Movie Review : Aao Wish Karein (2009)

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Aao Wish Karein: Cute but could have been better

Rating: 2.5 out of 5*

Starring: Aftab Shivdasani, Aamna Shariff and Johnny Lever

Director: Glenn Baretto

The film narrates the tale of Mickey (Aftab) a 12 year old kid. He is left heartbroken on realizing he is an adopted child and that the girl he fancies as his angel, the 23 year old Mitika (Aamna) calls him a ‘Kid’. Cajoled by the local street side clown Hitchcock (Johnny Lever), Mickey wishes for a miracle. Voila it takes place and the next morning when he gets up he turns into a young man! Mickey first has a hard time convincing his best buddy Bonnie that it is no one else but him himself. The best thing about getting older so quick for Mickey is that he gets a chance to come closer to his big crush Mitika. He tries to impress her and she eventually falls in love with him. But things get further complicated as she gets ready to marry him. What happens next forms the rest part of the film.

Clearly inspired by Tom Hanks starrer Big (1988), Aao Wish Karein however is a cute film that somehow fizzles out in the last few moments. Turning producer as well as writer with this film, Aftab Shivdasani has interwoven some really heartwarming moments in the screenplay. Aftab trying to woo Aamna has come out really endearing. The scenes between Mickey and Hitchcock are very good too. The kiddie portion however could have been shorter in length. The only problem that film faces is once the romance between Aamna and Aftab gets established there is barely any conflict left to keep you engaged.

Aftab is very good in his act and never resorts to unnecessary hamming trying to act like a kid locked up in an adult body. Aamna Shariff has great screen presence and shows a lot of improvement in her acting since her debut act in Aloo Chaat. Johnny Lever is fun whenever he is on screen. The kid playing Bonnie is good.

Director Glen Baretto who had earlier co-directed Aftab starrer Jaane Hoga Kya does a fair job in here. He has succeeded in giving the film a very soft romantic feel within a fairy tale setting. The music of the film credited to three music directors - Ankur Tewary, Xulfi and Mickey McCleary is a pleasant surprise. The best number of the lot being Ankur Tewary’s Sabse Peeche Khade which was incidentally, seen earlier in Let’s Enjoy. The choreography by Longine Fernandes of Slumdog Millionaire fame is very imaginative.

Aao Wish Karein is a cute clean romantic film but lack of imaginative writing towards the climax brings the graph down a bit. However, it makes for a decent watch.

-Sampurn Media