The Mumbaiya jargon is incredibly popular and quite a few of its expressions and terminology have become a part of life. As a matter of fact, the term 'lagi huyi hai', from which the title of this film LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI has been obtained, is a universally widespread term. It's a situation many people find themselves in at diverse junctures of their lives.
Films with the Mumbaiya flavor have, quite often, found acceptance and approval by viewers of Hindi movies. IS RAAT KI SUBAH NAHIN, PARINDA, SATYA, VAASTAV, RANGEELA, HERA PHERI, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI are some prominent paradigms that come to my mind instantly. Furthermore, each week, the spectators are greeting additional films that are exceedingly factual and significant, with content that is relatable. LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI follows the footsteps of IS RAAT KI SUBAH NAHIN, but the problem is that it appeals in flashes. It holds your attention in bits and spurts. Yet, there's no denying that debutant director Rakesh Mehta has filmed a number of sequences with expertise. Sadly, it's the writing that lets him down. Had the writing been cohesive and editing sharper, LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI would've been notches above what it is right now.
LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI is a one-day journey of different people struggling in the city of Mumbai. They eventually end up at one place and find their ways… A tense Salman [Kay Kay Menon] is looking for the murderers of his parents, a humiliated cop ACP Chautala [Manu Rishi] is looking for four Nigerian drug peddlers with 24 hours deadline on his neck, a desperate lover Amol [Ranvir Shorey] comes to rescue his beloved girlfriend who has got married to some millionaire, a runaway girl from Chandigarh Dolly [Neha Bhasin] wants to go back home, but not before she recovers all the money she has lost in attempt to become a top heroine of Bollywood. Ajoy [Pradhuman Singh], the Bengali rockstar, advises his close friend Amol to commit suicide. All this happens in a single day in Mumbai.
LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI is a one-day journey of different people struggling in the city of Mumbai. They eventually end up at one place and find their ways… A tense Salman [Kay Kay Menon] is looking for the murderers of his parents, a humiliated cop ACP Chautala [Manu Rishi] is looking for four Nigerian drug peddlers with 24 hours deadline on his neck, a desperate lover Amol [Ranvir Shorey] comes to rescue his beloved girlfriend who has got married to some millionaire, a runaway girl from Chandigarh Dolly [Neha Bhasin] wants to go back home, but not before she recovers all the money she has lost in attempt to become a top heroine of Bollywood. Ajoy [Pradhuman Singh], the Bengali rockstar, advises his close friend Amol to commit suicide. All this happens in a single day in Mumbai.
It's tough to have a start, a middle and an end for a single story, but the storyteller attempts to narrate as many as four stories in a single film. Now that's an achievement. But, like I mentioned earlier, the stories take a long time to reach the conclusion. Also, the lethargic unfolding of the narrative is a deterrent, besides a few sequences that tend to get repetitive.
LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI has an ensemble cast, with every actor trying to put his/her best foot forward. Ranvir Shorey is competent, while Pradhuman Singh goes over the top. Neha Bhasin catches your eye and wins your confidence. Manu Rishi is excellent, as always. He adds so much value to the film. Kay Kay Menon sparkles in his role, mainly in the final sequence when he settles the scores with the antagonist. Sharat Saxena doesn't get much scope.
The film has a host of known actors in supporting roles, including Jackie Shroff, Shakti Kapoor, Asrani, Razzaq Khan, Neeraj Vora, Rukhsaar and Tom Alter.
On the whole, LIFE KI TOH LAG GAYI has a fascinating concept, but the writing plays the spoilsport.