Why can’t comedy be intelligent? Why do we always have to resort to logicless, dated and deary jokes in an attempt to make the audience laugh? David Dhawan’s Rascals doesn’t answer any of these questions. In fact, the 2011 film takes us back to the time when offensive humour was accepted and objectification was normal.

In this week’s Wahiyat Wednesday, we dissect Rascals and why, despite starring comedy kings Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt, the film failed at the box office.

Rascals revolves around the story of two con artists, Chetan (Sanjay Dutt) and Bhagat (Ajay Devgn) – and don’t even get us started on the names and what implies. They meet on a flight to Bangkok right after robbing Anthony (Arjun Rampal). Succumbing to their natural instinct, the two try to rob each other but only Chetan succeeds. Later, they both meet Khushi, whom they instantly like. Both try to get her sympathy and love. While Bhagat pretends to be blind, Chetan pretends to be a donor who helps the needy. Their quest to win the lady’s love ends when they bump into Anthony again, who kidnaps Khushi and demands money. What followed is a lot of confusion, bland jokes, painfully rhyming dialogues and a headache-inducing background sound.

David Dhawan returned with Rascals in 2011, after a two-year break. The director, however, did not bring any fresh perspective to this film. He follows his formula of slapstick, situational comedy in Rascals, only with an even more unconvincing, bizarre plotline.

Comedy films may have an incoherent storyline, but they make up for it with uninterrupted humour. Rascals even fails to do that. The film’s dialogues might make you chuckle a bit at their sheer mindlessness, but after a point that too gets jarring. Lines like, “Ghadi ho to Rado, gaadi ho to Prado, dekhta hoon serial Na Aana Is Des Laado,” and “Bhabiji ne aaj jyaada kapde pehne hain,” make you cringe.

The film is offensive, to say the least. Like any other David Dhawan film, women in Rascals are dumb, hysterical and loud. Here, women are unusually busty, with the camera zooming in and out on their chests. Lisa Haydon is reduced to a stripper, who is a part of the film only to make our aged heroes look cool in the song Shake It Saiyyan. Not just women, the film even cracks distasteful jokes on starving orphans in Somalia, mocks the differently-abled and the poor.

Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt, who are known for their comic timing, too look out of place in this film. Ajay Devgn tries hard to convince the audience with his energetic act, but he too knows that Rascals is a sinking ship.

Rascals turns 10 today. The film is available on Zee5, but we would advise you against watching it.