Well Done Abba

Rarely does bollywood come up with movies which highlight social problems of the people living in rural areas. People called “Aam Admi” (thanks to Rahul Gandhi, this phrase is becoming really popular). And when one does, it is mostly a serious movie or a satire which probably has a tragic ending.

Well Done Abba is far from that. It is a satire but one which has intermittent moments of laughter and an ending which does make you think, but not in a depressed manner.

WDA is set in a village in Andhra Pradesh (Chikatpalli) and is about Armaan Ali (and his quest for a well). Armaan Ali works as a driver with a big businessman in Mumbai and takes a month’s leave to find a groom for his only daughter Muskan.  But when he returns back after three months, his employer refuses to take him back. Armaan Ali convinces him to listen to his story first and then take a decision.

Like so many other villages in India, Chikatpalli has its own share of problems…and one of them is unavailability of water. After reaching the village, Armaan Ali learns that there is a scheme (Kapildhara scheme) under which those living under the poverty line will be given a sufficient amount of money to build a well on their land. When he actually decides to avail of this scheme, he faces corruption at every step. He has to bride every official and give them a percentage of the money he would get for building the well. Eventually, he ends up with literally no money in hand to dig the actual well. That’s where the first part of the movie ends and you are left wondering whether this is indeed a humorous movie.

But his fiery daughter decides to turn the table back on all the corrupt officials’ heads. The moment I heard father-daughter duo go to the police station and complain that “meri bouwdi chori ho gayee hai” (i.e., our well has been stolen), I knew it was going to be funny from then on. The duo, together with a motor-mechanic (who is secretly in love with Muskan) helps in getting the villagers together and start a movement which almost leads to a “no-confidence” motion in Vidhan Sabha.

Benegal’s Well Done Abba is a very witty film, well written and looks at relevant issues. It manages to keep you smiling for most of the movie. There are parts where you feel sad at the state of affairs in our country. It ends up making just the right statement on the many development projects that the government initiates but which frequently get hijacked by systemic corruption. Boman Irani as usual does a very good job.

Only problem with the movie is its pace. I think that the first part of the film was a bit slow, especially when all the characters were being introduced. And yes, too much time is devoted to a young married couple which frankly gets very repetitive, boring and embarrassing (if you are watching with your mother).

Shyam Benegal gives a strong message without compromising on its entertainment quotient. Worth Watching!

BTW, Well Done Abba' also bagged the National Award for best film on social issues.