Producer: Sangeeta Ahir
Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Amrita Rao, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi
Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Mahesh Manjrekar’s who has so far made only stern and serious films, opts for a change with ‘Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi’. Produced by Sangeeta Ahir this is more of a fancy film and is greatly inspired by the fantasy kind and children films of Bollywood in the past. There are evidences of ‘Brahmachari’, ‘Mr. India’ and ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’ other than Hollywood flicks like  ‘Ghost’ and ‘Meet Joe Black’.

At the onset you’ve to credit the director and producer for treading into such gambling territory and also coming out winning in making a film that is entertaining and engrossing throughout with a taut script and the effective use of the special effects. The film makes you believe a fantasy! It has its own strength and you’ve to credit the execution for that. The film will appeal to the child and elders alike and is an ultimate family film.

Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) lives happily with his big family comprising his grandmother (Suhasini Mulay), brother (Mohnish Bahl), sister-in-law (Ekta Bahl), sister and his niece and nephew. He loves Neha (Amrita Rao) who is the tutor of the children. They decide to get married soon. Aditya has the responsibility to get his sister married and searches a groom who demands a dowry of Rs. 50 lacs. For the happiness of his sister he commit to the relation and mortgage his bungalow to arrange the money. He looks forward to repay the money from a business deal. But before he is able to fulfill any dreams he meets with an ill-fated accident and dies. He finds himself in the company of Yamraj (Sanjay Dutt) after that.

Aditya begs and pleads to Yamraj to make him return back to the earth as he has some responsibilities to complete. Yamraj doesn’t agree to it initially but when he sees the suffering of his family on earth he decides to send Aditya back. He sets the condition that nobody will be able to see or hear Aditya and he will have to return back anyhow within one-week time. Aditya and Shakti (a kid who died in the same day) go back to earth and discover that only Fakira BPCM (Arshad Warsi) can see and listen to them. With the help of Fakira Aditya completes all the undone task.

Indeed this was a fairy tale! So scrutinizing the film with critical eyes is a strict no-no. The new age Yamraaj, the high tech flying car, Fakira BPCM - all have been treated with variation. The beginning of the film appears quite average and ordinary but after Shahid’s dies there is a turn of events and the film transforms into an image filled fantasy. The film moves in from here with good execution. But the second half again takes a downward trend with too many songs, and the decline of interesting scenes. However the engrossing climax again makes you sit up and notice.

Mahesh Manjrekar proves his strength as a director as he attempts a very different film from the route he generally follows and also manages to stir through it smoothly.  Prime Focus has given special effects of international standard and this is one of the highlighting points of the film. Cinematography by Vijay Arora is appealing. Himesh Reshammiya just manages to pull mediocre music.

Sanjay Dutt in the role of Yamraj stand out with his striking characteristic and equally good performance. Shahid Kapoor does a commendable work with his sincere efforts. Arshad Warsi once again calls for attention for his brilliant delivery. Amrita Rao appears fine. In the role of villains Prem Chopra, Sharat Saxena and Rajat Bedi are apt. The kids have also done a commendable job, but Shweta and Tanvi haven’t been given their due with the roles.

The film is entertaining, establishes what it aims, has a good story and effects, and with all this positive ingredients, the release during Christmas should also prove fruitful for it.