~~~Chulbul Pandey's 'Dil Mange more' villains~~~. Review on Dabangg

In your school days, do you used to curiously read CID Moosa or Detective Mahesh's stories with a lot of Bangggg & Dishum dishummmms? 'Shhhhhhh...' Detective Mahesh turned back, 'aha, it is a bullet which is coming on my way, wise to skip it' Mahesh moved his head....I am reminded of good old cartoon days! Do you still have the child in you to thrill yourself with such action scenes? If yes, Dabangg may well suit your interest. Ok, let me be more direct. Do you like Rajanikanth kind mannerisms and fights? Like the one when a bullet arrives, he will look into it and direct a blade against it to split the bullet into two and to direct it to the person who fire at him? Or say, 'before giving a dishum he will throw a cigar to air and after hitting the opponent the cigar will rightly comes to his lips' kind? If you are nostalgic to such kind mannerisms, Dabangg is arrived here. That's right. Dabangg has a cartoonist's approach in the making all the way and children especially boys will like it very much.

The promos of the movie gave the impression that it is an all out action movie with a flavour of fun. However, Dabangg is more of a comedy movie than action. Instead of Action filled sequences with some space for fun, the movie has a comedy approach from the beginning till end. It is more correct to say it is a comedy movie with action to supplement it. There is family drama, romance, politics and all. However, comedy is the selected flavour. Slap stick comedies, Romantic comedies, Situational comedies, black/dark comedy, satires here is a new genre, Action comedy. That's right. If one expect an all out action film like Ghajini or they may be disappointed for the lack of action, but the movie has less action but more comedy.

The story and presentation is more in the like of 70s or 80s. So, don't expect anything substantial from that department. Stepfather, Mother, Half brother, villain trying to split the brothers....fight between the Villain Gang and the Hero Gang....it is a formula film with a look of a film from 80s.

The first half of the movie gives a lot of hope and promise. Despite the fact that the action took a back seat the comedy flavour was presented quite nicely. Pretty entertaining is the verdict about the first half. Verdict on first half - Very good! However, the second half nearly spoiled the show by going back to an emotional drama and lost the power of fun where action was absent completely. The climax however tried to compensate with some bone breaking and powerful action scenes with brilliant sound effects. This saved the film from sinking but the damage was already done and it made sure that Dabangg cannot reach to the 'good' tag without conditions. The question remains, what exactly went wrong. The movie only had one villain and only one face from the villain gang is identifiable next time. For an action movie there should have many faces to challenge and to add pressure. Once the character of Chulbul Pandey is established by beating up the villains to hilt, import of new villains was the only way to keep the fight which the writers didn't attempt. The only fight with the Top Villain was delayed to the climax and the film lost its flavour before reaching the finale.

Salman Khan's performance as Action Comedy hero is the highlight and lifeblood of the film. Salman Khan is all in his form and for Salman Khan fans, it is a not to miss film, he is superb, given the style and limitations. Sonakshi Sinha is an innovation and the new comer impresses. She justified her inclusion in the film by giving a near perfect performance. Vinod Khanna & Dimple Kapadia did good job in their respective roles. Arbaaz Khan's character is the weakest in the film. Only if the writers defined the character well and woven the situations correctly, the film would have told a different story. As it is Arbaaz Khan's good performance gone to waste in a weak character. Sonu Sood is good in his villain role. Om Puri, Mahesh Manjrekar, Tinu Anand and Anupam Kher did their small roles well.

Somehow the songs didn't impress me on screen. The choreography lack creativity and failed to boost the songs any way. Rural or urban scenes both disappoint when they come with the songs. Forced situations didn't help the cause either.

Action is one department which needs special mention. Action scenes are shot brilliantly and the action director, Vijayan Master deserves applauds. I wished for more action in the film.

Cinematography is very good. Editing is very good in those action and comedy scenes.

Director Abhinav Kashyap have the skill in him to direct a good film but he has to make sure that he has a good screen play to begin with. The writer Abhinav Kashyap however, along with Dilip Shukla disappoints.

Overall, the film is a typical masala film the like of 70s or 80s, presented in old style but with new faces. Children under the age of 15 will definitely like it for the action and the cartoon kind mannerisms. For Salman Khan fans it may be a good watch as well. Otherwise, lack of depth in the subject, depending on one set of villains throughout and weak characters and situations let down the otherwise entertaining movie. Don't think of ever going to this movie with your brain in its place as in that case it can only use for making pickles for Biriyani in future.

A light Action comedy is the best remark the film can hope for and it may be an ok film for the festival mood.

My rating: 2.75 stars