Movie Review - #BajrangiBhaijaan

Movie – Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Producer – Salman Khan / Kabir Khan

Director - Kabir Khan

Star Cast - Salman Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra

Music – Pritam, 

Genre – Drama

Salman Khan and his obsession for releasing films over the auspicious occasion of Eid is something we have frequently seen over the past few years. Wanted, Dabangg, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger and Kick, all of these films released on Eid and have broken box-office records. This year’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan is no different. Typically, a Salman Khan film doesn't need a storyline for success, it's always the sheer star power that does the trick. But Bajrangi Bhaijaan is different - it's got an emotional story to tell. Before heading to review, here’s a look at Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s theatrical promo.

Synopsis - 

Bajrangi Bhaijaan depicts an emotional journey of a small girl hailing from Pakistan who unknowingly crosses the border and gets stranded in India. This little girl has one medical condition; she can listen and understand things but cannot speak. Fate takes her to Bajrangi (Salman Khan) who feels sad for her. The story begins when Bajrangi starts his journey to trace the little girl’s house, making it his mission to ensure she is united with her parents in Pakistan.

The Good

Let’s face the fact; Salman Khan has a huge fan following, right from school / college going kids, to rickshaw / taxi drivers, and the elite class as well. Most of Salman’s films succeed not because of the storyline or acting, but because of his sheer star-power. But Bajrangi Bhaijaan is different. Compared to all his previous mass entertainer films, this one touches your heart. 

Having a bound script is not just the secret to success. Acting, cinematography, locations, music, background score and the direction are key ingredients for making a successful film, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan ticks all the right boxes. The beautiful locations across which the movie is shot are simply delightful to the eyes. Also, the gripping storyline and background score keeps you hooked on to the edge of your seat.

When it comes to acting, of course, Salman Khan does his antiques, the funny expressions and the dance steps to entertain his mass audience. I feel, Kareena is there just for namesake, may be because the script demanded to show a love angle. But the little girl, Harshaali Malhotra steals the thunder. For a girl who is just 6 years old, she’s been given a very difficult role. As she can’t speak, it’s her expressions that have to convey that she wants to say, and she’s done a pretty good job. 

After illegally crossing the border without any passport, the Pakistani Police term Bajrangi and Munni a.k.a. Sahida (Harshaali) as undercover agents. Looking to make it big with a headline story, reporter Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) takes an exclusive interview of Bajrangi asking him about his mission, his organization etc. As usual, Nawazuddin does a fantastic job again. After learning the truth about Bajrangi and Munni, he quickly realizes it’s the breakthrough story he has been looking for all this while. It was his ticket to fame, but more than that, he also felt it was his responsibility to ensure Munni reaches home, safe and sound. The entire journey thereafter is a thrilling and emotional joyride.

The Bad

While not actually bad, there are a few things that don’t make sense. For instance, Bajrangi calls Rasika (Kareena Kapoor Khan) Behenji and then starts dating her. Didn't make any sense right? And just when you’re trying to get over it, there are other things that make you ponder. How did someone create a secret tunnel to cross the border that is always on high-alert? And the guys who protect the border, just let Bajrangi enter the country without any passport. Oh and yes, there are a few scenes where Bajrangi manages to get the local currency. My question - did I miss the scene when Forex exchange happened?

Verdict

Bajrangi Bhaijaan is very different from other Salman Khan movies. This time around, the bound script and the cute Harshaali Malhotra manages to capture our hearts. All thanks to her genuine expressions, it made the audience laugh and cry. Also, kudos to the director Kabir Khan to get the most from this little angel. I cannot complete the review without mentioning the peppy numbers Selfi Le Le Re and Adnan Sami’s Bhar Do Jholi, both of which have been the chartbusters. 

There was not a single dull moment in the movie and the penultimate last 20 minutes had plenty of emotional touch to it. I took a look around and could see almost everyone sobbing around the last scene. Right from the gripping storyline, to the shooting locations, background score, music and the acting, everything works in favor of Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Don’t miss it.

Rating - ****1/2