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Can You Get Through These 'Sex Comedy' Scenes Without Cringing?

Can You Get Through These 'Sex Comedy' Scenes Without Cringing?
MUMBAI, INDIA - AUGUST 01: Bollywood actors Tusshar Kapoor, Neha Sharma with producer Ekta Kapoor during the success party of the film 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum' in Mumbai on Wednesday (Photo by Yogen Shah /India Today Group/Getty Images)
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MUMBAI, INDIA - AUGUST 01: Bollywood actors Tusshar Kapoor, Neha Sharma with producer Ekta Kapoor during the success party of the film 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum' in Mumbai on Wednesday (Photo by Yogen Shah /India Today Group/Getty Images)

The first quarter of this year has begun fairly well for Bollywood. The movies that have been acclaimed by critics also reaped rewards at the box office. Films like Baby, Badlapur, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, and now NH10 have not only received near-universal acclaim (we've disagreed with a few of those opinions, unfortunately, but that doesn't mean these films are bad), but have raked in a cumulative Rs 185-odd crores (and counting) in ticket sales.

It is therefore with a little more hope than usual that we look forward to the release of Hunterrr, a sex comedy starring Gulshan Devaiah (Shaitan) and Radhika Apte (Badlapur), this Friday. Produced by Phantom Films, Hunterrr has been written and directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, who wrote last year's refreshingly different rom-com Hasee Toh Phasee. However, it must be said that, in Hindi cinema, this genre has been fraught with problems. Since the beginning of the noughties, a number of sex or 'adult' comedies have been made by Bollywood, taking inspiration from American franchises such as the American Pie films. While the majority — from Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai (2002) and Mumbai Matinee (2003) — were utter washouts; however, others, like Masti (2004) and Kya Kool Hai Hum (2005), have turned into successful franchises. Indeed, 2013's Grand Masti, a sequel to the 2004 film, turned out to be one of the biggest box-office hits of that year.

All these films, however, have generally been panned by critics for their crudeness and overtly misogynistic overtones. Far from producing films that deal with sex the way filmmakers like Woody Allen or Judd Apatow have done in Hollywood, Bollywood tends to rely on tired jokes, slapstick humour, and over-the-top acting.

Don't take our word for it. Have a look at these clips we found on YouTube. As Yoda once almost said, "The cringe is strong with these ones."

1. Karishma Tanna simulates the world's worst b***j*b in Grand Masti (2013)

Viveik Oberoi is the doubting husband who has come to his wife Karishma Tanna's office, only to find her in her boss's cabin in an, erm, compromising position. What happens next will neither shock nor amaze you — but you do risk getting a nosebleed from the force of your palm hitting your face.

Cringe-O-Meter Reading

2. Kya Super Kool Hain Hum (2012) throws canine copulation and terrible puns in your general direction

It's entirely possible that the entire 'canine copulation' angle was only added to this scene so that the writer could get one of the characters to say 'doggy-style'.

Cringe-O-Meter Reading

3. Payal Rohatgi shows off her body and her terrible acting skills in Mazaa Mazaa (2005)

If you've been looking for the Holy Grail of bad acting, congratulations, here it is. "So you are...there, Monica."

Cringe-O-Meter Reading

4. Neha Sharma makes godawful puns at an 'arranged match' lunch in Kya Super Kool Hain Hum (2012)

"Blue film." "Badey Achhey Lagte Hain." You already know the jokes because you are, hopefully, more than eight years old.

Cringe-O-Meter Reading

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.