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FILM REVIEW: R...RAJKUMAR
By Team B-Now | Dec 6,2013,11:31 AM IST
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By Sayantan Dalal
Film: R...Rajkumar
Rating: ****
Director: Prabhu Dheva
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood
What it is about:
Romeo Rajkumar (Shahid Kapoor), just like its name, does only two things, Pyaar, Pyaar, Pyaar ya Maar, maar, maar. Initially it's all rosy for Shahid as he finds himself involved in illegal opium smuggling run by two warlords (Sonu Sood and Ashish Vidyarthi). But pretty soon trouble starts brewing for our hero, as he falls head over heels in love with Sonu Sood's love interest Chanda (Sonakshi Sinha) and hell breaks loose.
What's hot:
R...Rajkumar is a kick-ass hardcore action claptrap, which puts its empty head down and gets the job done. In an uncanny similarity, the film opens in flashback just like Saif's Bullett Raja, and takes us on a roller coaster ride of violence, love, ridiculous action stunts and some more violence.
Director Prabhu Dheva has gone down the same path before with Rowdy Rathore and Wanted. This time around he takes us on a journey through the world of opium smuggling. Soon ultraviolence ensues, but not quite how you'd expect it. Prabhu Dheva cleverly uses the fact that pop culture thrives on brutality, and thus R...Rajkumar is nothing else but violent.
The reliably natural Shahid Kapoor gives his all, lacing terror with wit that gives his role enough menacing juice to back off an entire army. Shahid is like a kind of black hole, drawing violent people in and nullifying them. Prabhu Dheva has portrayed him as a macho figure with an instinctive gift for attracting and manipulating violence itself and Shahid aces it.
The boss everyone owes and fears is Sonu Sood, a maniac whose violent streak is a mile wide. Sonu easily delivers what he is expected to, and stands strongly opposite Shahid. Meanwhile, Sonakshi too delivers a good, decent if not brilliant performance. Unlike Bullett Raja, Sonakshi has lots to play on in R...Rajkumar, and she does.
A few of Pritam's songs and background score goes with the film.
What's not:
It's in the second half, that's when things turn from propulsive to achingly predictable. R...Rajkumar had me going there for a while, effectively killing time until it killed my patience. It is a violent tale, full of sound and fury signifying nothing. The director doesn't help with bizarre set pieces of sentimentality and nauseous black comedy. The humour and one liners come across as a desperate bid from the director, in the process of achieving a mass entertainer.
Some may even find the action sequences overkill in a film that unwisely runs past the two hour mark and more. Even Shahid's bankable performance doesn't help in gripping you. Shahid deserves better!
What to do:
If you are into no-brainer action flicks you must watch it.
Film: R...Rajkumar
Rating: ****
Director: Prabhu Dheva
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood
What it is about:
Romeo Rajkumar (Shahid Kapoor), just like its name, does only two things, Pyaar, Pyaar, Pyaar ya Maar, maar, maar. Initially it's all rosy for Shahid as he finds himself involved in illegal opium smuggling run by two warlords (Sonu Sood and Ashish Vidyarthi). But pretty soon trouble starts brewing for our hero, as he falls head over heels in love with Sonu Sood's love interest Chanda (Sonakshi Sinha) and hell breaks loose.
What's hot:
R...Rajkumar is a kick-ass hardcore action claptrap, which puts its empty head down and gets the job done. In an uncanny similarity, the film opens in flashback just like Saif's Bullett Raja, and takes us on a roller coaster ride of violence, love, ridiculous action stunts and some more violence.
Director Prabhu Dheva has gone down the same path before with Rowdy Rathore and Wanted. This time around he takes us on a journey through the world of opium smuggling. Soon ultraviolence ensues, but not quite how you'd expect it. Prabhu Dheva cleverly uses the fact that pop culture thrives on brutality, and thus R...Rajkumar is nothing else but violent.
The reliably natural Shahid Kapoor gives his all, lacing terror with wit that gives his role enough menacing juice to back off an entire army. Shahid is like a kind of black hole, drawing violent people in and nullifying them. Prabhu Dheva has portrayed him as a macho figure with an instinctive gift for attracting and manipulating violence itself and Shahid aces it.
The boss everyone owes and fears is Sonu Sood, a maniac whose violent streak is a mile wide. Sonu easily delivers what he is expected to, and stands strongly opposite Shahid. Meanwhile, Sonakshi too delivers a good, decent if not brilliant performance. Unlike Bullett Raja, Sonakshi has lots to play on in R...Rajkumar, and she does.
A few of Pritam's songs and background score goes with the film.
What's not:
It's in the second half, that's when things turn from propulsive to achingly predictable. R...Rajkumar had me going there for a while, effectively killing time until it killed my patience. It is a violent tale, full of sound and fury signifying nothing. The director doesn't help with bizarre set pieces of sentimentality and nauseous black comedy. The humour and one liners come across as a desperate bid from the director, in the process of achieving a mass entertainer.
Some may even find the action sequences overkill in a film that unwisely runs past the two hour mark and more. Even Shahid's bankable performance doesn't help in gripping you. Shahid deserves better!
What to do:
If you are into no-brainer action flicks you must watch it.
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kajal @kajalsaharan
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