Movie Review: Tere Bin Laden

Rating: * * * *

Tere Bin Laden is pure fun. It is commendable how the director has picked up a name and theme associated with so much severity and tossed it around to make a film that is innovative, hilarious and engaging all in the superlative. Writer Director Abhishek Sharma makes his debut with the film.

The film revolves around Ali, an aspiring young Pakistani journalist who wants to go the US. After his application is repeatedly rejected, he decides to seek the help of Lashkare-E-Amreeka, an agency run by a tout that helps people immigrate through fake passports for a hefty sum. But Ali has no way of accumulating the sum especially since he works with the stingy Majeed Bhai. Just as Ali is beginning to feel dejected, he comes across Noora, a Bin Laden look alike. And then starts the most hilarious plan to make money through Laden lies and videotapes.   

Tere Bin Laden basically satirises the American policy with regard to Taliban, Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda but does so in the most benign and humorous manner. The gags of the movie are very funny and are driven hugely by typical Pakistani accent. Whether it is Majeed Bhai abusing his staff at his Danka TV office or Noora's favourite rooster Sikander dying in a grenade attack, Tere Bin Laden keeps us rolling on the floor with laughter.

The movie does tilt towards slapstick in a few scenes especially where the American intelligence and their operations are involved but these too have been treated very tastefully. Ali Zafar is good in his role of Ali Hassan. But this movie hand down belongs to Pradhuman Singh, the guy who plays Noora and Bin Laden. His innocence, idiosyncrasies, stupidities and buffoonery are all very very endearing.