So here are some of the things I expect to see in a Salman Khan film — the superstar playing a charming, irreverent superhero; a largely incoherent script that exists only to showcase him as a superhero; a largely irrelevant heroine who needs rescuing from some foolish villains; probably low-IQ comedy punctuated by a few crackling one-liners.
But Bajrangi Bhaijaan gives us a Salman Khan very different from the one we're used to seeing on screen. There's no swagger in his step, no signature punchlines to deliver, and…gasp…he doesn't once rip off his shirt.
The result, I'm happy to report, is that this may be Salman Khan's most coherent film in recent years.
Playing a mute in the film, the little girl seen on the posters is sweet, innocent and makes us fall in love with her acting chops. What makes the story interesting is how she conveys things to people around without speaking, inadvertently raising the issue of thousands of those like her. Lost in a foreign nation without any voice can be very frightening for a little girl but she has Bhaijaan coming to her rescue.
Highlighting the plight of people who wish to travel across the border for a purpose,Bajrangi Bhaijaan revolves around Salman Khan’s journey from India to Pakistan. Facing several issues – from official permission to visa and passport hassles – the actor embarks on a selfless mission with the little girl and his friend.
Rightly, as somebody who has recently travelled to India, airport formalities, security checks seem to be ladden with a not so Pro-Pakistani tinge. There's always a tiny box at the bottom of the papers asking you to certify whether you have Pakistani ancestors or not.
However, I felt that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is way too long at 2 hours and 35 minutes, and could have done with some serious pruning, especially in its first half. It's less engaging than such typical Salman Khan comdedy blockbusters as Partner and Ready because of that. The real film for me only starts post-interval where the cast and crew attempts to dive you into an emotional climax.
Nevetherless, the gesture of the actor of tweeting to Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers is sure laudable in that he attempts to dissolve a long fraught with tension emotional border through his iconic personality.
But Bajrangi Bhaijaan gives us a Salman Khan very different from the one we're used to seeing on screen. There's no swagger in his step, no signature punchlines to deliver, and…gasp…he doesn't once rip off his shirt.
The result, I'm happy to report, is that this may be Salman Khan's most coherent film in recent years.
Playing a mute in the film, the little girl seen on the posters is sweet, innocent and makes us fall in love with her acting chops. What makes the story interesting is how she conveys things to people around without speaking, inadvertently raising the issue of thousands of those like her. Lost in a foreign nation without any voice can be very frightening for a little girl but she has Bhaijaan coming to her rescue.
Highlighting the plight of people who wish to travel across the border for a purpose,Bajrangi Bhaijaan revolves around Salman Khan’s journey from India to Pakistan. Facing several issues – from official permission to visa and passport hassles – the actor embarks on a selfless mission with the little girl and his friend.
Rightly, as somebody who has recently travelled to India, airport formalities, security checks seem to be ladden with a not so Pro-Pakistani tinge. There's always a tiny box at the bottom of the papers asking you to certify whether you have Pakistani ancestors or not.
However, I felt that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is way too long at 2 hours and 35 minutes, and could have done with some serious pruning, especially in its first half. It's less engaging than such typical Salman Khan comdedy blockbusters as Partner and Ready because of that. The real film for me only starts post-interval where the cast and crew attempts to dive you into an emotional climax.
Nevetherless, the gesture of the actor of tweeting to Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers is sure laudable in that he attempts to dissolve a long fraught with tension emotional border through his iconic personality.
