Rating: 3.5/5

Zippy opinion: Don’t be fooled. Faltu is ‘in’. Get with it.

Release date (India): 1st April 2011

Director: Remo D’Souza
Producer: Vashu Bhagnani
Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Puja Gupta, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Angad Bedi

When I graduated from school with a high percentage, I was asked, ‘What will you pursue now? Science or commerce?’ Arts, my preferred stream, wasn’t even considered an option. I’m sure your choice of education was challenged too. F.A.L.T.U. is the story of a group of 4 friends, Ritesh (Jackky Bhagnani), Puja (Puja Gupta), Vishnu (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and Nanj (Angad Bedi) who like to party more than they like to study. When their junior college results are out, they manage to pass but not make enough of a mark to gain admission to degree college. Even Vishnu who scores a 94% is disappointed because he’s aware of the competition. At Vishnu’s celebration party, Ritesh, Puja and Nanj are humiliated and they need to think of a solution to escape the paths their parents are going to chalk out for them. Ritesh comes up with the idea of a fake acceptance letter and a F.A.L.T.U. college as a temporary solution. While they manage to convince their parents, the F.A.L.T.U. college website opens its doors to students all over the country who weren’t accepted anywhere else. The rest of the film is the journey of these kids.

Although inspired from Hollywood movie Accepted, F.A.L.T.U. has been adapted well to the Indian setting. The writing in of characters like Google Chand (Arshad Warsi) and Baaji Rao (Riteish Deshmukh) is absolutely hilarious. Google Chand has the answers to everything because he’s ‘Google’ and Baaji Rao is a revolutionary leader who teaches students maths tables with analogies of Munni and Sheila. Of course, the tribute to 3 Idiots cannot be missed with Boman Irani’s presence as an orthodox school principal.

Chaar baj gaye lekin party abhi baaki hai is already the song we’re all singing and is on its way to becoming the youth anthem. Everyone who has taken a trip to Goa with their friends (most of us) identifies with it. With the song Awaz, director Remo really shines as a choreographer. The lyrics perfectly complement the illuminati dance and send out a strong message. It is the strongest sequence in the film and definitely applause worthy.

Beneath all that fun, games and partying lies the most important social message. We are faltu only in the eyes of others. Our faltu hobbies can be turned into professions. Watching the film is like watching the youth’s thoughts being enacted. One studies in school to secure admission in a good college that will guarantee you a job. The importance is the learning of the skill, not the 99% mark. Working on a faltu hobby can get you that job! It is a comment on our education system. We must take chances and switch to alternative education and digital learning. The release of the film is timely. We’re feeling high in spirits, junior college students have appeared for their final exams and it’s vacation time.

I am feeling fully faltu. I think you will too.

By Dhruvi Shah for MissMalini.com