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Review Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year :

For the past three years or to be more precise, after the release of ‘Chak De India!’ Yashraj Films have shown a complete change in their film making business. Now we don’t see much of Switzerland with aerial photography and not even much of their traditional bhangra beats. What we witness now is something connected with the life of a common man. The team of Aditya Chopra( the producer) , Jaideep Sahni( the writer)  and Shimit Amin( the director)  have come together once again to make this film 'Rocket Singh- Salesman of the Year' based on sales gimmicks adopted by companies to sale their products.

Harpreet Singh Bedi( Ranbir Kapoor)  who is from a middle class background takes up sales job after graduating with something like 37.5 % marks. He prefers to take up this job as there is no scope for him to get job elsewhere and his financial condition at home does not permit him to pursue higher studies. His only wish is to support his old Grandpa( Prem Chopra), who is kind enough to gift him  a new scooter from his PF funds. Harpreet lands in a computer company -AYS, where he does job with sincerity but his Sales manager and Big Boss treat him as a big zero and Harpret is asked to make cold calls from his desk, instead of field job. His colleagues make fun of him by throwing paper rockets at him. One day Harpreet comes across a new girl ( Shazahn Padamsee) in the form a prospective customer and his life takes a new turn. Almost at the same time he comes across a computer accessories dealer- Lalwani .

Harpreet, who is bullied by his sales manager( Naveen Kaushik) and his ruthless big boss (Manish Chaudhari) finds his well wishers among few office colleagues like the receptionist( Gauahar Khan), Tea- boy cum Peon Chotelal  ( Mukesh Bhatt) and computer engineer Giri (D. Santosh) . Looking at the efforts put in by Harpreet to start a parallel company -Rocket Sales Corpn, they offer all support but are caught by the Sales Manager. But, even he is tempted to join hands with them. Harpreet who feels the guilt of  operating from AYS, finally decides to make his girl friend as their new partner and shift their office to her place overnight. But, the shrewd big boss who is disturbed about a new company taking away his business is vigilant and Giri is caught red handed. Big boss then traps all of them and forces Harpreet to sell his company to him in return of  taking back the police case for economic offence filed against all of them .


Finally, with happy ending, the film tries to suggest that it is not simply the name but the credibility of the company that works. Very cleverly the script writer hints at the importance of  'after sales service' and the healthy tension free office environment that is necessary for boosting the work culture. At the same time it hits out at the impossible targets, bullying by the bosses and the bribery and sycophancy that go hand in hand while seeking  promotions and for retaining the jobs.

‘Rocket Singh Salesman of the year’, is a good effort from Yashraj films , but the film’s screenplay leaves behind many doubts about happening of certain events. Firstly, how could someone openly operate a parallel office within their own office risking their jobs? Secondly, when you have advanced technology to transfer the landline calls to your mobiles and vice versa and that you are offering 24 hours service, where was the need to receive the call during and after office hours on office landline? There are few more flaws that the film leaves in its screenplay. Otherwise,  the film is well presented in the form of good photography, timely dialogues and good performances. With few songs in the background, the music by Salim-Suleiman fails to impress. However, the background music is fine.You may call it a low budget film from Yashraj Films.

As there is only one hero, who may be called an upcoming hero( looking at the efforts he has put in)  and no heroine to be called as a leading lady. Shazahn Padamsee just plays Ranbir’s girlfriend and Gauahar Khan plays a receptionist who is already married. Among the character artistes, there are two actors who make their presence felt. They are D. Santosh who plays Giri-the Engineer and Manish Chaudhari, who plays the Big Boss. Watch those scenes where Harpreet is in serious talk with each one of them. It is their performance that helps in giving the film some realistic look. (***).