SOORYAVANSHI: There’s a certain unmissable “zinda-dili” about a Rohit Shetty movie that wins hearts and sends pulses racing. This super-cop drama with the right dose of humor and stylized action hits the jackpot and is a sure-fire high-octane entertainer. Cars turning turtle and blowing up, super stunts that leave you gaping, picturesque locales all leave you wanting for more. Nimble-feeted Akshay Kumar dangling from a helicopter makes you wonder whether he is India’s answer to Tom Cruise. Katrina Kaif has a limited air-time and with her robotic, mechanised movements to “Tip Tip Barsa Pani” fails to hold a candle to Ravishing “Mast Mast” girl Raveena Tandon. Her acting skills have surely improved but her face looks badly puffed up like a vada pao. Akki “Khiladi” Kumar’s comic timing is superb and he effortlessly gyrates and does somersaults like a twenty-year old. Javed Jaffrey impresses as a super cop. Jackie Shroff is ho-hum. Sikander Kher is wasted in a miniscule cameo. Abhimanyu Singh and Gulshan Grover are superlative in their villainish acts. The movie lights up in the second half with the entry of Ajay Devgan(Singham) and Ranveer Singh(Simmba). Their glorious entry creates a “seeti marao” frenzy. Ranveer Singh steals the thunder with his quick wit and overpowering mannerisms. Ajay Devgan bashing up the terrorists to the tune of Vedic chants is pure magic. The movie uses the old song “Chodo kaal ki baatein, Kal ki Baat Purani” from the movie Hum Hindustani picturized on Sunil Dutt but instead of invoking patriotism it comes across as jingoistic. The movie is sprinkled with a few Marathi dialogues which adds to the rustic charm and overall appeal of the movie. In the climax, the three handsome hunks with rippling muscles, dripping machismo and virility strut their stuff in slow-mo and is definitely an “aha” moment. The background score plays an important role in the movie and frequent interjections of the term “POLICE!” uplifts the mood of the audience and instills a feeling of respect and awe for the lawkeepers of the society. The ending title song “Aila Re” is pure magic with the pulsating energy of the three heroes and a quick mention of “Aata Majhi Satakli”. This movie is a feel-good entertainer and is a perfect dekho for the Diwali weekend. It’s good that the makers of this movie waited till the remission of Covid because the larger-than-life stunts that the movie portrays can only be enjoyed in the big screen. Rohit Shetty has initiated a lively, wholesome genre but hope that he does not get repetitive and infuses a better storyline into his movies.
AninditaRoyMusings 