Turning words into pictures is fairly clichéd when it comes to Hollywood: Be it Francis De Coppola's The God Father or Stephen King's scintillating piece 'Different Seasons' adapted as The Shawshank Redemption. These are happening adaptations that have taken the position of 1 & 2 in the list of Hollywood's ever best films. Divulging to be so, the readers well-accepted these versions on the screen, merely because of good execution. Nevertheless, 'Hello' adapted from one of the finest hot-selling novels 'One Night @ the Call Centre' penned by Chetan Bhagat hits screens today. Indeed, Call centres happen to be the hot themes for novels and films…

Well, would the readers of this novel get gratified with its adapted handiwork? Not so sure, the film works out well on certain aspects. But again, long-drawn-out screenplay grinding to a halt gets the viewers bit annoyed. Chetan Bhagat fetches the good credits of penning an innovative novel, but things aren't the same with 'Hello' as screenplay crafted by Chetan and Atul Agnihotri is merely a mediocre.

Fine! Let's a glimpse through the synopsis of 'Hello'…

Hello... is a tale about the events that happen one night at a call center. Told through the views of the protagonist, Shyam (Sharman Joshi), it is a story of almost lost love, thwarted ambitions, absence of family affection, pressures of a patriarchal set up, and the work environment of a globalized office.

Shyam is losing his girl friend because his career is going nowhere as he trudges his way around in a call center. His girl friend, Priyanka (Gul Panag), is also an agent like him at the call canter who is about to be snatched by an NRI techno geek.

There is also the aspiring model, Esha (Isha Gopikaar), who is hopping for the break that seems to be always already eluding her and the man about town, Varun (Sohail Khan), who is into well, things. The housewife, Radhika (Amirta Arora), who is constantly at the receiving end of her mother-in-law and a beleaguered grandfather, Military Uncle Vijay Pratap Chauhan (Sharath Saxena), who has been barred from interacting with his grandchild make up the rest of the call agents who see their worlds crumbling around them as the decisions of right sizing are conveyed by Bakshi (Dilip Tahil), the boss.

It is a night when dreams will finally crumble. Or will it? For there is that call from God. Narrated as a tale within a tale as a beautiful woman (Katrina Kaif) meets the auteur/ narrator (Salman Khan) and promises him a story on the condition that he has to narrate it further….

Everyone loves 'Peeping tom' when it comes into the lives of call centre employees. This should have really evoked the interest of audiences to go for it. The characterizations have been precisely sketched, but the problem lies in establishing them… Yup! Establishing characterization vividly varies from novels-to-films and for sure film buffs would understand it. Atul Agnihotri should have better finished introducing the characters within first few minutes. But the entire first half is carried on demonstrating characters and their problems. Of course, the scenario prolongs to the earlier minutes of latter part too and it gives a wretched look.

Nothing to blame on the star-casts: everyone does a neat job with Sharman and Sohail Khan turning entire spotlights on them. They are enthusiastic right throughout emoting to fun, frolic and emotional quotients. Gul Panag doesn't deliver the best performance other than sharing romantic sequences with Sharman. Amirta Arora's performance is quite good, but it would have been better if the auteur had penetrated more on to her characterization. Ditto to Sharath Saxena and he should have been well-utilized….

Salman Khan appearing in cameo role doesn't mean that director should have let him at ease to perform on his own interest. Katrina Kaif with her cherubic looks captivates us though she appears for duration of not more than 10mins.

Exposing the customers buzzing up to the call centre executives has been very-well executed. It's so real of how some callers are so foolish and their queries too…

Musical score by Sajid-Wajid is commendable, but background scores are not solacing. The title song 'Bang Bang Bang' is sizzling and indeed a grand fiesta for fans of Sallu Bhai. Sanjay Gupta's cinematography is as enchanting as things have been well-worked out in interiors of call centre. Thanks to art director for decent works.

On the whole, 'Hello' showcases the moderate effort of entire team and would sustain in box-office for the interesting story….

Verdict: Watch it once.

Rating : **1/2