Producer: G.A. Seshagiri Rao 
Director: K. Raghavendra Rao 
Cast: Johny Lever, Tabu, Juhi Chawla, Chandrachur Singh, Govinda
Music: Himesh Reshmmiya

The title and the cast of the film reminded me of the classic comedy, Teen Bahuraniyan. The film also starring Agha and yesteryear actress Shashikala revolved around a joint family and the financial problems they face which culminated in how the young kids are finally given the opportunity to run the house of their parents income and how the lesson is finally driven home to both the kids as well as the parents by the grand daddy played aptly by Prithviraj Kapoor. The film also boasted of a song whose lines were ‘Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupiya…bhaiya na pucho na pucho haal..”

So it was with this enthusiasm that I went to see the movie, expecting this one to drive inspiration from the classic, this subtle promised to be a laugh riot. However this was what was not to happen, the new avtar turned out to be a damp squib.

AAKR began funnily enough, though. As the name suggests, the film primarily deals with the monetary problems faced by the average middle class breadwinner. Add to those money worries, three lazy, chauvinistic men and the problems are bound to be more than just monetary.

So, we have the Appu Khote (Johny Lever), Ravi (Chandrachur Singh) and Vijay (Vinay Anand) who work as mechanics. Back home, their better halves Vimla (Ketaki Dave), Meena (Tabu) and Anjali (Isha Koppikar), who also happen to be the best of friends, complete the pretty picture. All is well until Jhumri (Juhi Chawla) and her husband Bhim (Govinda) arrive at the scene.

Non - conformists, they manage to scandalise the entire colony with the going-ons in their household. What with Jhumri going off to work and Sajanwa doing all the chores including the cooking and cleaning. This become a bone of contention for our original ladies to are inspired to seek employment themselves to help with the monthly bill. The men of the house oppose and the riot begins. A drug dealer, a bar girl and a bevy of policemen are added to the hodge-podge of the plot.

Though director Raghavendra Rao wanted to drive a social message across but he seems to have confused the genres. He changes track from comedy to hysteria in the blink of an eyelid. And you are left pretty clueless.

The only saving grace in this otherwise ridiculous effort is the acting. Tabu, Johny Lever and Ketaki Dave turn in good performances though Dave has been steoroetypically cast as the junagadi a ra ra character. Chandrachur Singh's performance is mediocre at best. And though Isha Koppikar and Vinay Anand pass muster, Anand (for those who are not aware he is Govinda’s Nephew) tends to get theatrical at times.

The real scene stealers however are Govinda and Juhi. They light up the screen with their impeccable comic timing. Juhi makes a great comeback as Jhumri, the real star of the film. Pity then, that these two have the tiniest parts.

The film is good in parts, but it is better for you to part with those parts and avoid it altogether.