Raees review|Box office thread - Page 67

Raees audience reaction: Shah Rukh Khan film gets blockbuster rating from viewers

Raees audience reaction: Pakistani actor Mahira Khan, who has debuted in the movie opposite Shah Rukh Khan, also impressed the viewers.

by Kinnari Rathod | Wed, Jan 25, 2017

2017 couldn't have started off on a better note. It's Shah Rukh Khan vs Hrithik Roshan at the box-office we're talking about, you guys!


On one-hand we have Shah Rukh Khan in his megastar glory fighting, romancing with all his dialoguebaazi in a true blue hindi film. On the other there is a performance by Hrithik Roshan playing a blind man that's being touted a career best.


The stakes are high, Twitter wars and trends are at their peak and let us not even get started about the controversies these films have made due to the date clash.


Needless to say, it's D -day and as always it boils down to what happens at the ticket windows. Also, while trade pundits might say there is enough room for two big stars releasing their labours of love on the same day, the number game speaks for itself, out loud.


To begin with, Raees has been allotted around 2800 screens and as per reports has recorded one of the best advance bookings of all times. It's opened to a great 70% occupancy with the morning shows and is definitely going to shoot up in the evening.


On the other hand, Kaabil has been allotted around 2400 screens and has opened to an average occupancy of 25 to 30% which clearly indicates the clash effect.


It goes without saying that Raees will surpass Kaabil by a margin with its day one collection by banking Rs. 20 to 25 crore plus which is massive for a working day. Meanwhile, Kaabil, as per early trend reports, will struggle to mint a double digit collection.

Tomorrow being Republic Day aka a national holiday, both the films will mint strong, with Raees in the lead rather obviously.


Box-office aside, Raees and Kaabil are neck to neck when it comes to reviews. You can read the Raees review here and the Kaabil review here.



The tug of war is only going to get intense by the day.

Shah Rukh Khan in a still from Raees.Red Chillies Entertainment/ YouTube screenshot

IBTIMES RATING: 3

Director Rahul Dholakia's Raees reminds you of a 70s gangster movie, even though the performances of the actors are impressive.

The film opened to a mixed response on January 25. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in and as Raees Khan, the film is about a Gujarati bootlegger who shows his swag with every second line in the movie.

Also read: Raees Critics Review | Raees Celebs Review | Box Office

While Shah Rukh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan and other supporting actors have given their best, people who go to watch the movie due to the hype it created, might be a tad disappointed. One thing for sure, the performances will keep you engaged for the three hours.

PLOT

Shah Rukh Khan plays bootlegger Raees Khan, who is involved in smuggling business since childhood. He then wants to open his own "dhandha" (business) in the dry land - Gujarat. The movie shows how Raees carries out his business with "baniye ka dimaag and Miyanbhai ki daring." However, in the process, he bribes, kills, goes to jail and even becomes a politician. The story takes a big turn when Raees' one wrong decision changes lives of people around him.

While Shah Rukh's entry will make his fans whistle (it really did happen,) Nawazuddin's Gujarati Michael Jackson entry will leave you in splits. Overall, Raees is a typical Bollywood masala drama, in which a guy does bad things for a good cause and everyone respects him, except politicians and a tough cop. In Raees, you will also get to watch that long 5-minute dying act, when someone gets shot.

POSITIVES

Rahul Dholakia has taken a good lot of actors in his movie. From the child actors and the supporting ones to the main leads, all the actors have done justice to their characters. Shah Rukh impresses with his stellar performance in the movie. His kohled eyes add life to his acting skills. Nawazuddin, who plays the tough cop, has somehow managed to outshine SRK in the movie. The Gangs of Wasseypur actor was at his best and is in no way less than the lead character. Mahira Khan, Atul Kulkarni and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub have also done a phenomenal job. Apart from all these big actors, Sunny Leone was the cherry on the cake. Audience could not stop cheering when she shook a leg on the song, Laila Main Laila.

NEGATIVES

The film's storyline wasn't as extraordinary as believed. It was a typical tried and tested Bollywood masala movie, in which the hero grows up in a mid-action sequence and his every dialogue comes as a show off to his personality. Then comes an item number at a bar, where the hero comes in search of his enemy and kills him. Though the story was not quite impressive and even drags in parts, the actors did a phenomenal job.

VERDICT

The actors have held the film together for sure. While the movie was all about Raees Khan (SRK), Nawaz has given a tough competition to King Khan. Overall, the Rahul Dholakia movie gets points just for the action sequences and the actors' performances. Also, you will get to witness the Gujarati culture in bits and parts of the movie.