BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN MOVIE REVIEW

 

Here in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman is so atypical of the aforementioned 'Bhai'. He plays Pawan (aka Bajrangi) who is a naive, truthful and staunch Hanuman devotee. A woman falls for all his inherent goodness but he still has to convince his prospective father-in-law that he is fit for his daughter, like any common man has to. When a little Pakistani girl (Shahida) loses her way during a train journey, out of the reach of her mom and lands up in India, Pawan gives her shelter. He soon discovers that she can't speak and is driven to journey across the border to take her safely back home to her parents in Pakistan. This is a journey fraught with humor, emotions and drama (melodrama in the end !) but there is an inherent feel-good factor which endears the film, no doubt.

 

Though Pawan's nature and means are too good and idealistic to be true and even rightly termed foolish by some of the other characters in the film, Salman owns the part. Bajrangi is definitely a different mainstream film from Salman and his fans ought to love this one too, due to its wholesome family appeal and the India - Pakistan connect that has been portrayed with some genuine emotions. Casting Salman as a staunch Hindu and as someone who doesn't readily embrace Islam, is an interesting move for sure.

 

It is good to see Hinduism presented well on screen and not blatantly ridiculed, like in some other popular recent films. There is also a positive message about acceptance of different religions, cultures and not thinking about needless imaginary mental boundaries. And the Pakistan that we see in the film is also mostly natural and realistic, far removed from the general terrorism stamp which is all over the nation whenever it is shown on screen. And televised India - Pakistan cricket matches are interestingly used at key moments in the film.

 

Harshaali Malhotra as the little Pakistani girl is adorable to the core and her reactions are cute and never out of place or out of age. You can't forget her pure visage. Suffice to say that this tiny tot is the heroine of the film, despite the presence of the beautiful Kareena Kapoor Khan as the lead lady. Kareena gets a few songs in the first half and some scenes to prove that she is a strong woman who can stand up for her love.

 

Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the Pakistani reporter gets into the movie in the 2nd half and offers so many moments of humor, emotion and purpose. His role is very pivotal in the way the tale resolves in the end. Nawaz keeps contributing so much to Bollywood with his brand of understated, easy acting.

 

The film's grand technical values are befitting its budget and scale. We get to see picturesque visuals of Kashmir and candid moments from the journey. DoP Aseem Mishra has also done a fine job in the night scenes in the beginning, when the girl loses her way.

 

Among the songs, the qawwali track by Adnan Sami is the best of the lot and is an emotional high-point in the film. Pritam hasn't exactly scored a chartbuster album but the songs do serve the purpose when they are required to transport us along Pawan - Shahida's journey. In fact, some of the songs listed in the album and also shot visually, don't find a place in the film. Good move, we say.

 

There is just one little full-fledged stunt sequence when we get to see Salman in all his macho glory. Even the shirtless scene is one where he is at the receiving end of a heavy walloping !

 

The film's run time is a gracious 150 minutes plus and towards the end, when it turns all melodramatic and manipulative, our patience is tested. And too much time is taken up in the 1st half before Pawan gets to know that it is a Pakistani girl. The 'Chicken Song' is a needless exercise and such fillers could have been eschewed.

 

Despite all these drawbacks, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is still a worthy outing from the Ek Tha Tiger duo of Salman - Kabir Khan. They show good versatility and have gone away from the action route to present a heartening tale where human emotions take pride of place. Do watch out ...