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Pathaan Movie Review: Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film is a strong masala entertainment with all the essential ingredients...
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia, and Ashutosh Rana
Director: Siddharth Anand
Where to watch: Theatres
Digital Desk: The hype is well-deserved. The four-and-a-half-year wait was worthwhile. And it was absolutely worth it to face the winter cold to see the first show of the day. Pathaan is the kind of blockbuster that Bollywood has been craving in the aftermath of the pandemic. There have been eulogies, tombstones erected, and Bollywood has been proclaimed dead, but Pathaan brings it back to life. And, inevitably, it is all carried out on the shoulders of the man who has defined superstardom for the past two decades - Shah Rukh Khan. In his comeback movie, the actor reminds viewers why he was referred to as the "King" and compels everyone to seek superstardom.
Pathaan is the story of the titular RAW agent (Shah Rukh), who returns to duty after years in exile. It's a little meta and on the nose, but it's fitting. He has been summoned to confront his old adversary Jim (John Abraham, back as a memorable villain). To stop a deadly terror threat to India, he teams up with the temperamental Pakistani agent Rubina, nicknamed Rubai (Deepika Padukone). The storyline is simple and occasionally somewhat predictable. But Pathaan was never intended to have the audience use their grey matter. It is pure entertainment and is intended to get you to whistle, clap, scream, and even dance. It's a throwback to the masala entertainers that most of us grew up with. It also delivers in terms of style.
Pathaan differs from many other contemporary masala action films in that its hero is not all-powerful. He is not KGF's Rocky, War's Kabir, or Tiger, who is capable of defeating 50 goons on their own. Despite his weakness, he prevails by using his intellect, martial arts skills, and knowledge of weapons. Pathaan loses to Jim, who is considerably bigger and stronger and is even on the verge of being defeated. But he finds a way, just like a hero. Pathaan is a better watch than many other films in which the hero is an unstoppable force because he is vulnerable.
The chemistry between the leads is the film's highlight. No, I'm not referring to Deepika and Shah Rukh. The best parts are the sequences starring Shah Rukh and John Abraham. As two spies and warriors on opposing sides of a conflict, they display anger, respect, and contempt for one other in a wonderful blend that makes you cheer them. Deepika is a fantastic counterbalance in a part that is much more than just the damsel in distress. She battles kicks butt and even outwits the wicked guys. Her uncertainty - is she good, is she terrible?—is entertaining to watch, and the actress captures the wicked unpredictability beautifully.
And undoubtedly, Shah Rukh Khan's charm is the key to it all. The actor tells the audience again why he's a success. He dominated the screen for a decade of viewers. Then another generation witnessed him flail and fumble in Zeros and Fans of Bollywood. Young viewers have wondered why this man is such a big star. They had not witnessed his magic on a large screen. Shah Rukh Khan has returned with a roar. This time he's an action hero. It could be the Shah Rukh 2.0 we've all been waiting for. The cameo, yes, the one everyone is talking about, is the icing on the cake. That is another scene where the chemistry of the two superstars shines.
The background music, notably the John Abraham theme, will generate several whistles in the audience. Even though some of the scenes seem a little over the top and unreal, the action is top-notch. But there is no need to mock the same thing in Pathaan if it works for Baahubali and KGF. Sequences of this size have been performed in Hollywood before, but with more skill. Pathaan is an excellent follow-up to War in terms of internationalizing Indian action flicks.
To be honest, the performances aren't really noteworthy. But they're adequate for the genre. After numerous failures over the course of a long career, Shah Rukh Khan eventually excels as an action star. John Abraham makes me think of Dhoom. His Jim is a good, powerful antagonist who he elevates by his presence. Deepika Padukone both looks and acts wonderfully. It's a role that allows her to exhibit both power and vulnerability, and she excels in it. Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia provide much-needed gravity, though both will admit it's not their best performance.
All of this is not to say the film is without flaws. There are some flaws in the plot, which is thin. The characters are stereotypical, and the emotional scenes don't always carry the appropriate level of weight. Shah Rukh is sincere, and Deepika makes an effort, but the direction falters in some of the emotional scenes. However, the primary audience for Pathaan doesn't mind that. It's a formula that's worked for War, Dabangg, Tiger, and Singham. Pathaan raises the bar for that formula. The film is paisa vasool in every sense. A masala entertainer developed over decades by Bollywood and served just so. If you want to be entertained, go watch it!
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