Director: Jugal Hansraj

Indian animation has finally come of age. Roadside Romeo, the first Walt Disney-Yashraj rollout is a barrel of fun: “Bole toh, ekdum jhakaas, baap”.

It combines the best aspects of both studios — Disney’s expertise in creating animated figures which live and breathe, and Yashraj’s forte in frothy romance: what better than getting Romeo and Laila voiced by real-life lovers Saif and Kareena?

Romeo is a one-time pampered pooch, now abandoned on the mean streets of Mumbai. Laila is a saucy, red-scarf-around-her-dainty-neck dancer, who only has to bat her impossibly large eyelashes for Romeo to start panting. Trouble looms in the shape of the pug-ugly Charlie Anna (Jaaved), who rules with a ruthless paw and a bunch of louts. He fancies Laila, and woe to any Tom, Dick, or Romeo who dares come in between.

The alacrity with which the characters break into song-and-dance shows that Disney or no Disney, Bollywood rules. Whether style-bhai Romeo is kicking up his heels with his canine pals, or looking for a likely spot to pee (“Yahaan koi toilet nahin hai kya? Man, what a dump!”) you can actually see Saif, who does cool like none else. And when sexy Laila shakes her charming rump, breathily coming on to her besotted beau, you know that’s Kareena. Both sizzle up the screen.

Where debutant director Jugal Hansraj falters is with the villainous Chaaaarrrlie Anna: Jaaved Jaaferi is made to growl incomprehensibly and break wind more often than getting a chance at being a riot. He does make you guffaw, but only once in a while, and for someone of Jaaferi’s goofy brilliance, that’s not enough.

But we can live with this Charlie. In his words, he’s our chappie, so he makes us happy. We can also handle the strong resemblance our Mumbai curs have to Disney-style American doggie-doos, because we know that given a chance, they will open their mouths to utter a desi “bhow bhow” rather than the westernised “bow wow”. Roadside Romeo is Hindi cinema’s first stylish, slick animated feature, which pulls off the toughest feat — appealing to both adults and children.

That’s, like, cool, dude.

shubhra.gupta@gmail.com