‘Dhoom Dhaam’ movie review: Yami Gautam, Pratik Gandhi are ineffective in this screwball comedy

Yami Gautam, Pratik Gandhi in ‘Dhoom Dhaam’

Bollywood’s current solution to its lack of profitable new films has come in the form of re-releases. It would be remiss not to note that the choice of films being re-released has been geared towards capitalising on nostalgia for the whimsy of the Hindi cinema of the early aughts. Possibly in the same vein, and maybe taking heavy inspiration from the character-driven comedies of the time, Netflix’s latest film Dhoom Dhaam attempts a fresh offering at a screwball rom-com, but ends up being a rehash of borrowed tropes and predictable plotlines.

In Dhoom Dhaam Rishab Seth directs Yami Gautam and Pratik Gandhi as they embark on an overnight caper across the length and breadth of Mumbai. Newly-weds Koyal (Yami) and Veer (Pratik), begin their wedding night with a high-speed car chase as they escaping gun-toting goons who are searching for “Charlie.” The mystery of What/Who/Where “Charlie” is, takes a backseat for the back-and-forth between Koyal and Veer, who have been married off in a hurry – only two weeks after meeting each other. The script, spanning one night on the streets of Mumbai, attempts to use this perilous situation as an opportunity for the couple to get to know each other, away from the prying eyes of relatives.

Dhoom Dhaam’s concept is none too innovative, but it does contain some potential for experimentation – unfortunately most of which is ignored. The film gets so caught up in getting the moulds of its characters right, that it eventually ends up caging them within these stereotypes. Koyal is introduced to Veer and his family as the “well-mannered, docile ideal Indian woman.” Possibly to only Veer’s surprise, she turns out to be the complete opposite. For Koyal, on the other hand, Veer’s “simple” nature turns out to have more shades to it. These characterisations of “there’s more than what meets the eye” are delivered as revelatory sermons. Though the script sometimes seems unsure of its own writing, aiming to hammer in obvious themes. Koyal and Veer then end up becoming predictable puppets of a predictable comedy-thriller. It’s a no-brainer that there’s little to none chemistry for the actors to mine from the material they are given to work with.

Dhoom Dhaam is a harmless-enough watch, in that its creative aspects are uninspired, and tried and tested. The comedy and romance are more conventional than compelling and the film’s underlying message veers dangerously close to asking to look for the silver linings in arranged marriages. It adds itself to a roster of latest mainstream Hindi releases that continue to fail to revive a timeworn film industry.

Dhoom Dhaam is available for streaming on Netflix