Nikamma Review: A futile attempt to crack you up

By:- Aakruti Bagla

Directed by:- Sabbir Khan

Starcast:- Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Samir Soni, Abhimanyu Dassani, Shirley Setia

Runtime:- 152 minutes

Rating:– 2/5

Nikkama is a remake of  2017 Telugu film film Middle Class Abbayi.
But has Sabbir Khan managed to rightly entertain us with its Hindi version?

Story : Adi, a middle-class boy, confronts a gangster in order to protect his sister-in-law whom he disliked previously. His stance towards her gradually changed after he learnt of her sacrifice for him and his girlfriend. But how does this love-hate relationship between the Devar-Bhabhi evolve and how does he manage to protect her, is what lies in the 152 minutes.

Review : While one is aware of putting so-called logic aside when we watch a masala entertainer, it needs to be presented with sheer conviction or articulated well.

Despite having the penchant towards the masala entertainer genre, Sabbir Khan’s shoddy execution fails not only to entertain, but also to thrill. Overall, he fails to hit the right mark.

The first half is used to set up the story, but doesn’t move at a desired pace. The music is a big letdown and only adds to the runtime.
Also, the film could have been tighter, which could have kept its perspective in place despite being predictable.

Inspite of being positioned as an action, the scenes are badly choreographed and not fleshed out well. However, some of the jokes do fall flat, and a few even seem dated. Some work could have been done on that as well.

Performances : Shilpa Shetty was the only saving grace of the film as it was a delight to see her on the big screen after 14 years. But it was the insipid writing that salvaged her performance. But, one can surely expect a surprising element from her end, which despite being predictable is a fine watch.
While young talents Abhimanyu Dassani and Shirley Setia energy was palpable, at places they went on board. Shirley Setia does not have much screen time and her role is passable. While Abhimanyu also fails to strike the right chord. His equation with Shilpa lacked the emotional depth.

Overall, Nikamma is an amalgamation of fun, action, and romance. But expecting too much from it would be a little disappointing as it has nothing pleasant to offer and can be skipped.