who would do anything to get Ammy’s attention. However, this time the tables are turned. In this film, Tania pays no heeds to Ammy’s efforts. She is playing an beautiful independent girl, who focuses on her career more than anything. She is both practical and emotional and knows how to handle herself. Basically, she is not your regular damsel in distress; rather is a perfect representation of a strong modern-day woman. Besides these three main actors, the film also has Tarsem Paul, Sukhwinder Chahal, Sidhika Sharma, Deedar Gill, and many others in pivotal roles. Each of the actors has done justice to their character and ensured to keep the audience glued to their seats. There was not even a single character or actor in the movie, which looked forced into the script, each one of them had their own contribution to the story. Now coming to the story and direction, well Rakesh Dhawan knows how to keep a balance of comedy and sensibility. On one hand, where the concept of the film in itself is very sweet, on the other hand, the dialogues supporting the script are just amazing. Honestly, there are a couple of both funny and sentimental dialogues in the film that will stay with you even after the movie is over. In addition to the dialogues, what compliments a good script is a strong director. Simerjit Singh is called the easiest director to work with in Pollywood, and keeping the same image, he worked on this film. His execution always comes very close to flawlessness and that can be seen in the movie. However, we do have a little complaint about the length of the film, as it could appear a little stretched in some places. Nevertheless, all in all, the movie is a complete entertainer, with a great script, right execution, stunning performances, and not to forget heart-touching music.Read more

The ‘chacha- bhatija’ (uncle and nephew) formula is often seen in Hindi films. Typically partners in crime, the ‘jodi’ embarks on outlandish schemes with aplomb, often meeting with disastrous ends. Guggu Gill and Ammy Virk play the cheeky duo Shinda and Makhna, respectively, who are like father and son but with a difference. The two are drinking buddies, covering up for each others’ goof-ups, and reveling in each others’ company. Makhna is footloose and fancy-free and his uncle too gets a free rein when his wife goes out of the country. Oye Makhna marks the sixth collaboration between director Simerjit Singh and Virk, who have previously worked together on Angrez (2015), Nikka Zaildar (2016), Nikka Zaildar 2 (2017), Nikka Zaildar 3 (2019) and Muklawa (2019). Marking another collaboration, the film is produced under the banner of Yoodlee Films, the film arm of Saregama India, which made the announcement last year that it will be venturing into Punjabi cinema after making inroads into Tamil and Marathi film industries. The romantic comedy is pegged on Makhna’s search for a girl whom he spots at a traffic light and is completely smitten by. However, he has only been able to see her eyes and is determined to find her. In a case of mistaken identity, he thinks she is the irascible neighbour’s daughter. But the problem is that she is already engaged to someone else. The uncle-nephew team plots to get the engagement broken by hook or by crook, to clear a path for Makhna to woo her. This leads to hilarious situations, as the duo does a volte-face on their baffled neighbour (Hardeep Gill) and find themselves concocting stories to accomplish their goal. However, Makhna realises (a bit too late) that the girl of his dreams Rimple (Tania) is not the neighbour’s daughter. As the situation becomes more complex, relationships and emotions get entangled and people get hurt. The uncle-nephew relationship too gets strained in the process. The first half primarily establishes the bond between the ‘chacha-bhatija jodi’, which remains front and centre in the film. Together, the duo seeks refuge in gallons of alcohol, as the uncle vows to see his nephew happy at all costs. There is much drunk philosophising and the dire need for liquid courage when they are off to face brickbats for their deeds. While this is funny at first, it is done with a heavy hand and becomes a bit tiresome. The film also lags in its pacing as there are over-extended scenes and needless meandering before the various strands get tied up towards a rather predictable end. In its enthusiasm to pack in too much, writer Rakesh Dhawan includes a social message of sorts which tells us about the plight of orchestra dancers, who struggle to make a living. This is done in a rather cursory manner and one wonders if the only reason for its inclusion was the fact that in the recent past, several Punjabi-language films have delved into this particular topic. The performances by Ammy Virk and Tania are competent, with Guggu Gill stealing much of the limelight with his effortless charisma. Often cast as a stern, hard-to-please character, it is refreshing to see him shine in a light-hearted film, where he aces the comic timing. Supporting actors Sukhwinder Chahal and Hardeep Gill bolster the general hilarity that ensues. On the music front, there are some notable tracks, beginning with the opening dance number “Chad gayi chad gayi”, sung by Neha Kakkar; followed by the love ballad “Chann Sitarey” sung by Virk, featuring a stylised dream sequence. A romantic courtship number, “Main Cheez ki Haan”, unfolds the love between Rimple and Makhna. An enjoyable film overall, Oye Makhna has its heart in the right place. Despite all the misunderstandings and disingenuous plotting, the characters do not wish to hurt anyone’s sentiments, least of all those of their family members. As Tania says emphatically, “Family always comes first”, so much so that the lovers decide to take the high road, sacrificing their love for the greater good. But all’s well that ends well, especially in a comedy of errors.Read more