Having been produced by the director of socially relevant films like Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi 6 (2009), 3 Thay Bhai automatically bears the burden of being a stunner in its own right, in its own genre. But does having a heavyweight producer behind you relieve you of the responsibility to entertain? Of course not.
From the initial looks of it, 3 Thay Bhai could just as easily have been one of those comic low-budget gems like last year's Phas Gaye Re Obama. But don’t get your hopes too high just yet.
Chicksy Gill (Puri) is the eldest of the Gills, a condescending, self-important Punjabi businessman struggling to find matches for his out-of-shape daughters. Happy Gill is a dentist who blames “shifting pain” for any oral problem, while Fancy Gill, as the name suggests, leads a wannabe, flashy lifestyle, kept alive by dreams of going to Hollywood “shahar”. Needless to say, the three don’t get along and are better off not having anything to do with one another.
As fate would have it, however, the lure of a fortune promised by Dadaji Chhatrapal Gill’s will forces the brothers to live in harmony. Three years after grandpa’s death is when they can get their hands on the property in Himachal Pradesh.
For a comedy to be enjoyable, a smart story and slick, funny dialogue are imperative. The comic timing of characters can do a world of wonders to any film of this genre. Unfortunately, in the case of 3 Thay Bhai, apart from Talpade’s bang-on comic timing, everything and everybody else fall flat. A few chuckles here and there do not guarantee a two-and-a-half hour journey of fun and frolic.
Too many loose ends, a patchy storyline, and unnecessary additions to the plot make this pseudo comedy a sore watch. The story meanders from the farms of Punjab to the snowed-down peaks of North India, adding unnecessary elements along the way.
First-time director Mrigdeep Singh Lamba manages to extract satisfactory performances which constitute the saving grace of the film. While Puri hams his way throughout, Talpade manages to elicit a few chuckles because of his fantastic comic timing. Dobriyal, (seen recently in films like Daayen Ya Baayen and Tanu Weds Manu), is a natural and plays the timid quack with poise. Khanna’s village-belle act looks more like an afterthought though the girl manages to impress in a blink-and-you-miss appearance.
To cut a long story short, you won’t miss much if you skip this tepid tale of three brothers. 3 Thay Bhai has no comedy, no entertainment, and nothing much to look forward to.
