Karan Johar comes up with another film that is very identified with his own style of film-making, Dostana. He combines comedy, drama and emotions in one film, though in this case there's more balance, though it leans more on the comedy. The film, in contrast to Johar's previous films where all starts as a great comedy but ends up in a tearful melodrama, remains a comedy almost from start to end, though different clichés from time to time are inevitable and easy to predict. This is not a bad thing, that's Johar's style and it has clearly worked for him in previous attempts, but while I found myself laughing from time to time, I was also quite annoyed by some of the cheesy proceedings.

The direction is pretty good, not that anything great is required there to begin with. The cinematography is well done, the locations are fantastic. The westernised music matches the light mood of the film. The film is stylish and modern, but it certainly doesn't have the refreshing quality of films like Salaam Namaste and Hum Tum. The various jokes in the film do manage do work though some of them are unoriginal and we are already familiar with them thanks to our film experience. It's still fun, maybe because it's new for a Hindi film, and maybe because the jokes work and it's amusing to see the leading actors in such situations.

Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham get equal footage, and they are okay. John does not lose any chance to take his shirt off and get cocky, which really gets on one's nerves. Abhishek performs better and he's more effective in comic sequences. Hottie Priyanka Chopra plays their friend and a struggling career woman. She's not a great actress, but she's competent in a role which is not very demanding but pivotal. Kirron Kher utterly steals the show with her brief appearance. Her loud and hysterical mother is just hilarious, and her transformation from a desperate mother to someone who learns to accept her son's "identity" is brilliant. The fact that we know the truth only makes it funnier. I can't see another actress doing this part as well.

All in all, Dostana is a decent one. It is filled with the usual clichés and the moments of old platitude one can expect from a movie of this sort; it is predictable, it is stereotypical and not very original, but having said that, it is entertaining and fairly enjoyable. Try this Bollywood entertainment, preferably with your family or friends, which may elevate your level of enjoyment of it.

A cliche, bad acting, fun movie.

I won't watch again.

10 years back no one would ever dare dream of making a movie on this plot and now as you see it happening on the screen, you know that our Indian Cinema is on its path of progress at par with the world cinema. Credit of this goes to all the young directors from the Gen-X and to the people backing them all financially.

In straight words, "Dostana" is not a masterpiece but it is an enjoyable path breaking film, showing you what you have never witnessed before on Indian Silver Screen. If you see it from another angle then "Dostana" is one of the most stylish movie ever made in Bollywood, in respect of costumes, looks, location and content. The only lacking part I found was the publicity designs which should have been more stylish. They are too simple as compared to the movie.) Coming to the story, it's a first in Hindi Cinema and targets more on the urban and multiplexes audiences. Two guys (Abhishek & John) desperately in search of a house, decide to act as a gay couple when they see an apartment not to be missed. The house belongs to a successful fashion woman (Priyanka),who has a beauty out of this world. Now this creates the problem as both our heroes fall in love with her, but the girl has other plan to follow.

The sad part remains the same that we still have to borrow our ideas from the west and closely watch what they are making at their end. But as we are now on the right path and may be in the coming years will leave this ugly habit too. Here "Dostana" has the shades of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" (2007).

Clearly it is not a movie for small centers, as those viewers, may not find the humor in the movie, there cup of tea. It's purely a Gen-X movie for the city centers and should find great audience coming majorly from City Schools, Colleges and other Educational Institutes as they will be able to grasp the subject better with their www based knowledge and understanding. For others "Dostana" is a movie with great clothing and good skin show.

The movie has its plus and minus points both but as the plusses are completely new and innovative so they overcome the minuses. Performance wise, the top three are equally good and look stunning in their excellent costumes (thought there are not many on their bodies).

Abikshek unexpectedly is having all the fun posing a gay, with all those added histrionics, he really gives a splendid performance, which rocks. John at first looks resisting but then enters the skin of his role. The viewers really enjoy them both posing as gays. Hats off to both of them for accepting this movie with dare.

Priyanka Chopra looks the most stunning and out of this world like never before. She should stick to this look and note how the costumes in this movie suit her perfectly. Her expressions and looks in the first half are just mind blowing. This movie will surely add to her fan following in many folds. You are bound to fall in love with her after watching "Dostana".

There is a surprise element in the form of "Bobby Deol" who was not revealed in the publicity of the movie. He gives a very calm, elegant and subtle performance as Priyanka's new boss and he can easily add this film into his top 5 movies. He suits the character to the "T' and casting him was intelligently thought by the director.

In a movie based on Gay characters, the best and highly entertaining act as a Gay comes from "Boman Irani" and then comes the superb performance by "Kiron Kher" as Abhishek's mother. The sequence where they all are in one frame is very enjoyable and well directed. But surprisingly Boman Irani vanishes after this. It would have been more entertaining if he was somehow given more scenes post interval too.

The movie has more pace in the first half and drops in the second. The moment plot shifts from the "Gay Angle" to "Love Triangle", it starts dragging and lacks the require pull post interval. What covers this drag is the unexpected and controversial climax which is again well done by the first time director Tarun. The audiences scream and shout their hearts out as they see the last scene.

Vishal Shekhar again come up with a foot tapping number "Maa Da Ladla". In fact this song is better than "Desi Girl" which was aired more before the release. And following the usual ages old trend the "Desi Girl" songs is inserted where it is not needed. Even Shilpa Shetty looks like wasted as her song is used in the opening titles.

So despite of some minuses, "DOSTANA" works because it is a first of its kind and secondly it is pleasing to eye, stylish and rich on content. Go For It !