Never mind which side of the divide you decide to stand, here's one fact of life you ignore at your own peril: Never judge a Salman Khan fan when he's rooting for the Bhai pulling off the most logic-defying stunts, and even scenes. Because, Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan is one film that will bring them to the theatres in droves and you'd do yourself a favour by keeping quiet even if you think this film is over the top. But then, chances are that you may also love it.
First things first. There is no doubting Salman's secular credentials. He is one actor who never tires of talking about the multi-religious ethnicity of his family and he has reasons to do so. But now he has decided to extend this ideology to the themes of his films as well.
First things first. There is no doubting Salman's secular credentials. He is one actor who never tires of talking about the multi-religious ethnicity of his family and he has reasons to do so. But now he has decided to extend this ideology to the themes of his films as well.
Rasika and Pawan's love story blooms in the bylanes of Old Delhi.
Soon, we are told that this child cannot talk, is from Pakistan, and that she is stranded here in India.
Soon, we are told that this child cannot talk, is from Pakistan, and that she is stranded here in India.
Not surprisingly, Pawan takes it upon himself to reunite the child with her parents. Just that he has a set of problems that threaten to throw his mission off balance right from the word go: he has no passport, he never lies, and he is a vegetarian.
On the face of it, this is probably Salman's most mellowed down performance in recent times: he refrains from flaunting his street fighting skills (unless he's left with no option, that is), and he has managed to look innocent in the scenes where his character's inner dilemma over non-vegetarian food comes out or when he finds that the lost child is actually a Muslim (Who he likes to call Mohamden similar to a large number of North Indians).
Like Rasika, Bajrangi is also a strict vegetarian.
Through some cheesy and over-the-top sequences, he befriends Munni (a super cute Harshaali) and begins a journey that takes him to a small-time TV reporter in Pakistan, Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin). Remember that viral video featuring Chand Nawab reporting from Karachi on Eid? The same one.
Through some cheesy and over-the-top sequences, he befriends Munni (a super cute Harshaali) and begins a journey that takes him to a small-time TV reporter in Pakistan, Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin). Remember that viral video featuring Chand Nawab reporting from Karachi on Eid? The same one.
One thing that works for Bajrangi Bhaijaan is that it is not a preachy film, a great feat in itself considering that the film's crew relentlessly talked about the 'paradoxes involved in the religious outset of India' in every pre-release interview. And Purani Dilli, the director's choice for unfolding the basic premise, serves him well. The crowded bylanes of the walled city demonstrate the extent to which the religious lives of the Hindus and the Muslims are entangled in this part of the world. Apart from a moment when Kareena Kapoor mouths sermons of peaceful co-existence and how a small child should be kept out of the religious debates, things appear under-control.
V Vijayendra Prasad’s story doesn’t boast of too many twists and turns, and that puts the spotlight back on its primary characters. The way the director introduces Nawazuddin Siddiqui, his understanding of mainstream commercial cinema will amaze you. Nawazuddin's pauses, hamming and high pitched dialogues... everything adds value to the character he plays. He saves a linear story from going wayward in the second half. In fact, he very charmingly informs the audience about the absurdities of our daily lives. Take a look at this conversation:
V Vijayendra Prasad’s story doesn’t boast of too many twists and turns, and that puts the spotlight back on its primary characters. The way the director introduces Nawazuddin Siddiqui, his understanding of mainstream commercial cinema will amaze you. Nawazuddin's pauses, hamming and high pitched dialogues... everything adds value to the character he plays. He saves a linear story from going wayward in the second half. In fact, he very charmingly informs the audience about the absurdities of our daily lives. Take a look at this conversation:
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