Nikhil Advani creates yet another melodramatic Bollyflick that is 'Patiala House'. Given the script, it actually had potential of being an engaging film that tackles issues like racism, relationships and the cricket craze but Advani succumbs to Bollywood formula with the usual ingredients such as over-the-top characters, intrusive background score, brightly colourful songs, stereotypical clichés, needlessly lavish sets, sentimental scenes, overt patriotism, predictable conclusion and what not. I felt that the attempt to tackle racism was weak. A more subtle and sincere treatment could have made the difference here. Yet, if only mildly, 'Patiala House' is a tad better than the usual formula films that are churned out these days mostly because it raises some important issues (although it fails to tackle them well). Akshay Kumar takes a break from the usual mindless comedy. His performance does remind one of the work he did in awful movies like 'Ek Rishtaa' and 'Waqt, Rage Against Time' and he proves to be competent. It's high time that he chooses a decent film and a role that suits him for a change. One wonders when that's going to happen- Rishi Kapoor seems to have taken over Amitabh Bachchan's tyrannical dad role and he grossly overdoes it. Dimple Kapadia is brilliantly restrained but an actress of her calibre deserved better. Anushka Sharma is vivacious and has a commanding screen presence. 'Patiala House' is forgettable but it's not among the worst Hindi films of the year.

Okay, first up I suppose I best say that this is the best film Akshay Kumar has done for a long time. Whilst he will never be a great actor, at least here he does an excellent job with a character that could have been a disaster. No over the top performance, this is a measured effort that conveys the character's inner turmoils very well.The rest of the cast also do a fine job. Rishi Kapoor is always excellent and does a very creditable job as the head of the house. Dimple Kapadia plays his wife with sensitivity and purpose, although she is under utilised and perhaps underwritten and subservient in the screenplay. Anushka Sharma also does an excellent job in a role that could quite easily have devolved into a mess. I quite fancy that, on the evidence of her first four films, we may potentially be seeing the emergence of a new Queen of Bollywood.The film itself is a very interesting look at the family in an Indian household in Southall, London, where traditional values are being undermined somewhat by the younger generation being more influenced by the cosmopolitan opportunities of a more accepting London than that which their parents faced.The only real complaint I have with the film is that too many characters were brought to the fore and it results in a bit of confusion as to who is who. However, that aside, the screenplay is good, the film has a sense of purpose and moves forward at a nice pace. There is no unnecessary sentimentality brought into play and the end result is a film that does not scale great heights of classic cinema but is an eminently watchable film that deals with its subject matter very well.

Patiala House a movie deals with Asian minority issue in England during seventies to eighties.Akshay Kumar (Parghat Singh Kahlon) who is son of Rishi Kapoor(Gurtej Kahlon) a leader of Patiala House community wants to a bowler in England cricket team.But he couldn't play because of his father hates "Gora people".Then he Sacrifice his dreams for his father.A girl Anushka (Simran)change him when he enters in age of 34.Pragat Singh Kahlon has to choose one way weather he has to follow his father's honor or he has to play for his cousins who also have dreams but due to Gurtej Kahlon they also have sacrificed their dreams.In the first half movie bounds audience with emotional touch because of Pragat Singh Kahlon is criticizes by his own cousins.After interval movie becomes flow-less because a lot of movies have been made in cricket plot.Here movie looses it's rhythm.After continuous flop show of Akshay Kumar he choose a serious role but unfortunately Patiala House couldn't proof him.Rishi Kapoor has done a good work.Also Anushka did well.Nikhil Advani is still searching for success after "Kal Ho Na Ho".Music of movie is good including hit track "Loung Da Laskara" by Hard Kaur.Script could have been better.

A Punjabi family in London, father scarred by racial discrimination, child not allowed to play a sport. Haven't we seen it in 2002 in 'Bend it Like Beckham'? But the drama in this flick is more akin to the 2005 golf drama starring Shia LaBeouf, 'The Greatest Game Ever Played'. Just watch them both as the game ends; you'll notice!Rishi Kapoor plays Gurtej Singh Kahlon, a patriarch who runs his large joint family with an iron-fist and holds a sway over the Indian dominated suburb of Southall where racists are kept at bay and Indian cricket victories are celebrated with fanfare. Akshay Kumar plays his son, Gattu who has sacrificed his dream of playing cricket for England in the fire of his father's stubbornness. The rest of his family follows suit. Enter a silver lining in the form of a spirited Simran (Anushka Sharma) and her brother, the Patiala House now dares to think of a way out. So, what does this movie offer? There's plentiful drama, family values that conflict with young dreams. You also get to see Hard Kaur singing Bhajans and a 34-year old getting to debut for the national T20 team simply based on a selector who's seen his backyard bowling. Laughable premises in a quintessential Bollywood drama! But, to its credit, you don't see a father yelling 'Chak-de-Phatte' to his son in the stadium.But the film is however not about cricket. Coherent with the theme, it focuses on the father-son conflict arising from a generation gap and change in circumstances. But, the filmmakers exercise just enough caution not to show an England vs. India match, thus avoiding a possible double-whammy, and central theme losing focus.In fact, after a bucket-load of lame comedies, it is good to see Akshay Kumar in a serious role after a long time. He deserves applause for aptly playing man who lives as a shadow of himself but with the fire still burning bright within. Anushka Sharma has surely developed since her 'Rab-ne' days especially after 'Band Baaja Baaraat'. Should you watch this movie? Not if you are paying through your nose for an evening show in an up-market multiplex. But for Akshay Kumar's performance and Anushka's undeniable screen presence, you can give it a shot when it hits the small screen.