Parag Maniar (BOMBAY TIMES; May 13, 2014)

It is common knowledge that Ekta Kapoor is religious. The television czarina and film producer pays regular visits to Lord Balaji’s shrine in Tirupati. She also treks to Mata Vaishno Devi’s cave in Jammu whenever the bulava comes. What’s more, Ekta is known to be superstitious and wears a lot of rings and talismans. And though she has a spiritual guru, who she reveres and consults for all things important, she is not the kind to succumb to blind faith.

 In her next release Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, director Bejoy Nambiar felt the need to ‘take-off’ on the quirky side of a Godman, who has a unique (and unusually bizarre) way of solving people’s problems.

 Believe it or faint, Babaji’s (played by actor Brijendra Kala) suggestions range from eating gulab jamuns everyday for prosperity, to having ‘red’ chutney instead of ‘green’ chutney to improve chances of success! At one point, the Baba actually tells a disciple to buy a bottle of beer to better his prospects of finding a job.

 We are all aware that the practice of Godmen and the blind faith in them, are an India-wide phenomenon. However, up North, where this funny, slice-of-life film is set, there are many more examples of people who blindly follow Babas and Maas.