Karnataka   

The same old story, without the punch

Action feast: Salman Khan bulldozes his way through the potholes in the script and Sonakshi Sinha reminds one of the era when faces were used to convey emotions.

Dabangg (Hindi)

Cast: Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Arbaaz Khan, Dimple Kapadia

Director: Abhinav Singh Kashyup

Taken aback by the surprise success of “Wanted”, Salman Khan realised that the audience in the hinterland still wants ‘the bang' formula from him. So this Id, we have a bigger, louder and rustic version of an action feast with an innocent love story sandwiched in between.

Unfortunately, the filling is stale. Harking back to Manmohan Desai days, debutant director Abhinav Kashyap tries to drum up the same old story of sparring stepbrothers (Salman and Arbaaz Khan) uniting in the end for the mother (Dimple Kapadia).

We understand scriptwriters are in a pause mode these days and producers are busy refreshing the past but we expect a degree of coherence, an iota of surprise and some punch in the dialogues to revive the mood of the 70s and 80s.

It seems Abhinav has only imbibed the ingredients of the Desai formula. He doesn't know how to balance the equation. He gives us two elaborate fight sequences in close succession with the same set of goons. The first one raises hopes, the second dashes them.

As for the rustic humour, the film has got only half-a-dozen moments of unalloyed fun and again as is the case these days the publicity machinery has already squeezed their potential in the promos.

However, when you have a catalyst in the form of Salman Khan, who tilts the balance single-handedly, you can afford to be brash. In the past, the macho star has believed in the most ridiculous of scripts and here again he almost bulldozes his way through the potholes in the script.

As Chulbul Pandey, the self-styled modern day Robin Hood in police uniform, he charms with a masterly display of ‘freestyle' performance (it can't be termed acting).

Reminding of Shatrughan Sinha and Dharmendra's boisterous ways, Salman evokes Rajinikant kind of method in madness and gives this musty bomb, the desired spunk.

Similarly Sonakshi Sinha makes an assured debut reminding one of the era when faces were used for emotions, not figures.

Detailing is not Abhinav's forte. Chulbul gets soaked in oil during a fight, but when he comes out there is not a drop of oil on his uniform.

A man enters the residence of the home minister with a box of bombs without getting checked. We could have ignored all that had the characters around Chulbul were engaging enough. The characters around Chulbul are so weak that you never fear Chulbul's fall.

Salman and the festivals will ensure that the bang will continue till Sunday but the day when the content will be judged, “Dabangg” might have to run for cover.

ANUJ KUMAR

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