Dec 23, 2011 05:22 PM
24154 Views
(Updated Dec 23, 2011 05:24 PM)
It happens only with rarest of rare films where your views change within seconds. Don 1 was one such precious film. The film seemed pretty decent to me but the sudden unexpected twist in the climax shocked me! From a good ‘worth watching once’ flick, Don suddenly became a terrific and innovative film! No wonder that Don 2 was keenly awaited and anticipated. However, the sequel came with a baggage of risks and heightened expectations. Thankfully, Don 2 fulfills all the high hopes and gives 2011 a well-deserved end!
The story of the movie: Having won the Asian underworld, Don (Shah Rukh Khan) now wants to capture the European mafiadom. He realizes that he needs the help of a competent ally like Vardhan (Boman Irani) to succeed in his endeavor. Hence, Don gets himself arrested and lands up in the same jail of Thailand where Vardhan is serving his sentence. Soon, Don escapes from there with Vardhan and the action shifts to Zurich and then Berlin. The aim: to steal the currency plates of a world-class bank. The security was tight, the risk was immense. Will Don succeed in this nearly impossible task?
Don 2, like many other sequels, takes the route of the prequel. The antagonist’s entry is similar and so is the culmination. However, the film has several moments that keep you hooked. Thankfully, the film has just one song and hence there are no obstacles. Moreover, the film looks sleek and has given an international feel, matching the global standards.
Don 2 commences with a clapworthy entry of SRK. Don’s escape from prison was excellent and so was his strategy in Berlin. The intermission comes at a crucial point. The fireworks are reserved for the second half as Don’s plan sets into motion. This was easily the best part of the film as the film gets totally unpredictable and you never know what’s gonna happen next. As mentioned before, the climax too goes the Don 1 way and hence expect a major twist at the juncture. Of course this might not give you a shock like Don 1 as the suspense in the first part came up rather unexpectedly. In case of Don 2, the makers drop subtle hints and hence viewers are aware that daal mein kuch kaala hai! However, it’s my guarantee that no matter how much you tax your brains, you won’t be able to fully guess the contents of the suspense. And that’s where Don 2 succeeds highly!
As for the glitches, there are moments where the film gets a bit confusing and complicated. Secondly, those regularly watching Hollywood action thrillers and heist films might not find anything new in Don 2. However, Don 2 still succeeds because it’s the first for a Bollywood film to come up with something like this and also because, as said before, the twist in the climax!
As expected, Shah Rukh Khan was supercool as the anti-hero. The actor skillfully handles his performance so that not even once do you hate him although he’s the antagonist and in many ways the protagonist as well. Even with his unkempt long hairdo, SRK seemed sexy! And the manner in which he mouthed those award-winning dialogues was an out of the world experience! In other words, Don 2 proves why SRK was is and will always be the best!
Priyanka Chopra looks like a million bucks (esp in the fundraiser event scene and climax) but sadly is relegated to the backseat except in these 2 key sequences. Boman Irani was topnotch and was befitting as Don’s rival. Lara Dutta (Ayesha) looked sizzling in the cameo. Kunal Kapoor (as Sameer) was quite perfect. Nawwab Shah (as Jabbar) seems like a great performer but in the presence of SRK-Boman, he gets overshadowed at places. Aly Khan (J K Diwan) leaves a huge mark. Saahil Shroff (as Arjun) was quite good but unintentionally raises laughs. Om Puri is sadly and hardly there. Hrithik Roshan was quite amusing in special appearance.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music was quite okay but thankfully, there’s only 1 song (Zara Dil Ko Thaam Lo) which turns out to be enjoyable thanks to its visuals. Jason West’s cinematography was stunning and one of the plus points of the film. If the film has got such fresh and international look, it’s all thanks to the lensman! Special mention should also go to Jimal Odedra (costume design). The clothes, whether of SRK, Lara or Priyanka were exemplary and quite classy!
Farhan Akhtar’s dialogues were quite witty and give a tough fight to Rajat Aroraa’s The Dirty Picture gems! Farhan Akhtar, Ameet Mehta and Ambrish Shah’s story and screenplay were very impressive for the sole reason that it was original in many ways although little things were inspired from successful Hollywood films here and there. Also, the pre-climax and climax gives a thrilling time as it’s here that the film gets totally unpredictable. I had some complaints with Farhan Akhtar’s direction in Don 1 but in Don 2, he gets back on track. The film is almost 140 minutes long but moves at a quick place and doesn’t dip even once. Kudos!
Some of the best scenes:
The opening sequence
Don in prison
Don tells Vardhan about his plan
The song ‘Zara Dil Ko Thaam Lo’
The charity fundraiser event and chase sequence
Jabbar’s men follow Don to the highrise
The intermission point
Don and his gang start work on their plan
The last 40 minutes of the movie
On the whole, Don 2 has loads of style and thankfully substance too! It’s great to see a Hindi film achieving global standards in terms of script, execution and cinematography! Performances are exemplary and so is the original storyline and of course the twist in the climax too. Shah Rukh Khan takes the film to dizzying heights! At the box office, Don 2 will easily accumulate lot of profits which it rightfully deserves!
My rating- ½
