Veer Review

Salman Khan can do anything; the lion hearted macho man is there for help when needed but his `mass' appeal can't save this creaky epic drama from doldrums.

Director Anil Sharma's visual and aural bombast with Shaktimaan Talwar's script's soap-opera heart is a tedious 3 hr epic struggle for the viewer who asks for courage to sit through.

This love story of a yawnier played by Salman (too good) who in the zest to fulfil his father promise suddenly starts chasing a Rajkumari (new find Zarine Khan- no comments) and the movie moonwalks from some Madhavgarh in Rajasthan during 1862 to London where the warrior who in his swash for the lady buckles his Pitaji played by Mithun Da (competent as ever) plan and kasam and keeps everybody waiting to the extant that you wish to gift a `talwar' to the hero and ask him to cut his `pyaar' and show us some real `maar' and deliver what has been actually promised and promoted. `Veer' opens up solidly and the first ten minutes make you believe that its truly an epic in the making, as you are just getting use to the pleasure of watching Salman breaking necks and stealing the treasure of the goras as a pindari warrior, the introduction of the mohatarma in this epic action drama broadly makes the interest escape without any trace and you are left feeling awkward by the spectacular gaze this nature would command.

Without any connection, feel or emotion.

`Veer' gives new meaning to a `costume drama' that it is a drama primarily about costumes.

The dress code is completely out of sink and the research is pathetic.

Imagine an Indian pindari warrior wearing roman war jackets which we have seen in American period epics like Russel crowe's gladiator, Arnold's Conan the Barbarian, Brad Pitts Troy etc etc.

Yeah, Dharam paji also wore something like this in Dharam Veer but it was helmed by the late magnificent Manmohan Desai who had this unique ability of telling one story in 12 different films.

Apart from blunders in writing other noticeable blunders in this period costume drama are as follows.

Salman wears a suit made of Jacquard in 1880's, 90's and on top of it wears an Australian hat in 1890's. Indian rajkumari wears gloves and gowns, Salman and Sohail in London College wearing the dress of a Maharaja. Yes they both go to college to study English culture.

Anyhow, we still need to figure out what made Salman pen this story. maybe he is a fan of Dharampaji and Manoj Kumar... Remember the baap beta thingie in Kranti and the climax of Veer is similar to the Bollywood premier desh bhakt Manoj Kumar urf `Bharat' film.

Wow, how `India Heart' is that.

Sharma is so invested in transforming his hero a warrior into a lover that he reduces the surroundings into caricatures. The extras pindari warriors especially are wildly hysterical and energetic. Sohail Khan irritates. Jackie Shroff is unconvincing. The lingo they speak is amazingly untraceable and you don't know from where they have come from. Sajid wajid music though melodious doesn't waste any opportunity to pop up and test our nerves as the heat of the battle gets colder frame by frame. Salman is the only saving grace in this spectacle which scores enormous highs in production values, cinematography, look and somewhat in music.

The Story...Of Course

Imagine giving a pen and a paper to a kid and ask him to pen the `Mahabharatha', the same thing happens to this `Veer' where the writing is superbly amateurish. Set in 1862 (after the 1857 mutiny. mind you.. anyways), the bravest, the toughest, the strongest of the Pindaris is Veer (Salman Khan) As Veer takes on the might of the British Empire, he also has to fight the conniving King of Madavgarh (Jackie Shroff) as well his own jealous tribesmen. At stake is his love for princess Yashodhara (Zarine Khan), daughter of his sworn enemy. At stake is his thirst to avenge his father's dishonour.

What to look out for?

Salman in the barbarian act blowing his nostrils with the deadly look in his eyes tearing people and breaking their neck is superb.

In sync or out sync, the movie is a visual delight.

Mithun Da is effective as ever.

What not?

Salman in this 3 hr epic period drama fights for 5 times which includes the long climax and the rest of the time he is busy in singing duets, ball room dancing in London where he had gone to study?.

Rating **

Recommended: An Epic struggle that requires a soap opera heart and lots of dheer (patience). Strictly for Salman fans who never mind the story in being a part of the actor's glory.