Dabangg Review

What is it all about?

Promotions can be deceptive and now you understand why the Bollywood macho man, the beefy Salman Khan with a heart bigger than his biceps was so eager to promote this much hyped Indian `confused' version of spaghetti westerns which comes almost a year after the money spinner `Wanted'.

The predictions of Dabangg' to be a super hit gets challenged frame after frame as the movie lacks the most `wanted' confidence and energy in its own much bigger, potentially fascinating story.

Yeah many of us knew in advance that the plot won't be something to brag about and everybody was expecting a full on masala fun a perfect recipe for the entertainment hungry souls of cinema this festival weekend as promised in the promotions of the film which appeared like a perfect crowd pleaser. But alas, this Bollywood actioner starts falling flat as often as it fights to bring some emotions, connections, and the funny bones that where expected and promised.

The Story.. of course

Set in Uttar Pradesh, `Dabangg' is a story of Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan), a totally fearless but corrupt police officer with unorthodox working methods. Chulbul has had a bitter childhood. His father passed away when he was very young, after which his mother (Dimple Kapadia) married Prajapati Pandey (Vinod Khanna). Together, they had a son Makhanchan (Arbaaz Khan).

Prajapati favors Makhanchan, which does not go down well with Chulbul. He decides to take control of his destiny and detaches himself from his step-father and half-brother. His sole attachment is his mother. However, after his mother's demise and an unsuccessful attempt to mend wounds, Chulbul snaps all ties with his step-father and half-brother.

Rajo (Sonakshi Sinha) enters his world and turns life upside down. Chulbul starts to see life more positively and also gets sensitized to the value of a family. But his detractors, Cheddi Singh (Sonu Sood), have their own vested interests and emerge as spokes in the wheels, putting one brother against the other. Makhanchan ends up carrying out an act oblivious to the consequences.

When Makhanchan realizes he has been used, he turns to Chulbul. Will Chulbul take his extended hand? Will the brothers be able to thwart their detractors?

Well you don't need to be an Einstein to predict.

What to look out for?

Salman Khan this beefy Bollywood macho man is poetry in motion, his exuberance in his physical comedy and funny inventiveness in dance numbers and fight sequences are thoroughly enjoyable.

The super star makes maximum use of his body language and mannerisms to great effect that makes him stand tall in the saddle where he tries to cover the defects of the film with his sheer charisma.

The fight sequences by S. Vijayan are crowd pleasers. Salman's introduction at the start and the fight-to-finish in the climax is a paisa vasool stuff. The ring tone thingy in between the fights where Salman starts dancing while punching is entertaining.

Sajid-Wajid's music is a major plus where "Tere Mast Mast Do Nain", title track and of course "Munni" composed by Lalit Pandit are already on the road to chartbusters.

Munni is choreographed fantastically by Farah and Malaika Arora delivers as ordered in the track.

Sonakshi Sinha looks beautiful and it's a dream debut for her where she shows good promise, acting skills can be polished depending upon the helmers she would work with in future.

Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Mahesh Manjrekar,  Mahi Gill, Tinnu Anand, Murli Sharma deliver their part as expected.

Mahesh Limaye's cinematography is excellent. Editing by Pranav V. Dhiwar is razor sharp especially in the action scenes.

The production values are fantastic.

What not?

Yeah we know that the plot has nothing to brag about but where is the screenplay, where are the emotions. What are we watching a show or a film - because the songs, the action become individual on their own; they fail to flow with the film as till interval the story by Dileep Shukla and Abhinav Kashyap is so stubborn to move.

The helmer Abhinav Kashyap in his debut commits the crime of shirking the responsibility to his action director, choreographer and just enjoys to watch the popular star enjoying the outing.

The fight sequences are good but not innovative enough, regular action buffs have seen it in many south Indian or Hollywood action flicks which are much crisper.

Where is the masala where is the fun. The introduction of Salman in the film promised entertainment for all but the confusion of the maker to make it as an Indian spaghetti westerner the cowboy flicks genre like the way it was smartly Indianised in `Ishqiya' by Abhishek Chaubey or full on entertainer like `Wanted' spoils the film and as a result `Dabanng' loses charm frame after frame and in the swing of genre from Bollywood action to spaghetti western fails to reach anywhere.

The second half goes on and on which becomes boring, the movie asks many questions like Arbaaz Khan is said to be a person with less knowledge or intellect in the film but the audience hardly feels it.

The sequences the second half like the robbery, the death of Dimple, the emotion between Vinod Khanna and Salman doesn't move and appears forced which fails to convince the audience.

The lovely Sonakshi Sinha suddenly disappears in the second half.

The brotherly emotions hardly get any development from the writer and the helmer.

You need a powerful villain to make a convincing blockbuster and Sonu Sood doesn't fit the bill.

Arbaaz role is half baked so is his acting.

Conclusion: `Dabangg' is a major let down in this festival weekend. The promised sure-fire, long-legged crowd-pleaser gets shorter in its legs frame after frame as it starts falling flat as often as it fights to bring some emotions, connections, and the funny bones that where expected and promised. Strictly for Salman diehards.

Rating: **&1/2