FIRST CUT: Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? is entertaining

Warner Bros production Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? is based on Sharad Joshi's novel Tum Kab Jaoge Atithi. While going to watch this film, do remember that it is not a madhouse comedy like Priyadarshan's or David Dhawan's. It takes you there slowly and subtly, bringing home the message.

Puneet (Ajay Devgan) is a scriptwriter who's landed a big film project. He has an interior designer wife, Munmun (Konkona Sen Sharma) and a little son.

Life is pretty much routine for them until a relative arrives one day from Gorakhpur, calling himself Chachaji (Paresh Rawal). While friends and neighbours are irritated with guests at home, Puneet and Munmun actually welcome their new arrival.

But right from the moment he enters the buildingcomplex, Chachaji causes havoc with his old-fashioned and some very weird and annoying ways. Soon, Puneet and Munmun start looking for ways to get rid of him, but to no avail. This old worldly and simple uncle just doesn't seem to get the hint.

The first half of the film goes in establishing all this, and does a pretty good job of it. There are twists and turns in the second half, all tackled with the help of comic situations.

What scores is that the film does not have slapstick or in-your-face comedy. It is just about loving and accepting your guest, the way he or she is - taking the good things from them and ignoring the bad. However, the film does not say whether one should accept and endure guests who are not relatives of the hosts. That could be a different story altogether.

Paresh Rawal is the rockstar in Atithi.... Here is one character actor for whom people flock to the box office.

It looks like Ajay Devgan would continue his successful spree after 2009's All the Best, although London Dreams didn't do that well. The actor is in full form in the scene where he confesses he wouldn't even have tolerated his dad as a guest for more than four days, and that his son would do the same.

Konkona Sen Sharma is a natural as the modern, working wife, mother and daughter-in-law. She looks pretty, too, and adds a freshness to the film.

It's an exciting week for Satish Kaushik, with two films releasing on the same day. He convincingly plays the film producer in Atithi..., as well as the mechanic in Studio18's Road, Movie. The beginning of a good year for the lovable 'Calendar' from Mr. India - who is more successful as an actor than a director.

Writer-director Ashwani Dheer's Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? almost reminds you of Karan Johar's 'It's all about loving your family' punch in his films - although in the message, not the treatment. But Atithi... is a good eye-opener for today's youngsters who lead a fast life just like Puneet and Munmun, and have no time even for parents. And never does the film get boring or sermonic. But remember, it's not a laugh riot, but displays comedy with the help of dialogues, situations, and parodies (like Beedi Jalailey becomes prayer song Jyoti Jalailey).

Verdict: All in all, Atithi... is a family film, and seems like a best bet this week to watch with one's family, as compared to the other films.