Director - Vir Das and Kavi Shastri 
Cast - Vir Das, Sharib Hashmi, Mithila Palkar, Mona Singh, Srushti Tawade, Sumukhi Suresh, Imran Khan, Aamir Khan
Duration – 121 Minutes
 
Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos is a Vir Das vehicle that promises zany comedy, political satire, and a chaotic romp across Goa, but ultimately struggles to juggle its many ambitions. The film follows Happy (Vir Das), a sweet but clueless young man raised in England by his British dads, who discovers a shocking truth about his Indian heritage. Thrust into the sun-soaked chaos of Goa, Happy unwittingly becomes embroiled in a madcap spy plot involving a deadly fairness cream, eccentric criminals, and a mission that’s as absurd as it is convoluted.
 
The film’s strongest asset is Das himself. He infuses Happy with endearing doofus charm, comic timing, and a self-aware absurdity that occasionally lands with genuine laughs. The eccentric supporting cast—including Piyush Mishra, Sharib Hashmi, Mona Singh, and a curly-haired moppet played by Shrushti Tawade—adds energy and quirkiness, though many characters remain underdeveloped. Special mentions go to Aamir Khan and Imran Khan’s cameo appearances, which are over-the-top, anarchic, and briefly steal the show, injecting a Delhi Belly-style irreverence that the rest of the film often lacks.
 
Written by Das and Amogh Ranadive, the screenplay tries to tackle everything at once: identity, racism, colourism, masculinity, parenthood, and Bollywood satire. Unfortunately, the film’s ideas collide rather than coalesce. Just as one plotline or joke begins to settle, the narrative darts off in another direction, leaving the audience struggling to catch its rhythm. The chaotic energy often tips over into overstuffed chaos rather than coherent comedy, making the two-hour-plus runtime feel longer than it should.
 
Visually and tonally, the film embraces a Bollywood burlesque style, complete with slapstick slaps, flamboyant costumes, and melodramatic sequences. Das’s broken Hindi, British-accented delivery, and the film’s playful meta-commentary on creaky Bollywood tropes provide occasional amusement, but the jokes rarely have the consistency or punch required to sustain the momentum. Mona Singh as the female don is a highlight—her crisp timing, eccentricity, and sheer audacity make her a delight whenever she’s on screen. Sharib Hashmi’s performance also deserves praise for grounding some of the lunacy with earnestness.
 
Where the film shines emotionally is surprisingly brief. Happy’s tentative steps into his Indian identity and the tender moments of self-realization offer a heartwarming contrast to the otherwise zany proceedings. These flashes of sincerity hint at the film’s potential to blend comedy with meaning, but they’re too sporadic to anchor the narrative fully.
 
Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos is a film of spurts—occasionally hilarious, intermittently moving, but frequently overstuffed and directionless. Vir Das’s charm, standout cameos, and select comedic beats make it a passable watch for fans of quirky, chaotic Bollywood comedy, but the film’s overambitious reach prevents it from fully delivering on its promise.