There have been numerous films made on the India-Pakistan feud, but most of them have been serious fares. Welcome To Karachi, like last year’s much-loved film Filmistaan, however gives a comic touch to the whole issue. But unlike Filmistaan, Welcome To Karachi is more in the unreal and over the top zone. Unfortunately, despite a great story and some hilarious moments, Welcome To Karachi turns out to be just an average fare. Read on to find out why.

The story of the movie: Kedar Patel (Jackky Bhagnani), based in Jamnagar, wants to go to USA but thanks to his surname, his visa gets rejected. His good friend Shammi (Arshad Warsi), an ex-navyman agrees to help Kedar in his endaevour. They decide to head to USA in a boat. Sadly, their boat drowns due to a storm and they get washed all the way to Karachi, Pakistan. While trying to find their way back to their motherland, Kedar and Shammi, thanks to their dumbness and loud mouthed-ness, get engulfed in the trap of mujahideens, pathans, USA opportunists, Pakistani corrupt politicians and intelligence officials.

The opening credits are shoddily done and the expectations go down right from there itself. The beginning scenes fail to evoke much laughter. However, the fun begins once Kedar & Shammi land up in Pakistan. The hospital scene is funny. But it’s the sequence outside the various consulate offices that takes the cake. It is hilarious and never before seen kind of a fun sequence. I hope this is not a copied or inspired sequence! From here on, Welcome To Karachi is a fairly fun ride. The Taliban camp scene is a bit stretched but has its moments. The intermission point is hilarious and brings the house down. The initial moments of the second hour are fine. The Punjab dhaba sequence is damn hilarious! How Kedar & Shammi’s antics are used for their own advantage by Pakistanis and USA makes for a good watch. But after a point, the film goes downhill and an average direction is to blame. The scenes are not well joined and it affects the impact. Also, the ‘Shakira’ song comes all of a sudden and doesn’t make any sense, although there’s no doubt that Lauren Gottlieb kills it in the track! The ending seems like a great idea on paper. But again, the execution spoils it all. In fact, the very final scene would have looked nice if it was not for such a poor direction.

Jackky Bhagnani and Arshad Warsi are both the souls of the film. Jackky is hilarious and has a superb comic timing. And it’s unlike what we have seen in his past films. On the other hand, Arshad has played such goofy character plenty of times. And hence maybe, Jackky impresses slightly more than Arshad. However, there’s no denying that even Arshad plays his part very well and does contribute immensely to the madness in the film. Adnan Shah (Baloch) is fine in his supporting role. Lauren Gottlieb does a good job (despite her dubbed voice) but has very little to do in the film, sadly. And as said before, she looks smoking hot in the song ‘Shakira’. The actor playing Malik Sahab, Mulla and others lend able support. Dalip Tahil (Mitesh Patel) is strictly okay.

Songs are nothing great but gel well with the narrative. Boat Ma comes at the very beginning at a time when the film is shaky. Chal Bhaag is situational and is fun. Mera Yaar Funtastic is the best song of the lot, thanks to the picturisation. In fact, Jackky & Arshad’s innocence come out very well during this track. Shakira is sizzling but unnecessary. Rochak Kohli’s background score initially is unnecessarily loud but soon gets better. It’s amazing in the consulate scene. Action is bit unreal but ‘chal jaata hai’ types! Mark Nutkins’ cinematography is decent. The locales of UK are fascinating and neatly used as Waziristan. The makers could have shot it in Himachal or Uttarakhand but shooting it in UK gave a nice touch to the film. Storyline is promising and raises some valid points, without resorting to the typical jingoism. But the screenplay is a bit faulty. And Ashish R Mohan’s direction doesn’t do much to salvage the situation. In fact, it’s not upto the mark at all in the finale because of which the film fails to hit the mark. The director’s previous film was Khiladi 786 which was also disappointing. Hope he comes back with a much better film with his next!

On the whole, Welcome To Karachi is strictly an average fare. Jackky Bhagnani and Arshad Warsi raise lot of laughs and the first half of the film has some great moments. What’s also praiseworthy is that the film doesn’t speak about the usual India-Pakistan rivalry and raises some other pertinent issues but in a comic manner. But the good story doesn’t translate into a good film thanks to a not-so-great direction. At the box office, Welcome To Karachi is not going to work and will add to the list of many flops of Jackky, sadly. However, it surely is a watchable fare and if you don’t plan to watch it in theatres, you should surely give it a try on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the confines of your home!

My rating - ** ½ out of 5!