F.A.L.T.U. banks heavily on the formula that the youth loves. It's funny, energetic and has a big ace in its smash hit musical score. I would go to the extent of saying that the movie works because it doesn't pretend to be path-breaking. It offers what the audience desires: Entertainment!
Rating : 3.5/5
Young, lively and satirical. That, in short, summarizes F.A.L.T.U., helmed by director Remo D'Souza [his first Hindi film; he had directed a Bengali film before].
F.A.L.T.U. is a story of coming of age of today's youth. They don't choose a different path, but create one. It tells the story of a group of friends who are considered a total waste. Thanks to their terrible grades, Jackky, Angad and Pooja don't get admission in a college. That's when Jackky gets a brainwave: Why not start a University with the help of his friends? That's how Fakirchand And Lakirchand Trust University [F.A.L.T.U.] takes shape.
Jackky seeks help from a friend, Arshad Warsi, who in turn gets Riteish Deshmukh, a school teacher, to play the part of the Principal. Jackky's plans go kaput when several academic rejects show up at the door, hoping for an education.
There have been several college comedies in the past and though times have changed, not much has changed when it comes to films set in college campus. And let me add, F.A.L.T.U. doesn't claim to be an innovator too. It's a full-on masala film, more of a fun ride, with the real drama setting in only towards its penultimate moments. Sure, one does feel that F.A.L.T.U. is mired in seen-it-all-before situations, but what saves the film is the masala quotient that doesn't let you take it seriously.
But the film falters at places. Though it thrives on jokes, some of the yarns fall flat and aren't as enjoyable. Besides, like I pointed out at the outset, the film abounds in cinematic liberties. How do the friends raise money to set up a University in a single day? Everything is taken care of in mere 24 hours - right from finding a huge mansion that can pass off as a University, to renovating it, to getting the required furniture, to funding for the accommodation of the students, food, booze et al. Now that seems too hard to digest!
Also, the character of Arshad Warsi comes across as unreal. I mean, how does he have a solution [and money] for every problem?
Director Remo D'Souza's fundas are clear: Let's entertain! In fact, the film is targeted at the youth and it is this segment that will identify with it more than any age-group. One of the aces of the film is, without doubt, its musical score. Generally, a film-maker considers himself lucky if even one track hits the top charts, but in this case, not one or two, but four songs have become hugely popular with the youth. 'Chaar Baj Gaye' [the anthem of the youth], 'Bhoot Aaya', 'Fully Faltu' and 'Le Ja Tu Mujhe' only prove how skilled and proficient young music composers Sachin-Jigar are. This one's a smash hit score. Besides, Remo's topnotch choreography enhances the impact of the songs. Vijay Arora's cinematography is up to the mark. I'd like to make a special note of the dialogue, which are very well worded at places.
