Bajrangi Bhaijaan Reviews / BO Collections - Page 61

Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Review

Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Review

There are somethings that are just meant to be together. Over a period of time, they not just become synonymous with each other but also complement each other to the fullest. Amongst the many examples for this, one such combination is the release of a Salman Khan film during the auspicious occasion of Eid. Like almost every year, this year too, Salman Khan has gifted his fans their Eidi' in the form of BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN. Will this film be worth the wait and live up to its gigantic expectations, let's analyze.

The film starts off with a Pakistani village household cheering for Pakistan while watching its nail biting crucial cricket match with India on television. Inspired by the ace Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, a to be mother from the household names her daughter as Shahida (Harshaali Malhotra). The girl despite being beautiful and expressive does not speak a word, which worries her parents day after day. On the advice of an elderly person in the family, Shahida's mother decides to take Shahida to a wish-fulfilling holy dargah in Delhi, India. On their way back to Pakistan, their train halts due to a technical failure. That's when the innocent and animal loving Shahida sees a helpless lamb fallen in a pit. She gets down from the train and just when she rescues the lamb, the train starts moving, thus leaving her behind in an unknown country all alone. She quickly boards the next immediate train and reaches Delhi. It is here when she meets the extremely God fearing and a devout Hanuman bhakth Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi aka Bajrangi (Salman Khan). With the intention of helping the little girl who cannot talk, Bajrangi takes her home, only to be ridiculed by his family members. The only person who stands by him is his to-be-wife Rasika (Kareena Kapoor). Pavan and Rasika try their level best to decode' the identity of the child by dropping names of almost all the Indian states, but in vain. Havoc strikes their family household when they discover that Munni (aka Shahida) not only eats meat, but is also a Muslim and above all... a Pakistani! That's when Pavan decides to brave all the odds (visa issues, passport problems etc). Despite all the odds, when Bajrangi manages to cross the Indo-Pak border, but gets caught by the Pakistan police, who label him off as an Indian spy. That's when Bajrangi encounters a freelance news reporter Chaand Nawab (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who shoots the whole Pavan-Munni adventures' on his handycam, hoping this will be his big ticket to name and fame as a journalist. However, as he discovers their Pavan's good intentions, he too joins the duo in their journey and helps them out. Does Chaand Nawab manage to encash' on the Pavan-Munni story in order to be taken seriously as a journalist, does Pavan succeed in uniting Munni with her parents, does the ever-truthful Pavan manage to prove his innocence of him not being a spy before the Pakistani police and how does the simpleton Bajrangi gets transformed into Bajrangi Bhaijaan' is what forms the rest of the story.

First things first. Director Kabir Khan captures the attention of the viewers right from first shot of this character driven film. The impeccable camaraderie between him and his lead star Salman Khan was seen in their last blockbuster film EK THA TIGER. This time round, the camaraderie has grown by leaps and bounds, which can be seen in this film. For all those who have seen Kabir Khan's work in thriller and action films like KABUL EXPRESS, NEW YORK and EK THA TIGER will be in for a huge surprise when they see BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN. He has very sensibly handled the emotional scenes, without going overboard. While the tempo of the film is set in the first ten minutes, it is very rare that any film has ever started on such an emotional high. Amongst the many Indo-Pak films that have been made in the past, BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN stands out amongst all of them because this film stays away from the usual jingoism and preachiness. Kabir Khan adds magic to Salman Khan's stardom with this film. Needless to say that, the one person who deserves to be credited for that the overall outcome of the film is Kabir Khan, who also does a great job with the film's dialogue, along with Kausar Munir. The film's storywriter (V. Vijayendra Prasad) deserves applauses galore for having come up with such a fresh story that has the right mix of patriotism, love, emotions and brotherhood.

As far as the performances are concerned, absolutely no prizes for guessing that the film belongs to the one and only Bhaijaan' Salman Khan, who makes no mistakes in delivering an outstanding performance in this film. His innocence is unmistakably charming. And it is this innocence that unfailingly captures melts and ultimately wins over the audiences' hearts. Do not miss his recitation of Hanuman Chaalisa, his interaction and his conversation with the child actor Harshaali. The scenes that catch your attention are the first ten minutes of the film, the brothel scene, the revelation of Munni's actual identity revelation and the fitting climax. Looking at this film, one can easily say that they don't call him a Bhaijaan' for nothing! Unlike his previous film's, this film is totally devoid of his onscreen histrionics, yet, manages to embed its stamp in your hearts. Salman never gets out of his character and this is his performance-oriented film after a long time. Kareena Kapoor Khan, on the other hand, stands like a rock, offering her onscreen hero Salman Khan and the film, all the support. Whatever the screen space that she has, she makes the most out of it and leaves a lasting impression with her endearing performance in the film. Now, let's talk about the find' of BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN aka Harshaali Malhotra, who is a sheer delight to watch in every frame that she is in. Even though this is her first film (her modelling assignments notwithstanding), Harshaali comes across as a thorough professional in front of the camera. The moment the camera is on her, she simply lights up the screen with her innocence, her smile and her superlative performance in the film. With BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN, Harshaali Malhotra has definitely set the bar high for child actors. Extracting the right emotions and expressions from child actors can be quite a task. That's why Kabir Khan deserves to be applauded for extracting an exceptional performance from Harshaali Malhotra, with the equal amount of ease with which he got it from his lead actors. Amongst them all, how can one forget the sheer greatness of the phenomenal actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who wins you all over with his outstanding performance as a Pakistani news reporter! The sincerity with which he approaches his role is something that needs to be seen in order to be believed. The other veteran actors like Om Puri and Sharat Saxena do their bit for the film to make it a memorable one. On the other hand, Najeem Khan, Ali Quli Mirza, and Adnan Sami (in a special cameo) are good in supporting roles.

If it's a Salman Khan movie, then, songs and music become very crucial. BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN's music (Pritam Chakraborty) definitely works by all means, majorly because it has all the elements that are required of a typical Salman Khan film'. Music gels extremely well with the film and also the flow of the film. The film already boats of a chartbuster track in the form of Selfie'. The other tracks like Tu Jo Mila' and Adnan Sami's devotional track Bhar Do Jholi' does leave the required effect on the listeners. On the other hand, the film's background music (Julius Packiam) keeps the tempo of the film going extremely well. The film's screenplay (Kabir Khan, V. Vijayendra Prasad, Parveez Shaikh, Asad Hussain) is tight and engaging. The film's cinematography (Aseem Mishra) is top rate as it presents the serene breath taking view of Kashmir like never before. Rameshwar S. Bhagat has done a splendid job in the film's razor sharp editing.

On the whole, BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN is a not to be missed Eid' treat from Salman Khan and Kabir Khan. The film is a surefire hit and has got B-L-O-C-K-B-U-S-T-E-R' written all over it. This film easily qualifies to be Salman Khan's BEST movie till date, featuring his career's best performance. The film wins you over completely. Do not skip.

The Rating
4.5 out of 5

Bajrangi Bhaiijaan is a Salman Khan film. Honestly, why does one even need a review!?

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As the film begins, one is treated to the devastatingly beautiful scenes of Kashmir. And you don't want to blink for even a moment, lest a shot is missed. The camera zooms in on a gathering in front of a TV set, somewhere in the mountains of the Sultanpur district in Pakistani Kashmir. Cheering to Shahid Afridi's sixes, a heavily pregnant woman declares that her yet-to-be-born son would be called Shahid.

Six years later, on board the Delhi-Lahore Samjhauta Express, the woman is accompanied by her daughter, Shahida. On their way back to Pakistan after a mannat in a 'Hindustani Dargah', Shahida gets off the train, and is lost. She reaches Kurukshetra, and happens to cross paths with Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi aka Bajrangi, a hard-core devotee of Lord Hanuman. Pavan takes the mute Munni to Delhi, where he lives. After several twists and turns and revelatory moments, Pavan and his landlords, Rasika's (Kareena Kapoor Khan) orthodox Hindu parents, realise that Munni a) is a Muslim, and b) belongs to Pakistan.

WATCH: Bajrangi Bhaijaan in just 20 minutes

Pavan vows to cross streams and borders, metaphorically and otherwise, to reunite the child with her parents in Pakistan. What ensues is a journey filled with much drama, emotion and sorrow. And heartbreak, and tension. And the infallible Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Utter the word 'acting', and Siddiqui teaches one how to do what. Nawaz holds the frame and makes sure viewers look only at him, even in a scene which has a Salman in it. He steps into the shoes of the famous journalist Chand Nawab, using the same name, and kills it from Frame 1. Post intermission, the actor reiterates the shot that had shot the original Chand Nawab to fame - the rail over bridge, the moving train in the background, Nawab's irritation, et al. And what doesn't require saying is that Siddiqui gets it perfect, even better than probably the real Chand Nawab.

RELATED: Is Nawazuddin Siddiqui's character inspired by Chand Nawab? (It is)

To Salman, then. In Bajrangi Bhaijaan, apart from just being Salman Khan on screen, Salman acts. Khan has tears running down his cheeks, and emotes through his eyes. And of course, since he's Salman Khan, he needs to send dozens of people flying into the air. And he needs to break into a dance at the drop of a hat... even while waiting for his food at a dhaba. Kareena, for her part, doesn't have much to do in this film. She plays Pavan's ladylove well, but hardly makes an impact.

Speaking of impact, the only other actor who manages to match Nawaz in the film is Harshaali. Her eyes are a dagger through the heart. She makes the viewer smile and cry with equal ease. And she does it without speaking a single word inBajrangi Bhaijaan.

However, at a quarter-short-of-three hours, the film feels quite long, despite Salman. The first half slogs by, and the numerous songs don't help the pace of the film. It is only after the intermission that Bajrangi Bhaijaan picks up speed. The cinematography is par excellence. The valleys of Kashmir are breathtaking. From the verdant green of the hills to the crystal clear streams, Aseem Mishra's camera leaves out nothing. Pritam's music is a medley of tracks ranging from peppy to soulful numbers to qawwalis. Zindagi Kuch Toh Bata deserves a special mention.

In all, Bajrangi Bhaijaan works for both a Salman fan and a non-fan. The film is essentially make-believe, but you want to believe. Therefore, even as Pakistan and India violate ceasefire and fire mortar shells at each other, somewhere you want to believe that a Bajrangi can cross borders for love.

CRITIC'S RATING: 4.0/5
AVG READERS' RATING: 4.5/5
CAST: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sharat Saxena, Om Puri
DIRECTION: Kabir Khan
GENRE: Drama
DURATION: 2 hours 19 minutes

REVIEW: Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a supercharged cross-border drama that goes all out - and then some - in delivering its message of subcontinental peace.

Director Kabir Khan pulls out an old chestnut - the theme of humanity trumping a history of bitterness.

Into this perennially bubbling cauldron, he throws a devout, upright Hindu do-gooder and an achingly beatific but speechless six-year-old Pakistani girl stranded on the Indian side of the border.

Bridging many divides - religion, national identity, food habits - the two develop an unlikely bond that wipes out all prejudices.

The man puts everything at stake, driven by his faith in Bajrangbali, to ensure that the lost girl makes it back home in one piece.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan runs with this wafer-thin premise with such unbridled enthusiasm and vigour that you might be forgiven for wondering if the future of the universe hinged on it.

But even then, strictly from the perspective of Salman Khan's core constituency, Bajrangi Bhaijaan might seem a touch tame.

The blustery superstar goes missing in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, as do his signature punchlines.

It is, clearly, a calculated risk, a bid to reinvent a successful screen persona that might have outlived its utility in the light of the ageing actor's off-screen troubles.

Salman plays a Hanuman-fearing, truth-loving straight-arrow bloke from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh who breaks neither the law nor bones.

Main Bajrangbali ka bhakt hoon, koi kaam chori chheepe nahin karta, he says. So, he does not get into any street fights, spouts no explosive lines and does not take off his shirt. What a bore!

But, then, he is no longer a mere mortal in policeman's clothing cleansing a neighbourhood. He is now a crusader for truth and love and knows no boundaries. Like the monkey-god he swears by, he can leap over any gulf of mind and land.

Bajrangi loses his cool only on two occasions - once when he has to rescue the girl in his charge from the clutches of a human trafficker in Delhi and then in a Pakistani police outpost.

Of course, what Bajrangi Bhaijaan seeks to communicate is laudable in the current climate of distrust. Wish it hadn't made such heavy weather of the well-meaning exercise.

The India-Pakistan border obviously plays a pivotal role in Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

The screenplay traverses the entire distance from Wagah-Attari to Rajasthan, and from there to Kashmir, where the drama culminates on an implausibly preachy and screechy note.

Forbidding fences and imposing iron gates loom into view every now and then. At one point of the film, the audience is told that the wires along the border have 440 volt running through them.

So, that is the measure of the protagonist's heroic act of escorting a mute Pakistani girl back to her village up in the mountains on the other side of the line of control.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan opens in a Pakistani village. A pregnant woman, wife of an ex-army man, is among a group watching an India-Pak one-dayer on a community television set.

Shahid Afridi hits the winning stroke. The crowd erupts in joy. The daughter that is born is christened Shahida.

The girl cannot speak. The film makes no attempt to explain the exact nature of her congenital condition. We figure out along the way that while she is unable to speak, her ears are in perfect condition.

Shahida's mom decides to take her daughter to Hazrat Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi in the hope that divine intervention would restore her speech.

On the return journey, the mother dozes off. Shahida gets off to play with a baby goat. The train leaves without her.

The girl ends up in Kurukshetra and chances upon her would-be saviour, who makes his grand entry singing and dancing to the tune of Selfie lele re, with a giant Hanuman statue watching over him.

The hero, Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi alias Bajrangi, son of an RSS man and a stickler for form, flunks his school leaving examination ten times and is averse to wrestling because he is tickled all too easily.

When Pawan eventually passes the exam on the eleventh attempt, his shocked father drops dead. But wrestling still remains anathema to our man.

In old Delhi, Bajrangi fights his own prejudices and those of the family of Dayanand (Sharat Saxena).

His only ally in this battle is the patriarch's daughter, Rasika (Kareena Kapoor in a largely decorative role).

When he tunnels his way into Pakistan, Bajrangi runs into a battery of security agents and cops determined to bring the "Indian spy" to book.

He does not lie, does not eat meat, and is under oath to Bajrangbali to find Shahida's parents.

In his uphill task, he is aided by ordinary folk in Pakistan - a journo (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a maulana (Om Puri) and even a bus conductor who is so impressed with Bajrangi's selfless mission that he saves him when the cops comes calling.

Salman Khan may the principal driving force of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, but the real star of the film is the super-cute child actor Harshaali Malhotra.

Her winning smile, her large, playful eyes and a face can melt the toughest heart, even that of a dyed in the wool film critic.

Watch Bajrangi Bhaijaan even if you aren't an inveterate Salman Khan fan. Harshaali will steal your heart.