Raees review|Box office thread

On my way to the press screening for Raees, I happened to cross the Paradise theatre, an old single screen in the suburb of Mahim. Next to its dusty facade was strung up a poster of the film, Shah Rukh Khan's face looming large over much of it, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, backed up by several other cops, smaller figures in the background.

The preview that had been organised for the press couldn't have been held at a more different venue than the Paradise: we were at Le Reve right in midst of Bandra's swish Hill Road; the theatre itself goes in for a pretty Baroque decor, with crowds of roses clashing with Victorian-style gaslight fixtures all making for a fairly surreal setting. But here too, a poster of Raees had Shah Rukh Khan looking larger-than-life positioned strategically, enticing audiences within.

This tale of two theatres indicates what Shah Rukh Khan has attempted in Raees: he's wooing the multiplex audiences who have always been fans of his suave, urbane persona, yes; at the same time, he's also reaching out to the single screen moviegoer with his most massy' film in recent years.

And make no mistake, Raees is the quintessential commercial entertainer. It is to the credit of its director Rahul Dholakia (Parzania, Lamhaa) and its leading man Shah Rukh Khan that Raees is also so much more.

Raees is set in the Gujarat of the 1970s and 80s, when Prohibition has been in effect for well over two decades. It narrates the story of Raees Alam (Shah Rukh Khan), in whom the famed entrepreneurial spirit of the Gujaratis takes a turn that runs contrary to the letter of the law.

We start off with Raees as a young child, who serves as a runner for a bootlegger. In school, he has trouble reading the board; he is given a pair of spectacles. The glasses give him his vision back, they also give him a trigger against being referred to as "battery".

Raees is affected by one particular incident -- when he is upbraided by a policeman for warning an establishment selling illicit liquor of an impending raid, his mother steps in to save him. When the cop ridicules Raees' mother for being a ragpicker, she tells him, "Koi dhandha chhota ya bada nahi hota" a thought that impresses her son greatly. He decides that he will get into the liquor business himself, but not the cheap desi daru one -- he is going to go all hog with imported spirits. For this, he signs up to be a runner for Jayraj Seth (Atul Kulkarni) -- the first one to ever observe of Raees: "Baniye ka dimaag aur miyanbhai ki daring".

And so we see Raees grow into a young man, determined to set up his own business rather than serving as a lackey to anyone else. This is easier said than done, of course. And so the stage is set for Raees to outwit not just his contemporaries in the business, but also the law.

The law here shows up in a particularly challenging way in the person of Inspector Jaideep Majumdar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), an honest, upright, unflappable (if eccentric) officer.

It is perhaps a sign of how vital this antagonistic but oddly respectful relationship between Raees and Majumdar is to the plot that Nawazuddin's entry scene' is filmed with as much style as Shah Rukh's himself. (He appears -- to great effect -- as a Michael Jackson impersonator!) Not even Mahirah Khan, who plays Raees' love interest and later, wife, is given the same kind of entrance.

By halfway point, we have Raees as the leading figure in the illegal liquor business in his part of Gujarat, firmly in Majumdar's sights, and having descended into a spiral of shocking violence that he hasn't anticipated committing.

A note on the violence itself: this is no stylised, sanitised action. It is brutal, bloody, and very physical. The violence reaches a crescendo with Sunny Leone's Laila Main Laila' song " an oddly operatic soundtrack to Raees' most violent act yet.

How is it that you root for Raees despite his being the bad guy'? Why do you want Majumdar, the good cop, to fail? While Shah Rukh Khan's portrayal no doubt is the major reason, it also has to do with how the role has been written by Rahul Dholakia.

Raees is motivated primarily by the profit motive, he is not a sadist -- although he isn't averse to using violence when the situation demands it. But he is also endearing, and even in his arrogance -- appealing.

The second half builds on this other side of Raees Alam: the Robin Hood do-gooder sort, who earns the goodwill of the poor with his charitable deeds. The frenetic pace of the plot so far slows down a bit as we spend some time getting to know Raees, the man. By a twist of fate, this is also the time when Majumdar (Raees' old nemesis) is getting to know the gangster he's been on the tail of so far. The connection between the duo is depicted cinematically, when Raees wishes for some tea, it is Majumdar, far away, who reaches out for his glass.

Raees' trajectory is very similar to that of Pablo Escobar (as seen in the Netflix series Narcos; or even in any of the other gangster flicks director Dholakia has said he was inspired by, such as Godfather and Scarface). He comes from nothing, rises to dizzying heights, but discovers that it is when you reach the top that you must face the biggest hurdles.

Raees realises this when he is let down by his collaborators in the government; he now decides to wrest the power he does not have yet " political, and contests elections. But you can't help but know that his rise cannot go unchallenged. Soon enough, his troubles are beyond his powers " be it in terms of money, muscle or wit.

All the while, Raees is hurtling towards some dangerous end.

Before we reach the end though, there are plenty of twists and turns " betrayal, defeat and widespread death.

There is a circularity to the story and dialogues as Raees hurtles towards its finis. It also gives a chance for Shah Rukh Khan to deliver what is by far the most crowd-pleasing dialogue of them all: "Dhandha mera dharm hai, par main dharm ka dhandha nahi karta."

What a fine, fine performance this is by Shah Rukh Khan " possibly a career best. And what a fine, fine film this is by Rahul Dholakia. Its triumph is that it brings the best of Bollywood' " the sheer entertainment and glamour and scale of it " to a gripping story. A quick shout out here to the cinematography of KU Mohanan, for making this such a visually rich experience.

Watch Raees for Shah Rukh Khan. Watch Raees for Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Watch Raees for Rahul Dholakia. But most of all, watch Raees for Raees.

Raees movie review: Shahrukh, Mahira put on a Khan-tastic show in gangster flick

Shahrukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mahira Khan put on a fantastic show

By: FE Online | Updated: January 24, 2017 8:53 PM

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Shahrukh Khan's full acting range is showcased in Raees. (YouTube)

Raees movie review: It's been a long time since Shahrukh fans have wanted to see the star in a role that showcased his entire range as an actor and that wait comes to an end with Raees. Shahrukh has worked brilliantly in the movie as the titular gangster and his performance will definitely go down as one of his finest. Of course, Shahrukh is always able to shine better when he has a powerful supporting cast - something that was missing in some of his earlier and less successful films. In Raees, however, Shahrukh has the able support of Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the relentless cop Majumdar. The intense rleationship between these two characters forms the throbbing pulse of Raees.

Plot: Raees follows the prohibition era in Gujarat where Shahrukh starts out as a regular man with big dreams. Those dreams come to fruitition when he starts an illegal liquor trade, yet the gangster is also seen to have a heart of gold. It's tough to maintain a character's ferocity and vulnerability in equal measures, but this is what SRK does best. One minute he's beating his adversaries bloody and you're terrified, the next he's romancing Mohsina and you're in love. Mahira Khan makes a startling debut and we hope that once the furor over Pakistani actors has died down, we'll get to see some more of this wonderful star in Bollywood.

Full of tightly-choreographed action sequences and a brilliantly written script, Raees finally marks the beginning of good movies in 2017. While the ending might seem a bit stretched to some audiences, Shahrukh will still manage to pull at your heart-strings.

Verdict: For those caught in the dilemma of whether to see Hrithik Roshan's Kaabil or this film first, we would recommend booking your tickets (if theatres aren't already full) for Raees.

Rating: **** 1/2

irected by Rahul Dholakia, the story of Raess revolves around a Gujarat based bootlegger named Raees Alam played by Shah Rukh Khan and police officer Majumdar played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The story is set in early 80's to 90's Gujarat when alcohol was banned in Gujarat. The film basically narrates how the relationships & Dramatic Rise of Raees help him build an entire empire of his own from ground to the skies, which makes him the most powerful man in Gujarat.

Also Read : Will Kaabil Kill Raees ? The Clash Between Shah Rukh & Hrithik

Criticizing the prohibition of alcohol, prostitution and illegal drugs in Gujarat, this film unfolds the story of a cruel and clever bootlegger, whose business is highly challenged by a tough cop.

Reception by Audience:

The First look and Teaser of Raees was released in the year of 2015 and after a year of that the trailer was released. Both Teaser and Trailer of Raees managed to break most of the YouTube records by getting breath taking views and likes on the videos. The first released was Laila Main Laila starring Sunny Leone and Shah Rukh Khan and the song created more buzz because of the music and Sunny Leone.

Also Read : Raees's Laila Beats Kaabil's Saara Zamana - Raees Wins Round 2

The second song released was a romantic number starring Mahira Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, the song was named Zaalima and like the trailer and Laila, even this song started breaking records within 24 hours of its release. Raees has a huge box office clash with Kaabil, but by comparing at the number of likes and views on Kaabil & Raees Trailer & Songs, looks like Raees is way more ahead of Kaabil. Both Raees and Kaabil will be releasing on 25th of January. The complete Raees Movie Review will be updated once the movie releases, till then stay tuned and watch out & Follow our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram for latest updates on Raees Movie Review and Kaabil movie reviews.

Review :

If you loved the way the Trailer was put on, then you are gonna love Raees even more. The clash between Nawazuddin Siddiqui and ShahRukh Khan is something to look out for in the movie. Raees Alam (SRK) is nothing more than a larger than life portrayal of a gangster/bootlegger who becomes a cult by gaining public's trust. We have seen SRK doing a negative role before as well, but Raees is nothing similar to them. He is a man with a golden heart and who has an impeccable Business sense. This role can be added to the list of his best performances.

On the other side, Nawazuddin Siddiqui with his acting steals the show. He once again proves that he is indeed one of the most versatile actors in the industry.

Rahul Dholakia, the director of Raees who is well-known for making realistic movies has done a great job with Raees from Raees Alam trying to woo Mahira Khan to the climax. The music of Raees syncs immensely with the story and screenplay.

Verdict:

Raees is a must watch if you are fan of Shahrukh Khan or Nawazuddin Siddiqui. I would give it 3/5. With a clash with Kaabil, let's see how Raees does it's business

A still from the film.

Rating: **

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Atul Kulkarni, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub

Aggressive promotions, big league stars, battle with the censor board; Rahul Dholakia's Raees' has seen it all. Being one of the most controversial films in recent times, Raees' has nothing exciting to offer, unfortunately. Guess the makers have tried hard to make a film on the famous bootlegger of Gujarat and his illegal business but ended up making a quintessential Shah Rukh Khan film instead.

Raees (Shah Rukh Khan) lives a miserable life with his mom in Fatepura, Gujarat. Eventually, he starts illegal bootlegging for Jairaj (Atul Kulkarni). He grows and becomes popular in the business. Along with his best friend Sadiq (Mohammad Zeeshan), he decides to start his own business due to which he and Jairaj end up at loggerheads. Amidst all this, Raees proposes marriage to his lady love Razia (Mahira Khan).

Soon after, Raees expands his business and joins hands with Musa bhai (Narendra Jha) who gives Raees a contract to kill Jairaj. IPS officer Majumdar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is transferred to Fatehpura and is after Raees to bust his illegal bootlegging business, thus commencing their hide and seek game. Gradually, the life of infamous Raees turns upside down when he faces political bashing from the CM of the state and other political parties. And then begins a so called intriguing chase of betrayal and revenge.

Director Rahul Dholakia made an honest attempt to make a typical masala entertainment for the mass audience but gets confused between story telling and making a Shah Rukh Khan film. The film deals with too many issues like his previous film Lamhaa'. The pace of the film is slow too especially in the second half. First half holds a slight promise to offer an interesting chase but fails to impress gradually. The biggest hiccup of the film is its weak plot. Except for the hide and seek between Shah Rukh Khan and Nawaz, Raees' is a yawn fest. The narrative of the film has been uselessly complicated by giving the political angle to it. The film could have been much more thrilling and gut-wrenching. It is a typical 70's drama but in 2017, it doesn't excite much.

The reviewer wonders, what was so extraordinary about the film that along with the makers, Shah Rukh Khan himself thought to push the release date of Raees' to avoid its clash with Sultan' or Dangal'. That's not it, Raees' also created much stir with its clash with Kaabil' but to no avail.

Shah Rukh Khan surely steals the show in his rugged and intense character of a bootlegger. He knows the trick to survive a bad script. Nawazuddin is the master of his craft. He is a like a fresh breath of air in the film. He brings comical element which is commendable. Debutante Mahira Khan is awful. She is probably the first ever actress paired opposite Shah Rukh Khan who fails to ignite the spark with her chemistry on screen. A tinge of romance is sprinkled in the songs between the two which is soothing but songs are just fillers. Mohammad Zeeshan, Narendra Jha and Atul Kulkarni are good.

'Raees' is certainly a one time watch but don't expect the unexpected at all. If you are seeking a plot with enough twists then you will be disappointed. It's just the run-of-the-mill chor-police' chase, which you must have seen infinite times in the past. Strongly recommended for Shah Rukh Khan fans.

P.S. Raees' is a slightly better film than Dilwale' and Fan'.

Movie Name : Raees (English : Wealthy)
Starring : Shah Rukh Khan , Nawazuddin Siddiqui , Mahira Khan , Atul Kulkarni, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub
Director : Rahul Dholakiya
Producer : Farhan Akhtar, Shah Rukh Khan, Riteish Sidhwani
Rating : **** (4/5)

Story :
The story as we all know is set in the backdrop of 1980's Gujarat. It dwells on the life of a man called Raees (Shah Rukh Khan) who wants to make it big. His life has a simple funda which is based on his mother's teaching: Koi bhi dhandha chota nahi hota'. The movie explores the ris and fall of Raees who builds up an empire from the scratch. His philosophy in business makes him the most feared man in the state of Gujarat. Soon, situations take a drastic turn with the entry of Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who is on a spree to end Raees's raj. The film revolves around the epic clash between the two.
Raees starts off from Raees' childhood to his adulthood to his violent yet warmth upbringing. Meanwhile this menacing Raees also has his love interest played by Pakistani beauty Mahira Khan.Raees has a golden heart and an impeccable business sense that helps him rise.

Performances :
We have seen Shah Rukh Khan do wonderful roles in the past and this one is definitely an add-on to that list. Miyan Bhai SRK stole the thunder with his power packed performance. He has nailed it this time. Last time in Fan and now in Raees SRK has shown and proved " Form is temporary, Class is permanent "
Come to Nawaz bhai , He has too done full on justice to his role as Inspector Mujumdar.
I'd mention his entry scene. It has been shot as well as acted perfectly and outstandingly.
Mahira looks beautiful , and has a little to do which she did nicely. Zeeshan and Atul both made their presence felt.

What's Good :
Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin s bravura performances, Action sequences, Well researched script, Music, Screenplay , Editing, and Climax

What's Bad : Nothing really (as people get what they expect from Raees ) but still if I have to say something then Film gets slow for sometime in second half but it picks up later. So it hardly matters.

Verdict

On the whole , Raees is a full on Masala Entertainer packed by power full performances and adrenaline charged action sequences. Made for Classes and masses alike. Action , Acting, Romance, Violence, Music and Masaledar dialogues all add up to the genre.Taking in consideration the Clash with another solid film kaabil , Raees may find it hard to hit to the fullest but it will be a sure shot Block Buster and may take big lead over kaabil.

I'm going with 4 stars out of 5 ! Highly recommended !

What's Good: Raees is a complete package of action, romance and drama. A wholesome entertainer of sorts!

What's Bad: If you connect the story in terms of reality, then it celebrates a false hero.

Loo Break: None extra needed.

Watch or Not?: Raees is certainly a one-time watch. With Shah Rukh Khan in lead, many may not need me telling them to watch it. Also, Nawaz is a complete show-stealer here!

User Rating:

44 Votes

Raees (Shah Rukh Khan) is a bright child, who early on in his school going years learns the trade of alcohol in a dry state (Gujarat). After working under a popular liquor smuggler (Atul Kulkarni) in his early years, he soon decides to start his own business.

His only rule, "Koi dhanda chota nai hota, aur dhande se bada koi dharam nai hota, jisse kisika bura na ho."

Thanks to his tedha dimaag' this Battery (because of his spectacles) soon manages to make it to the big league. His growing success is rightly caught by Superintendent of Police Jaideep Ambalal Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Thus, begins a cat and mouse chase between the two.

While Raees' street smart ways and political network work in favor, Majmudar's patience in following up with the criminal is a true laudable value.

Will Majmudar be able to nail Raees? Can Raees be tamed?

Raees Review

Raees Review: Script Analysis

Right at the start of the film, we are shown a disclaimer that the film is not based on anyone's life. I would have to agree with this decision of the censor board considering in other case, it would have been a film celebrating a real life villain.

The first half of the film takes off extremely well, with a great build up to Raees' character from his childhood and also at setting the milieu. Starting from a lighter note, we are further sucked into the twisted baniya dimaag' of Raees and also his otherwise Robinhoodesque image. That's the part that irks, it would have been a treat to watch SRK just as a gangster, we don't need the heart of gold touch.

The key element to Raees' story is to keep the audience hooked and it pretty much works here. The film shifts from politics, to romance and action seamlessly, thus keeping a Bollywood fan entertained.

Dialogues are completely, Deewar style and could surely get whistles blowing at most theaters. Particularly, "Main Dharma Ka Dhanda Nai Karta" and "Battery Nai Bolneka" will be major hits. Also, "Aa raha hoon" gets another meaning altogether in the film.

Script wise, the film starts to become dull in the second half when there is too much of heroism portrayed by Raees. Also, the climax is stretched way out of hand and could have been limited.

Raees Review: Star Performance

Shah Rukh Khan looks dreamy as Raees. His kohl eyed look suits him. Coming to the acting bits, he particularly excels in scenes where he shows extreme anger and also the one where he breaks down. Overall, he is in much better a space compared to his previous acts such as Dilwale and Happy New Year. For his fans, this one will be winner!

Mahira Khan's casting has been the talk of the town. Unfortunately, she does nothing special here and for all we care, any Bollywood actress could have pulled off that role. She even fails to emote appropriately in a few scenes.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a star. Every scene with this man is loaded with entertainment and he is the true key to why this film is a fun watch. Loved him all through!

Zeeshan Ayyub is a great actor and as the sidekick, once again does his job well.

Atul Kulkarni, Sheeba Chadda, Uday Tikekar put up a great supporting cast.

Sunny Leone sizzles in her item number Laila'.

Raees Review: Direction, Music

Rahul Dholakia's Raees has been up for release since last year. We finally get to see it now and one can say, this is a safe bet for Shah Rukh Khan, considering its utterly commercial appeal.

The 80s setting is captured well and a good job from the production design team. Also, a special mention to the costume department for making Shah Rukh look sexy in bell bottoms.

Dholakia succeeds in making an entertainer that has a confluence of all elements needed to appeal a Bollywood freak. First of all, he gets Shah Rukh on board, then makes him a villain with a heart of gold, then laces it up with SRK style romance, a slow-motion action and chase sequence and lastly a dramatic climax.

The VFX on one particular chase sequence involving Shah Rukh looks shoddy. We almost see him flying off places and climbing like spider-man. The action overall too, could have been choreographed better.

Background score is good and the songs are hummable. Yet, they form as a jerk in terms of a gripping story-telling.

The run-time should have been limited to 2 hours which was easily possible with a shortened climax.

Raees Review: The Last Word

Raees is a paisa-wasool entertainer for massy Bollywood fans! A 3.5/5 for this one.

Movie Reviews

Raees Movie Review

Nihit Bhave, TNN, Updated: Jan 24, 2017, 10.13 PM IST

CRITIC'S RATING: 3.5/5

AVG READERS' RATING: 3.5/5

Review This Movie Watch Trailer

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Direction: Rahul Dholakia

Genre: Action

Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes

DOUBLE BATTERY, SINGLE POWER

Raees Story: Raees Alam runs an illegal alcohol empire in a Gujarat shrouded in prohibition; ACP Majmudar is in charge of toppling him off his high position. Will Raees's own brand of righteousness save him?

Raees Review: Gear up for a throwback to the great Salim-Javed blockbusters of the Seventies, where the hero grows up mid-action, every second line is meant to show off the character's swagger, a Helen song (Sunny Leone here) breaks the tension and action sequences compel you to whistle.

Carrying that legacy forward, is Raees. Shah Rukh Khan plays the titular character of a spectacled goon who hates being called "battery"; he starts from harmless Ponzi schemes but graduates to pre-planned rackets and becomes the top bootlegger of his town. When ACP Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is posted in his area, he meets his equal. Raees forms a nexus with politicians who fuel his business, but he soon becomes the thorn in their side.

The first half is well-paced; it draws you in and makes you root for the bootlegger; Majmudar's one-liners and the music whet your appetite and the Laila Main Laila sequence ups the ante. But the second half plunges into a weird Robin Hood zone where the antihero's morals are suddenly defibrillated and he becomes a messiah. The movie takes a rough path there on, and the long runtime makes the ride bumpier.

Shah Rukh Khan has never looked better; he's full of fury and for once, isn't spreading his arms, but breaking others'. The film lies entirely on his shoulders and he carries the weight most of the times. When he doesn't, the ever-so-reliable Nawazuddin Siddiqui steps in with his crackling performance. In the trademark Nawaz style, he delivers some comic relief while playing the Tom to Khan's Jerry. Mahirah is restricted to songs and a few emotional scenes, but doesn't really add much. If her purpose was to soften the baddie, it's lost on the viewer.

The movie can feel a bit long, but if you're going for a great Shah Rukh performance and some good ol' popcorn-entertainment, it might just raees' to the occasion.

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic's rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Direction

3/5

Dialogues

3.5/5

Story

3/5

Music

3.5/5

Visual appeal

3.5/5

Raees movie review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui steals Shah Rukh Khan's thunder in this predictable gangster drama

After a long time Shah Rukh Khan plays a massy role in his first release of 2017, Raees. The movie is directed by Rahul Dholakia, known for winning a National award for Parzania.Pakistani actress Mahira Khan is the heroine, while Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the parallel lead. Without wasting much time, take a look at our review of Raees...

What's it about

Raees Alam (Shah Rukh Khan) is an Arun Gawli-like criminal and bootlegger based in Fatehpur, Gujarat. From childhood itself, he had a knack for illegal liquor business, and when he grows up, his love for Dhanda gets him into crossroads, first with his mentor (Atul Kulkarni), and later with ACP Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). With his best friend and confidante (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) and his lover and later wife (Mahira Khan) by his side, Raees sets along to build his empire in Fatehpur. But as the history of civilisations goes, empires get built and fall, sometimes within a day.

What's hot

Raees is a movie that promises to take you back to the gangster drama of the '70s, where a powerful Robin Hood, the Messiah of the poor, is the hero despite gaining power and money through illegal means. And it fulfills that promise to some extent. The first half is a fairly enjoyable jolly good ride, thanks to establishing Shah Rukh Khan in his action avatar and his face off scenes with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan will be glad to see the man return to his Baazigar mode that he left somewhere back in his career, as he began to accept Rahul/Raj images. His action scene in the first half where he chases his would be assassin is deftly done. Speaking of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, he is the actual hero of the movie. Playing to the gallery in nearly every scene, Nawazuddin steals the thunder from his far more popular co-star with quite ease. The role of the upright ACP with a knack of witty one-liners is a cakewalk for him, but it is he who makes this dark gangster drama entertaining in bits. Just check out his MJ-aping intro, which is the best scene of the movie. The background score and cinematography are first-rate. ALSO READ - Raees quick movie review: Shah Rukh Khan's Miyan bhai avatar will take you back to the '70s style gangster drama

What's not

Predictability is a for that has scarred many a film, and Raees is unfortunately one of its biggest victims. The rise and fall of a ganglord, whose skirmishes with police and politicians lead to his downfall is not exactly a novel idea. But a different treatment would have worked wonders on any stale story. And here's where Rahul Dholakia falters big time. Despite providing a larger than life image to his hero, Dholakia fails to make the narrative engaging and coherent for the audience he is targeting. It's interesting to draw parallels to another gangster drama, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, with Raees as both have similar plots set in similar period setting. But the former knows its audiences and accepts its masala persona.Raees, meanwhile, is stuck in a limbo of whether to be a realistic drama or a masala entertainer but doesn't do justice to either. The scenes of Raees' ascension to power, how he hoodwinks the police and wins an election from jail are written in a very lazy manner. The terrorism angle that should have been the tension-building twist turns out to be another yawn-worthy plot device for the writers who seemed clueless as to how to end this. However the biggest letdown of Shah Rukh Khan's Raees is the love track between Raees and his wife, that looks like an afterthought than a proper track. There is zero chemistry between SRK and Mahira, even with random insertion of songs here and there. Mahira mostly has the role of a decorative showpiece, while talented actors like Zeeshan Ayyub and Atul Kulkarni are sadly wasted. The editing is below par, while the music and the art direction are ho-hum.

Above all, it is Shah Rukh Khan who disappointed me the most. Upstaged many a time by his co-stars, we feel the actor is trying too hard, but the movie does not offer him anything exceptional to do. Even with the those kohl eyes, we can only see Shah Rukh Khan the actor and not the character in the role. His character might be a do-gooder to his people, but we can't help but see through Majmudar's eyes and think of him as man who gained power and money through illegal means. The movie wants us to sympathise with him, but gives us no good reason or a brilliant scene to do so. ALSO READ - Raees music review: Shah Rukh Khan's gangster drama has a good mix of soulful and situational tracks

What to do

As a movie, Raees is definitely a letdown especially for those who expect a Deewar-like dhamakedaar masala movie. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan might give the movie its huge initial but don't expect the road ahead to be a smooth ride. And warning for all superstars - acting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui is injurious to your own dramatic talents - he can steal your glory right from under your nos

2.5 from 5

RAEES MOVIE REVIEW: SHAH RUKH KHAN'S PERFORMANCE IS LOUD

By Kunal Guha, Mumbai Mirror | Jan 24, 2017, 10.47 PM IST

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Critic's Rating: 2.5/5

Avg Readers' Rating: 2.5/5

REVIEW THIS MOVIE

CAST:Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan

DIRECTION:Rahul Dholakia

GENRE:Drama

In one of the lesser melodramatic scenes from this film, we see SRK as the eponymous Raees, breaking down. His cheeks swell up like a puri and his head shakes like he's having a seizure and even though not a single tear rolls out of his eyes, from the odd groan, we're assured that he's crying. His performance in the scene seems like a reaction to being forced to watch this film twice.

Gritty' and edgy'" how some have described this film " are the most loosely tossed around words in the film industry. Writers describe their stories as such, filmmakers feel it best conveys their ambitious vision and actors use them to describe their onscreen avatars. But not many of them will be able to summarise what these words mean or translate into. But as long as the wheels are in motion, who cares?

Set in the '70s-'80s Gujarat, we meet Raees when he's a teen, being inducted into the spurious alcohol industry. Soon he's alcohol kingpin Jairaj Seth's (Atul Kulkarni) right hand. Given that he possesses "baniye ka dimaag" and "miyaanbhai ki daring"" the two traits that cumulatively spell success in bootlegging booze " he's soon the boss of his own empire. Along with friend and accomplice Sadiq (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub), Raees greases cops, politicians and everybody in the middle to become a messiah of the lesser privileged and a dushmanon ka dushman. Evidently, this story is set in the '80s.

The man who stalks Raees and hopes to trounce his booming business is super cop Jaideep Majumdar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who is close on his heels through the film. But his earnest efforts are nullified by Raees, who manages to get him transferred each time he's about to close in on him. The film takes a turn for the worse in the second half and when things go south for Raees, the story nosedives into hell.

The film may be set in the '80s but it also takes the cinematic liberties that films made in the era did. A song sequence to mark every occasion, chest-beating reactions, laboured death scenes (complete with slow-mo falls and multiple bullets punched from pointblank range to complete the job) and loud internal monologues ("Ya Allah, what have I done?" says Raees to no one in particular).

In the action scenes, SRK mounts walls and leaps over buildings with the agility of Contra. But this is barely enough to make up for his loud and lazy performance. The actor seems to be too preoccupied with doing a Bachchan and ending up like Raju Srivastav on a bad night. Investing in Mahira Khan's visa was a wasted cause as the actress can barely construct half an expression. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is surely the only redeeming factor in Raees but sadly, his parts are brief.

Director Rahul Dholakia, best known for Parzania, obsessively pays tribute to Deewar (cop and bad guy exchanging dialogue in the police station), Agneepath (SRK has the eye makeup and mimics Bachchan) and a dozen others. But it gets a bit too indulgent.

For a film that's set in Gujarat, this one ditches the vibrant colour palate used by filmmakers such as Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Also the state's folk influences barely seep into the film's dated soundtrack which evidently lacks Amit Trivedi's rhythmic diversity. While Udi Udi Jaye may be covered by a few dandiya mandals this year, Ram Sampath sticks to sparse compositions which are forgettable. The Laila Main Laila rendition may have made ripples with certain audiences but it's debatable if the track itself had much to do with it.

SRK's ardent fans have endured the actor's terrible film choices for long. It's about time they wake up and bite into the red chilly

Raees movie review: Shah Rukh Khan manages to breaks through in some scenes but this film belongs to Nawazuddin Siddiqui who is having the time of his life.

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Written by Shubhra Gupta | New Delhi | Published:January 24, 2017 11:04 pm

Raees movie review: Shah Rukh Khan is straining hard to fulfill every single gangster trope but it is Nawazuddin Siddiqui who actually shines through.

Raees movie cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Atul Kulkarni Raees movie director: Rahul Dholakia
Raees movie rating: 2.5

Shah Rukh Khan returns in and as Raees , a golden hearted mobster who does bad things for a good cause. It is a role constructed to grab back his pole position, and to that end Shah Rukh Khan strains at fulfilling every single point of the In and As trope. He sings and dances, he fights and romances: he also tries to fulfil the outlines of a character.
And that's where the film gets stuck, between the two stools of restraint and full blown tamasha: the In and As SRK is as familiar as he has ever been, despite the trimmings added on to induce freshness " the gold rimmed glasses, the kohled eyes, the deliberate delivery, and that Scarface moment- guns, arcing bullets and blood- which all actors dream of.

Watch | Shah Rukh Khan During Raees Train Ride: I Wish I Could Bring AbRam

Shah Rukh Khan During Raees Train Ride: I Wish I Could Bring AbRam

Which makes Raees a mish-mash of things we've seen before in a plot which owes allegiance to the real life story of a liquor baron who made his pile and his name in dry Gujarat. The filmmakers have denied any similarity but anyone with half an eye can see the overlaps - the ingenuity of a man who could think on his feet (hooch- filled tomatoes!) and cart his maal under the eye of the cop (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who swears to catch him.

Mahira Khan also fails to have that freshness.

In fact, amongst all the effective supporting parts which bouy SRK, it is Nawaz who shines most. His dry one liners , and he has several, have a zing which SRK's don't. And in a film where the leading man's dialogue baazi is meant to wow the crowd, that is telling.
Dholakia knows his Gujarat . That was clear in his Parzania . There are some flashes of that insider knowledge here too, but you can see how fear of being censored has blunted the edges of this film which could have really lifted off the screen. The riots, both in Mumbai and Gujarat, have a seriously anodyne feel. And the predictable arc of the story weighs the second half down.
SRK's romantic interest, Mahira Khan, too is not as fresh as she could have been: the coyness is old Bollywood and in a film which should have embraced its masala roots much more firmly, it just sinks. So do all those slo-mos. And that Sunny Leone, who shakes it, shakes it, to no avail.
So this is what we get: a Nawaz who is having the time of his life, and making us crack multiple grins, up against an SRK who breaks through in some moments (especially one in which he shares with his bete noire, when the film shuts everything else down so that we can focus on the duo ) but gets bogged down in florid, seen-too-many-times flourishes.
A song in the film reminds us that Raees played by SRK is a single piece in this world. Yes he is, but maybe we'll be more aware of that the next time around.

Raees Review: Na miyabhai ki daring , na baniye ka dimag

January 24, 2017 23:13 IST

It would have helped the film's creative -- not box office -- cause to have the courage of its conviction and not turn Raees into the story of a whimpering, sanskari gangster, feels Prasanna D Zore.

Raees is a neither-here-nor-there film.

Besides Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the entire creative team -- actor Shah Rukh Khan, director Rahul Dholakia, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani and music director Ram Sampat -- lack conviction in their respective departments.

SRK's Raees is a sanskari gangster. He never abandons the values espoused by his mother even as he makes a mark for himself in the world of sin.

Raees emerges as the most secular gangster one will ever see in recent times even as he grinds his milk teeth and earns his spurs in the world of crime in Gujarat, flouting prohibition laws, as he romances Mahira Khan effortlessly (and there is enough chemistry between them to arouse your interest), as he dances to Laila Main Laila with Sunny Leone, as he goes about pumping bullets and bottles into his enemies or as he plays a game of hide-and-seek with Nawazuddin's SP Majmudar.

SRK's Raees takes you for a boring ride, trying to soak the gangster's character in filmi spiel that is so typical of Bollywood's masala films when the film's creators realise that the plot is absolutely lame.

You wonder at SRK's conviction as an actor playing a gangster when he cries in Mahira Khan's arms, unable to cope with the pressure of an honest gangster (really?!), when friends-turned-foe politicians play mind games with him.

Besides Ram Sampath's Udi, Udi Jaye, the film's music lacks character.

Dholakia's direction goes for a spin when he makes Shah Rukh pump bullets into gangsters, showing the bullets hitting them in the chest, not once or twice, but back-to-back. (Applause! What an eye for detail!)

You want to ask the director if he really was the one who made Parzania, especially when you see SP Majmudar 'killing' Raees in a fake encounter on a deserted stretch of a road, not even bothering to make it look genuine.

The cops abandon the gangster's bullet-riddled body and pack themselves off into their jeeps as if they are late for a party! Can you believe this?

It is Nawazuddin's SP Majmudar that brings life into the dull proceedings.

Every frame that the actor is in lightens up with his brilliance.

His dialogue delivery, his timing and his mannerisms are a lesson of what conviction is all about.

His role, though small, is meaty and the actor makes it even better.

The way he carries himself and his character reminds you what Raees' mother teaches him as a child: 'Koi dhandha chhota nahi hota aur dhande se bada koi dharam nahi hota.'

While SRK is a brand in himself, and a big one at that, it would have helped the film's creative -- not box office -- cause to have the courage of its conviction and not turn Raees into the story of a whimpering, secular, sanskari gangster.

Rediff Rating: 2.5/5

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sarun_4_evaGroupbie

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Originally posted by .rasgulla.

Originally posted by sarun_4_eva

I urged not to repeat repeat articles and an idiot is doing it continuously 😵

Simple solution.. Ignore the posts by idiot... Negative review hogs tou ek se ziada baar hi post hoga.. someone else will post it

I am updating the 1st page and it makes my task harder.🥱

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rockrahulSenior Member

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Raees Review: Na miyabhai ki daring , na baniye ka dimag

January 24, 2017 23:13 IST

It would have helped the film's creative -- not box office -- cause to have the courage of its conviction and not turn Raees into the story of a whimpering, sanskari gangster, feels Prasanna D Zore.

Raees is a neither-here-nor-there film.

Besides Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the entire creative team -- actor Shah Rukh Khan, director Rahul Dholakia, producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani and music director Ram Sampat -- lack conviction in their respective departments.

SRK's Raees is a sanskari gangster. He never abandons the values espoused by his mother even as he makes a mark for himself in the world of sin.

Raees emerges as the most secular gangster one will ever see in recent times even as he grinds his milk teeth and earns his spurs in the world of crime in Gujarat, flouting prohibition laws, as he romances Mahira Khan effortlessly (and there is enough chemistry between them to arouse your interest), as he dances to Laila Main Laila with Sunny Leone, as he goes about pumping bullets and bottles into his enemies or as he plays a game of hide-and-seek with Nawazuddin's SP Majmudar.

SRK's Raees takes you for a boring ride, trying to soak the gangster's character in filmi spiel that is so typical of Bollywood's masala films when the film's creators realise that the plot is absolutely lame.

You wonder at SRK's conviction as an actor playing a gangster when he cries in Mahira Khan's arms, unable to cope with the pressure of an honest gangster (really?!), when friends-turned-foe politicians play mind games with him.

Besides Ram Sampath's Udi, Udi Jaye, the film's music lacks character.

Dholakia's direction goes for a spin when he makes Shah Rukh pump bullets into gangsters, showing the bullets hitting them in the chest, not once or twice, but back-to-back. (Applause! What an eye for detail!)

You want to ask the director if he really was the one who made Parzania, especially when you see SP Majmudar 'killing' Raees in a fake encounter on a deserted stretch of a road, not even bothering to make it look genuine.

The cops abandon the gangster's bullet-riddled body and pack themselves off into their jeeps as if they are late for a party! Can you believe this?

It is Nawazuddin's SP Majmudar that brings life into the dull proceedings.

Every frame that the actor is in lightens up with his brilliance.

His dialogue delivery, his timing and his mannerisms are a lesson of what conviction is all about.

His role, though small, is meaty and the actor makes it even better.

The way he carries himself and his character reminds you what Raees' mother teaches him as a child: 'Koi dhandha chhota nahi hota aur dhande se bada koi dharam nahi hota.'

While SRK is a brand in himself, and a big one at that, it would have helped the film's creative -- not box office -- cause to have the courage of its conviction and not turn Raees into the story of a whimpering, secular, sanskari gangster.

Rediff Rating: 2.5/5

https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/raees-review-na-miyabhai-ki-daring-na-baniye-ka-dimag/20170124.htm

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Originally posted by sarun_4_eva

I am updating the 1st page and it makes my task harder.🥱

Some people cannot be stopped.. You can only ignore them

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As much as I hate this man, since its a review

Taran

https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/raees-2/critic-review/

There's something about films based on gangsters, criminals and underworld... Have often wondered, why are several film-makers across the globe so fascinated by this genre? Though I am not a huge fan of this genre, I must confess, I have thoroughly enjoyed a number of crime sagas made in Mumbai: DEEWAAR, DHARMATMA, PARINDA, AGNEEPATH, SATYA, VAASTAV, GANGSTER, SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI... Helmed by some of the best names in showbiz, these films have tremendous recall value and left giant footprints on the sands of time, besides leaving an indelible impression on my mind.

There's tremendous speculation about RAEES... That the story is inspired by true events... That it's based on a real-life character... Frankly, I am not the right person to comment on the authenticity of characters/episodes depicted in the movie or verify the speculations, but as a moviegoer, I must confess, RAEES did transport me to its world.

A majority of films that highlight the lives of criminals/gangsters have a set template vis--vis the plotline: An ordinary person takes to crime, becomes a hotshot criminal, hobnobs with the rich, influential and powerful, but, eventually, the law decides to get even with him. RAEES follows a similar graph as well... the only difference being, this one is more realistic in approach than several films of this genre.

Director Rahul Dholakia depicts the power play and the cat and mouse chase between Raees and the honest cop Jaideep with flourish and that, in my opinion, is the mainstay of the enterprise. Having said that, I must admit, what takes the film notches higher is the terrific portrayal by SRK and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who breathe fire in their respective parts. More on that later!

Here's the plotline in succinct...Set in 1980s, Raees [Shah Rukh Khan] is trying to beat the system and succeed on his terms. His natural flair for entrepreneurship and never-say-die determination while achieving his goals makes him both loved and feared. Enter Jaideep [Nawazuddin Siddiqui], a cop, who vows to eliminate crime... and Raees' empire.

Recreating the bygone era is a Herculean task, but the toughest part is to involve the present-day audience that's clueless about the characters and ambience of that era. While the production design recreates the atmosphere flawlessly, Dholakia and his team of writers [Harit Mehta, Ashish Vashi, Niraj Shukla and Dholakia himself] ensure that the written material has the power to keep the viewer engaged and engrossed. Resultantly, the movie not only brings back memories of the 1980s, but also gives you the feel of the days gone by thanks to the characters and episodes highlighted in the narrative.

Dholakia is not really known to be a hardcore commercial film-maker. One look at his body of work and you realize he tilts more towards realism than make-believe. But he does an about-turn with RAEES, for the film marries realism and masala wonderfully. The narrative moves seamlessly from romance [SRK-Mahira] to the game of one-upmanship as the criminal and cop collide. This is a big ticket film with SRK and Dholakia knows that the stakes are high. He maintains the realism, ensures that the pace and energy seldom dip... but, most importantly, he makes sure SRK's legion of fans aren't disappointed. He takes a leap as a storyteller, doing justice to the written material and extracting bravura performances from each and every member of the cast.

Blemishes? Oh yes! The first hour unravels at a feverish pace, making you thirst for the second half. But it's here that the problem arises. The pace slackens soon after the intermission and the romantic song and a few sequences act as spoilers. Thankfully, the film picks up when Raees' life takes a dramatic turn, which leads to a high-voltage climax.

The soundtrack is decent, although there's minimal scope for the song and dance routine here. Laila Main Laila' and Zaalima' have already proved to be a favorite amongst the audience/listeners. In fact, Laila Main Laila' comes at a crucial juncture of the film and carries the story forward. Background score is effectual, especially the signature tune that has been used generously in the narrative.

The DoP [K.U. Mohanan] captures the locales wonderfully on celluloid. Editing [Deepa Bhatia] is taut. Dialogue are aimed at the masses. Lines like Baniye Ka Dimaag Aur Miyanbhai Ki Daring' and Ammi Jaan Kehti Thi, Koi Dhanda Chota Nahi Hota Aur Dhande Se Bada Koi Dharam Nahi Hota' have found resonance amongst viewers already. I must draw attention to the lines delivered to Nawazuddin too; they will bring the house down, especially in the first half. Action sequences pack a solid punch.

The performances in RAEES are consistently remarkable. Shah Rukh is the scene-stealer as well as the show-stealer. Cast in a character that has grey shades, the film brings back memories of his award-worthy acts at the commencement of his career. Nawazuddin matches his co-star's brilliance and delivers a magnificent performance. Both, SRK and Nawazuddin's performances keep you invested in the storyline as well as the characters. Mahira Khan looks gorgeous and handles her part with confidence.

Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub sinks his teeth into a solid role [SRK's confidante] and makes a big impression. Atul Kulkarni makes his presence felt with a committed performance. Sheeba Chaddha [SRK's mother] shines in a brief role. Narendra Jha [Musa Bhai], Jaideep Ahlawat [Nawab], Utkarsh Mazumdar [doctor], Pramod Pathak [Chief Minister] and Uday Tikekar [Pasha Bhai] are perfect in their parts. Sunny Leone sizzles in the Laila Main Laila' number.

On the whole, RAEES is a sure-shot hit. To state that SRK is sensational would be an understatement. The love, adulation and stardom that he attained in his early films will be showered on him yet again in RAEES. A few more factors contribute too: Nawazuddin Siddiqui's winning act, the aimed-at-masses written material and of course, the gripping finale. As far as the BO is concerned, there's no stopping this one. An outright winner. Just don't miss it!

Raees review: Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui brighten up the screen, film doesn't

Raees

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub

Rating: 2/5

A boy with humble beginnings sets up an empire by smuggling contraband. All he has going for him are his wits and insatiable ambition. He has a loyal sidekick, a brother, almost. As he grows powerful, he makes rivals. He wants to head a "syndicate" of other more-despicable smugglers. He bribes, kills, goes to jail, turns benevolent towards locals, and decides to run for elections. Add tapped phones and kids who act as eyes on the ground.

Seem familiar? This isn't the skeleton for Narcos, but Rahul Dholakia's Raees, a film that seems so remarkably inspired by the TV series on Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar that it is impossible to analyse it in isolation.

Swap Medellin with Fatehpura (a village in Gujarat), cocaine with alcohol, and a trump card: Shah Rukh Khan as Raees, the Escobar of Gujarat.

Raees is a typical '80s potboiler.

It's fast-paced (half a dozen songs notwithstanding). But it also feels like 20 episodes squeezed into three hours. In that, plots and characters are often left without rhyme or reason. It's like a film racing on skates. Albeit ones with wobbly wheels.

The film opens with a brief childhood sequence, a '70s set piece. The young Raees is street-smart, and with a head-start into criminal activity. Yes, he's poor. And overtly touchy about being called "Battery", slang for someone who wears spectacles. But there's no scarring humiliation or tragedy, or "Mera baap chor hai" tattoo.

When he grows up, in one broad stroke, he's out to conquer the world with two basic lessons: mommy said "No business is small". And smuggling mentor Jayraj Seth (Atul Kulkarni) said he has "baniye ki dimag, aur Miyabhai ki daring". The first lesson he interprets as a license to break the law. The latter, if you think about it, comes from a person who's hardly a role model.

But though Raees is creative at getting illegal shipments past cops (so was Escobar), he isn't the smartest businessman around. He bungles up his effort to get seed money, trusts the wrong people, and picks fights for every slight.

And he does pick a lot of fights, taking on dozens of men, alone. If only a film on Escobar was made in Bollywood, he, too, would be Parkour-ing through Colombia.

As an actor, SRK brings to Raees his usual screen presence but Mahira Khan is little more than a prop.

But in that, Raees is a typical '80s potboiler. Disturbingly, like commercial cinema from that period, the moral compass is a bit off. As Raees breaks up a political rally with flaming bottles of spirit, it sanctions violence. And it is borderline misogynistic, with the female lead (Mahira Khan) little more than a prop: a love interest he marries, keeps at home to bring up his child, and either yells at or romances.

As an actor, SRK brings to Raees his usual screen presence. But also something that has shades of his early career: the ability to play the menacing anti-hero, with a simmering, all-consuming anger. You must also give the man credit for powering through the dance and action routines at 51.

Dholakia couldn't have found a stronger support cast.The cop, Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), has the best lines, and is a worthy screen rival. As he meets Raees for the first time, he sits filling a fountain pen, and offers tea: the tension palpable, but each trying to show no signs of it.

But in films starring SRK, other characters often exist only in context to him. Majmudar is his antithesis - the incorruptible cop with who he trades punch lines. The very talented Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is little more than a loyal sidekick - the Gustavo to SRK's Escobar - but with much less agency.

Raees also deserves credit for going with a principal set of Muslim protagonists, a rarity for present-day Bollywood, and even SRK. In the intolerant times we live in, that is a statement on its own.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Majmudar has the best lines.

Yet, the problem is fundamental: the writing is shoddy and unoriginal. And by the time it wades into certain true events, it is left with too little time and meaning. Raees perhaps works only as an SRK showcase. But we've seen many of those already.

Movie Review: Raees

by Rachit Gupta | Tue, Jan 24, 2017

Rating: 3 Stars

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira Khan and Mohammad Zeeshan

Shah Rukh Khan first burst onto the scene with negative shades and much before he became one of the world's most loved romantic heroes, he'd made career out of anti-hero roles. Going back to the intensely satisfying environs of movies like Darr and Baazigar, SRK continues the trend he'd picked up in last year's Fan. He's the bad boy in Raees albeit with the proverbial golden heart. He beats up the baddies like a modern rendition of Amitabh Bachchan's angry young man. He serves up machismo in bulk. If you enjoy your movies in a single screen theatre, Raees is your Holi, Eid, Diwali and New Year gift hamper all rolled into one.

This film is a massive throwback to the times of larger-than-life heroes. Director Rahul Dholakia has even managed to push in a scene from Amitabh Bachchan's Kala Patthar. There isn't a vein of subtlety or nuance in Raees. This is an all out masala movie. It makes the most of SRK's gift with swagger and charisma. His character of Raees is introduced like an urban legend, the one man who fuels the illegal liquor distribution business in Gujarat. It builds on the baniye ka dimaag and miya bhai ki daring' analogy, portraying SRK's Raees as the man who outsmarts the competition, the law and the system. Raees goes from run-of-the-mill bootlegger to benevolent Don over a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. Along the way there's the quintessential romance with Mahira Khan. And the extremely pleasing cat and mouse game between the wily Raees and persistent police officer Majmudar (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). SRK and Nawazuddin lock horns like arch rivals as if straight out of Dev Anand's and Pran's Johny Mera Naam. Their onscreen rivalry adds the spunk to Raees. It's extremely satisfying to see both actors in such fine form.

With a generous runtime, there are moments when Raees does feel a bit too long. But despite its lengthy storytelling the movie packs in so much drama and action that the average movie buff will hardly complain. SRK's and Nawazuddin's stellar performances ensure that Raees retains its entertaining quality. SRK isn't layered or complex like he was in Fan. He's a more straightforward leading man in Raees. One who excels at a life of crime but maintains a strong silver lining throughout. A people's messiah, an action hero and a romantic all rolled into one. Nawazuddin on the other hand is the persistent foil who's at the hero's heels all the time. His easy demeanour compliments SRK's intensity and the two light up the screen with some genuine acting fireworks.

SRK's bravado dialogue delivery has some great stand out moments. Nawaz's cheeky lines make you smile. Sunny Leone's Laila number adds the veritable oomph. Raees serves up every thrill and spill you'd expect from a commercial masala movie. While the story and ideas aren't all new or refreshing, Raees' big play comes from its nostalgic treatment. This is a film for SRK fans and those who've grown up on a staple fare of Hindi pot boilers. Heroes, action, dialogue, romance and music this one has the whole jingbang.

https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/movie-review-raees-18364.html

#Raees = SURE-SHOT HIT... SRK and Nawazuddin are the lifeline... A must must watch