Hisaab Barabar, directed by Ashwni Dhir, opens with a charming small-town vibe, reminiscent of early 2010s sitcoms. Known for his work on comedy shows like Lapataganj and Chidiya Ghar, Dhir brings a certain liveliness to the characters, which initially feels refreshing. However, the film quickly loses steam, failing to carry its simplistic, television-style humor into the feature film format.
R Madhavan plays Radhe Shyam, a sincere ticket collector obsessed with numbers and financial balance. A former CA aspirant who took up his job after his father’s death, Radhe is the quintessential sitcom hero, always finding creative solutions to problems. However, as the story progresses, his character becomes repetitive and lacks the spark needed to keep the audience engaged.
The writing feels like a hangover from television, with didactic dialogues and predictable setups. The introduction of Neil Nitin Mukesh’s character, Mickey Mehta, sets the stage for the film’s central conflict: Mickey, a business tycoon, secretly siphons off money from his customers’ accounts. Radhe uncovers this scam and tries to bring it to light, but the story soon veers into an unnecessary love subplot between Radhe and Kirti Kulhari’s character, Subhash, a tough cop. Their relationship feels forced, with no real chemistry.
The overuse of the catchphrase “Hisaab Barabar” quickly becomes tiresome. Radhe applies this analogy to everything in his life—whether it’s his failed marriage, his interactions with his son, or even the purchase of extra oranges. The constant repetition of this phrase adds no depth to the character or the story, making the film feel shallow.
The performances also lack balance. Madhavan’s portrayal of Radhe is restrained, but it often feels artificial. Kirti Kulhari, who usually shines, is reduced to playing a generic tough-cop role, while Neil Nitin Mukesh’s performance as a business tycoon feels like a rehash of his previous negative roles.
Hisaab Barabar struggles to find its footing, with uninspired scenes and stale comedy that turns what could have been a light-hearted exploration of a bank scam into a gimmicky affair. The film’s humor feels outdated, and its attempts to address serious issues like financial scams lack the depth needed to make them impactful.
Had this film been released as a TV show in 2013, it might have worked as a quirky 20-minute sitcom. But in 2025, Hisaab Barabar feels like a damp squib, failing to evolve with the times.
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