Producer: Ramesh Sippy
Director: Milan Luthria
Cast: John Abraham, Nana Patekar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Sameera Reddy
Music: Vishal Shekhar

Milan Luthria is a sort of experimentalist. When you set out to watch this film be ready to taste something new because ‘Taxi No. 9211’ is an innovation. Produced by Rohan Sippy the story is about the clash of John Abraham and Nana Patekar set in the milieu of Mumbai. Both of them have a chance encounter and what leads it to is a spinning tale of non-stop fun.

Raghav Shastri (Nana Patekar) is a clever taxi driver in reality who portrays to the world that he is an insurance agent. He is in need of thirty thousand rupees by any means to pay off loan at the end of the day. He has been striving hard to support his family and has changed 23 jobs in the last 15 years. Sonali Kulkarni plays his traditional Maharashtrian wife. Raghu needs rich customers to mint him extra money.

Jai Mittal (John Abraham) is also stuck in a similar situation. Another witty fellow and heir of a rich businesses he also needs money, but only adding more zeroes to thirty thousand making it to three hundred crores, at the end of the day! Jai needs to go to the court to claim his father’s will and prove that he is worthy for the take.  His father has willed millions in the name of a close associate (Shivaji Satam) and Jai has to gain the money. He can claim the money with only a piece of evidence that is now in Raghav’s hand.  And he needs a cab to get there.

They come across each other and Jai rides Raghu’s cab for the most edgy ride of his life, which will leave you bumping upon hilarious situations. Strike upon the most sidesplitting humour as two different people, two egoistic people and two humorous people sit side by side. Reeling the proceedings of a single day Raghav and Jai are on their ride of life!

The striking screenplay and the complexities of the characters make this film high on entertainment. You find the film resembling ‘Bluffmaster’ in the way it is handled. The film doesn’t cater to a specific genre as a whole and Milan Luthria has made it a point to make the film in broad perspective. There is drama, emotion and there is comedy and the film can be rather said as the equal balance of all. Also Sanjay Dutt’s narration in the ‘Munnabhai’ tone gives a gives a good foundation of the story in the beginning of the film. 
 
Milan Luthria is a fine director and the film once again proves that. He presents a novel film with a very different storyline. There are scenes in the film that are a glimpse of his deftness in filmmaking capturing the traces and glory of Mumbai. The first interaction between John and Nana in the cab, Nana and Sonali’s scene at the railway station, again at the police station; the climax scene between John and Shivaji Satam, all are signatures with a creative finesse. A better editing and more punch would have worked better in this kind of film.  Also some scenes would have been better avoided that finds no logical reasons. The script of the film could have been tighter for the two hours journey and it sometimes does look like tearing off with exaggerated things. Cinematography by the LA based Kartik Vijay who makes his Hindi film debut with the movie is fresh.

Nana Patekar performance is exceptional with him adding more dimensions and depth to his character. Holding the thread of his performance is John Abraham who delights with his screen presence. This is supposedly the best performance of his career. Sonali Kulkarni is outstanding with her controlled acting neither giving away nor holding back but just apt. Sameera Reddy’s character is poorly sketched. Priyanka Chopra’s special appearance is appealing.

Scores by Vishal Shekhar stand out and uplift the mood of the film and Bappida’s number ‘Bambai nagariya’ just rocks and so does ‘Meter Down’. This film is entertainment  guaranteed and you’re on for lots of thrill and excitement with Nana and John!