'Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat' - A whimsical entourage (IANS Rating - *1/2)

Film: "Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat"; Language: Hindi; Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Vijay Raaz, Rakesh Bedi, Rajpal Yadav, Tia Bajpai, Satyajeet Dubey and Deep Dholakia; Director: Aijaz Khan; Rating: *1/2

"Baankey Ki Crazy Baraat" is an irrational entertainer which is as crazy as the title suggests.

Set in Himachal Pradesh, it is the story of an over-energetic, dunce Baankey, a 35-year-old bachelor who is desperate to get married.

When he receives Anjali's proposal, he sets his heart to marry her. But unfortunately, despite praying to Lord Kamdev for 101 days, his family pundit informs him that there is an issue with his horoscope. Marriage is not in his destiny.

Heartbroken, he insists on marrying Anjali. So when his family friend Lallan nearly threatens the pundit, who suggests that the only way Baankey can attain family bliss is by getting married with the help of a proxy, where a groom substitutes for him at the wedding mandap.

Delighted with this solution, the family sets about finding a proxy groom to get Baankey married.

With Mahesh the proxy groom, Virat Sharma the bus driver and Rajendra, Anjali's childhood friend who is keen to marry her, Baankey finds himself in a tricky spot. It is his convoluted journey that makes the film interesting.

Treated as a comedy, the film is packed with quirky characters with idiosyncratic behaviour, situational gags and witty dialogues.

Rajpal Yadav as the eager-to-get-married Baankey, is hilarious. Sanjay Mishra as his street-smart uncle Kanhaiyalal is his usual self, with his ready solutions. Rakesh Bedi as Bankey's simpleton father Nandlal is sincere, but not extraordinary. Every time he is cornered, he either starts eating or hails, "Kanhaiya!" and it amusing to note Kanhaiya respond poetically, "What Kanhaiya bade bhaiya?"

Vijay Raaz as the local thug Lallan carries his swagger with elan. He has an air about himself and brags about his ability to effortlessly bring situations under control. You chuckle when he gets attracted to Anjali's best friend Pooja and she blatantly calls him "Uncleji" and invites him to her wedding.

Tia Bajpai as Anjali makes a lovely pair with Satyajeet Dubey who plays Virat. Virat has a decent screen presence and charms with his sincerity.

Ashish Wadde's character Mahesh, the "duur ka damaad" is a forcefully irritating character who is more annoying than amusing.

With a moderate budget and decent production values, the film is technically sound. The title song is racy and is oft used as a background leitmotif to create the sense of a fast track entertainer.

Be a part of Baankey's wedding entourage, if you have nothing better to do.