What is it all about?
Obviously Milan Lutharia and his writer Rajat Arora seem to have launched into this project backed by Balaji Motion Pictures with a faith in their own brilliance (Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, Dirty Picture) but call it laziness, arrogance or over confidence they both allow the squishy love triangle to take center stage in this sequel. Big mistake. Further the resurrection is disappointing, uninspired and boring that fails to salvage any pride on its own be it an underworld potboiler or as a relationship drama.
Sadly Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara (their spelling not mine) makes you believe that the writers have absolutely no faith in their characters or their own ability to take this sequel to somewhere new.
The Storyline
Rajat Arora takes it further from where it left.. Shohaib (Akshay Kumar), who killed his mentor in the past (Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai) to gain supremacy and is now the ruling mafia king. His influence and power has spread right up to the Middle East, today. Shoaib is now a flamboyant, suave man who is feared and revered.
Shohaib's only confidantes are his best friend Javed, who oversees his empire for him and his former lover Mumtaz (Sonali Bendre) who is now his closest friend. He often visits the poor Muslim areas where he grew up and it is on one such visit that he meets Aslam (Imran Khan). He takes him under his wings and gradually Aslam becomes one of his favourites.
Shohaib stumbles upon a young actress - Yasmin (Sonakshi Sinha) so does Aslam both are immediately taken in by her freshness, beauty and candour. Slowly, but surely his attraction towards Yasmin goes onto becoming an obsession. This creates a rift between Shoaib and Aslam and results in the ultimate showdown between the mentor and prote'ge'.
What to look out for
Akshay Kumar's bravado.. he is stunning.. his tone, accent, his look gives villainy in bollywood a new definition.. he is superb. Rajat Arora's dialogues are as usual catchy. Technicalities are fine. Sonakshi Sinha is likable. Sandeep Shirodkar background is really good.
What not
Fails to derive any iota of strength from the original.. The original was fastidious in its quest to recreate the styles, manners, talk and cultural minutiae of the 70's 80's the 'Deewar', 'Dharmatma', 'Oonche Log' type of goonda movies we loved in our childhood and still do. There was a real spirit of using the film to transport the viewer into the past. It gave an exhilarating sense of the similarities and differences between then and now. This one is just plain and a pain for the audience tolerance. The dialogues are great but where is the situation.. the late 80's and early 90's feel is absent.
The original had moments, sequences both for Ajay and Emraan including their introduction.. here after the inspired introduction the movie fails to engage the viewer in any way because of its meandering and unfocused storylines labeling the movie as a needless sequel..
To add more salt to the wounds Imran Khan is a misfit. His approach to the role is so casual..
Pritam's music is forgettable. Taiyab Ali is such a waste.
Conclusion: Apart from Akshay Kumar's dashing looks and performance Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara has nothing to boost on its own as a sequel.. it's an uninspired, boring and highly disappointing sequel you'll ever see. Or not see, if you're lucky. We all loved the first one and it's better to remember those fine moments in it 'dobaara' instead.
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