SULTAN Box Office / Reviews - Page 47

Salman Khan became a sensation with Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989. 27 years later, Yash Raj Films and director Ali Abbas Zafar bring back memories of that all-time blockbuster with Sultan. That's because the basic premise of both films are very similar, the only difference is that Salman Khan was then an emerging super star whereas he is now, well, Salman Khan!

If Maine Pyar Kiya was a simple tale told with simplicity, Sultan is no different. If Maine Pyar Kiyamade not only the nation but the world fall in love with Salman Khan, Sultan will make them fall in love with him again. In Maine Pyar Kiya, Salman Khan fought to win the love of his life and it's no different with Sultan.

As the title suggests, the film is about Sultan, who falls in love with a wrestler, Aarfa, whose dream is to win an Olympic gold medal. Aarfa shows no interest in him and purely focuses on her dream. Besides, she says, when the time is right, she will marry a wrester.

Thus Sultan trains to become a wrestler and they eventually get married. Sultan goes onto win an Olympic gold medal. They fight for a reason and Aarfa leaves Sultan and he quits wrestling. Years later, Sultan decides to return to the ring - with one very good reason. What follows forms the crux of the film.

The beauty of this film lies in three things - the way it has been written; the way it has been presented on the screen; and last but not least, the performances, right from the lead pair to the entire supporting cast.

At a time when masala Hindi entertainers are not working at the ticket counter, here's an exemplary piece of writing that reflects the typical Hindi mainstream masala but doesn't look gimmicky. There are no twists and turns in the story and, from the word go, you know exactly what's going to happen next. But thanks to Ali Abbas Zafar's writing, and the way he has handled the film, you look forward to every scene. In Sultan, Zafar offers a lesson on how to keep it fresh yet totally entertaining.

Sultan connects with you from beginning to end and you relate to every character. In addition, the movie has a mix of elements, from funny incidents, to emotional and touching moments, to action and drama. That's why, despite the length of the film, you are hooked throughout.

There are many moments written with simplicity and presented beautifully, like when Salman Khan decides to become a wrestler and meets Anushka's father. Also the scene where Anushka slaps Salman Khan for telling his friends that she's his girlfriend; the scene where Salman decides to fight with someone who's twice his weight; Salman's arrogance while speaking to the media; and the fight sequences towards the pre-climax and climax.

Ali Abbaz Zafar deserves huge applause, both as a writer and director. It seems with his third film (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Gunday), he's mastered his craft. Undoubtedly, the huge success of this film will place him among the top 10 directors in our country. Also, he's extracted the best performances from every actor in the film.

As mentioned earlier, Sultan is lengthy but it seems editor Rameshwar S Bhagat knew what he needed to do to hold the audience's attention. Not once do you feel the film is dragging. As for music, all the songs go very well with the flow of the screenplay. Jag ghoomeya is the pick of the lot. Background score (Julius Packiam) is perfect. Here, one must mention the good work by sound designer Dileep Subramanian.

Performance-wise, if he surprised you with his performance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan last year, Salman Khan bounces back with an even better performance in Sultan. In this film, Khan undoubtedly delivers his best to date. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this is an award-winning performance from Salman Khan. Anushka Sharma, once again, proves that she's among the most talented actors we have today. She's brilliant and you notice her despite the fact that she's sharing the screen with none other than Salman Khan.

Each and every character actor has delivered an excellent performance. Amit Sadh looks cute and gives a wonderful performance. Kumud Mishra, even when he's not speaking, says a lot through his expressions - the mark of a true actor. Anant Sharma is adorable. Randeep Hooda in a special appearance is fantastic.

Verdict: Super Duper Blockbuster!!!