Average film that could have been so much more, saved by great acting by lead Emraan Hasmi,Vidya Balan, Rajesh Sharma, and Namit Das. Film is about a bank robbery and how the three robbers are supposed to split the money after three months but the person with the money loses his memory in the interim. Dir Rajkumar Gupta tries hard to make a great film, but a very slow pace and the writing of the film are a big letdown. After a certain point the film doesn't move.What saves the film is some really fun moments, great acting by all 4 leads and a good ending. Overall one excepts more from such talent, exceptions were high after aamir and NOKJ but there are not meet. But the film is still enjoyable just don't walk in with too many exceptions.

Ghanchakkar has a very original and interesting premise. Three thieves loot a bank and one of them is given the money to hide till matter settles down. Three months later, the other two thieves are shocked to know that the one who took the money has lost his memory and has no clue where he hid the money.But somehow on screen, the movie didn't turn up well. Something was lost in translation. In the 2nd half, it became confusing because of various subplots such as Hashmi thinking that Balan is cheating on him. It also seems as if the writers just wanted to kill time before the climax.If the 2nd half has confusing moments, the climax is bizarre to say the least. A good suspense film should have a logical ending. It's not so here. I was baffled as the end credits rolled on the screen unable to digest what the last 15 mins was about. Plus I had a few unanswered questions abt the story.The performances keep you hooked in this odd film. Hashmi is perfect as the memory lost thief. You laugh at him for being silly and feel sad for him as he tries hard to remember his past. Balan is underutilized as Hashmi's wife. She has here moments but her character is poorly written. The running gag about her cooking his hilarious. Sharma and Das are good as Hashmi's partners in crime.The story had potential but it turns out confusing and bizarre !

Yet, a harder puzzle to crack is figuring out just how so many talented people could make such a disappointing film. Ghanchakkar has all the ingredients for a dark comedy, yet shaken and stirred they blend like oil and water. The storytelling itself is inconsistent. Frustration sets in during the film's flabby middle portion where nothing much really happens.These inspired moments then are few and far between in this lazily scripted film that leaves you bored and searching for the nearest exit. I'm going with two out of five for Ghanchakkar. The money is found in the end, but that's 2 hours and 17 minutes of your life that you'll never see again!

I was taken aback by the "5.4" rating on IMDb, as I write this review. This deserves at least a 7+ rating. This movie is certainly one of the best movies of 2013.Great plot - kept me hooked on till the end. Great acting - all the actors did justice to their characters. Great humor - a bit dark, but every bit amusing!There are few movies, who have enough masala and don't show all the punch dialogues in the trailer these days. This was where 'Go, Goa, Gone' disappointed.And, frankly there are very movies which 'really' keep you guessing till the very last second - literally! 'Special 26' failed to do that. I don't want to reveal the plot here, but it is really very well executed.Some of the viewers found Vidya Balan's character overbearing and irritating - this really means that she acted very well. Her character was supposed to be overboard and gaudy, and imho it was well done...Please don't miss this movie.