New Delhi: As far as Aamir Khan's films go, their foil-wrapped sterility ensure they are suited for a family audience on their weekly pilgrimage to the local cineplex.
But all that may change as an uncouth bunch of bachelors crash their way into the cushy interiors of high end theatres with hushed lights and bucket seats. Delhi Belly could truly be the harbinger of the profane sex comedy.
So far, its music has topped charts with sheer experimental fusion, grunge beats and warped lyrics. 'Bhaag DK Bose' has the distinct 'Green Day'ish punk rock feeling to it and has, in one fell swoop, replaced the cutesy 'Munni' and 'Sheila' anthems that had the nation in a vice grip in the past few months.
It's interesting how the bachelors are reclaiming territory. While a beefy but defiant Salman Khan laments the aspersions cast on his character in a new groovy track for his upcoming film 'Ready', the Delhi Belly bachelors bring in loungy 'Nakkaddwaley Disco, Udhaarwaley Khisko'.
The origin of 'Delhi Belly' is humble. The script was lying in a pile of unread manuscripts at Khan's house and had Kiran Rao not riffled through it and keeled over laughing, it may not have seen the light of day.
But here's the tricky bit. It's all good that Khan, the shrewd strategist that he is, has embarked on a delicately balanced negative publicity of his own venture to pique the curiosity of an audience high on a syrup overdose, but can our audience stomach as irreverent sex comedy?
The traditionally inclusive family entertainer market has endured worse. It has weathered the occasional dark comedy and the chance high octane social drama. Though Khan denies that DB is a sex comedy, he admits in a blog post that the film has the potential to destroy his clean image he has built over the years with his clean entertainers.
The film uses profanity and makes no effort to smoothen the rough edges. Imran Khan hopefully sheds the puppy fat of 'Jaane Tu…' and emerges as the gritty Delhiite. He sports a black eye in the film's poster which he may have deserved. But the pre-hype created around the film may eventually work as a negative factor for its marketing. Delhi Belly also stars Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapoor, and is directed by Abhinay Deo.
Delhi Belly has the potential to fall into the American Pie trap without actually replicating its crispness or its success. It may break new ground as this generation's 'Confessions' series. But whether it will add anything new to the experience of a chip-on-the-shoulder sexual exploration series, remains to be seen.
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