Rowdy Rathore

With Paan Singh Tomar, Kahaani, Vicky Donor becoming big hits it ensure that there are many sensible viewers who are ready to see mature films with hatke topics dealt in an entertaining fashion. While one hand there are film makers like Anurag Kashrap,Dibakar Banerjee, Vishal Bhardwaj,Tigmanshu Dhulia who are trying to elevate the level of Indian cinema and at the same time there are the Rohit Shetty,Sajid Khan,Aneez Bazmee and hoards of South Indian inputs decelerating Hindi cinema back to 90s loud inane films. I have no problem with commercial cinema. Even Rang De Basanti or 3 Idiots are commercial entertaining films but they aren't as regressive as Rowdy Rathore. The trend started with Wanted followed by Dabang,Bodyguard,Singham whereby you have a muscled hero fighting with huge sized villain to take revenge. There are ample violence, slow-mo action sequences and loud dialoguebaazi where by the hero acquires the persona of a superman killing all in the way. There will be a family angle to instigate some over the top melodrama and obviously a dumb bimbo who is there to titillate audience's hormones with her midriff. Sadly Rowdy Rathore falls in the same category with nothing new to offer. In fact Prabhu Deva has changed nothing from the original making it a loud meaningless film only to catch the attention of single screen viewers to earn profit. There is nothing wrong in earning money but there should be an aesthetic sense to do so. At least Prabhu Deva should have presented the simple story of a cop getting killed by goons and his look-alike taking revenge differently. The hero is louder than the villain, the heroine is dumb than the ass and the janata frustrated with mundane life enjoying the slow-mo brutal action sequences. There are ample songs with sexual innuendos which are lapped by the hypocrite audiences and even the censor board giving the films "U" certificate. IMDb represents world cinema and as Indian we should show some respectable cinema to world. There are numerous topics to deal with, numerous stories to tell. Many directors are making good films, even stars like Aamir Khan is making good cinema in commercial milieu which we should highlight. I can't force people but it is high time who give more respect to films like Shanghai & Gangs of Wasseypur (releasing soon) than lapping on age old formulaic films so that Indian cinema gives more and more fresh stories. The trend started with Dil Chahta Hai shouldn't go down. Even if they want to remake Southie films there are some great south Indian films which can be remade, why do the same thing just for the sake of commercial benefits??

With Bol Bachchan & Chennai Express in the pipeline the scenario seem to be more bleak in terms of quality cinema … and the journey to regression continues :(

A sizzling first half, aided in no mean part by Sonakshi's sensuousness, Akshay's comic timing and some really good laugh out loud moments changes into a fairly ordinary story of revenge, poor villagers and cruel dons & goons in the second half.

Akshay is a small time crook aided by his sidekick, Paresh. A deo ad moment when he is caught by a lady cop, smartly stealing two mobiles from the same guy in the same day and a shot of jewellery walking by itself are the standout funny moments of the first half. Things change when he meets Sonakshi, who's visiting from Bihar. Romance happens smoothly, with humour and without a hitch. And then a little girl curiously starts calling him 'Papa' and life changes completely.

The action in the second half shifts from Mumbai to a village called Devgarh in Bihar. Flashbacks, fights and crass item numbers happen in a plot seen a thousand times before. Nassar plays the long time ruling villain and Yashpal Sharma plays the long suffering honest cop.

I wish the tempo of the first half was maintained in the second. Couple of unnecessary songs add to the general pain, lots of which is inflicted upon the villains and their henchmen and a little reserved for the audience. The daughter is only brought in to attempt to wring a few tears out of the cast and us. The movie is over the top in any case and not amenable to logic but even then there are some ozone layer size loopholes in the story. Also, apart from the 'Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita' tune there is very little musically to offer in the film

Akshay proves once again that if he is given a half decent plot and dialogue he is very good at comedy. Sonakshi is super, though her dialogue delivery needs to improve and I'm sure it will over time. However, there is something about her, her screen presence and charm papering over any acting loopholes. The sequence where Akshay presses an imaginary record player in his head to make her repeat her actions was fun and nicely done.

The fights are gory, lots of ketchup. The dialogues / story has a touch of 'Dabangg' about it and is enjoyable to an extent. Its not bad as a loud, mindless time pass, don't go in expecting anything else and you may not be disappointed. More at www.apurvbollywood.blogspot.in

Rowdy Rathore directed by Prabhu Deva is a brainless film(story-wise) but a high-leveled entertainer with a new king Akshay Kumar!

Akshay Kumar has been having a no. of flops right from Chandni Chowk To China to Desi Boys.Housefull 2 was a major flop among critics but somehow managed to be a blockbuster.But Rowdy Rathore is something different.Although,it has no story still entertains and captivates you!

Story:

Shiva (Akshay Kumar) is a small time conman in love with Priya (Sonakshi Sinha), a pretty girl whom he met at a wedding he wasn't invited to. Into this picture perfect world enters six year old Neha who inexplicably believes Shiva to be her dad! And if this wasn't bad enough, Shiva also becomes the object of a series of life threatening attacks by a gang of deadly criminals who seem to know something he doesn't. While trying desperately to save his life and love, Shiva stumbles upon a deadly secret. A secret that will take him to a small town in Bihar; a town terrorized by a ruthless politician and the mafia he controls; a town whose inhabitants only hope for redemption is ... Shiva!

Several sequences work out in Rowdy Rathore,these are:

i)The entry of Akshay Kumar as Shiva.The sequence where one could not help but cheer with whistles,claps!

ii)The introduction of Sonakshi Sinha.

iii)The entry of Vikram Rathore(Akshay Kumar) and the fight sequences following it.

iv)The scene when a police officer's wife slams the chair of the villain.

v)The start when Akshay and his colleague 2G share the money among each other.Truly hilarious.

vi)The climax.Brilliant!

The movie also has its share of flaws.The movie could have had a better story,even the,'Chinta Ta' step makes you irritated after a point.Even there are some scenes which preferably cannot be watched with family,like the one when Akshay Kumar stares at Sonakshi's stomach.Its humiliating.

The direction is brilliant.Prabhu Deva does a good job after Wanted.

The music is fine.

The dialogs are clap-worthy.

The action sequences are classy.Although they get a bit-violent but its a treat to watch how the hero beats the more than 100 goons in a slow-motion.

Performances:

Another thing of Rowdy Rathore is the excellent performances.Akshay Kumar is excellent.Be it action,romance or comedy,the actor has an awesome skill each type of role.He is the real Khiladi! Sonakshi Sinha is good too.She has acted very well and is much better than how she acted in Dabangg.Nassar is efficient.He rocks!Yashpal Sharma is fine.Paresh Ganatra is funny as 2G.Kareena Kapoor is so-so in a cameo.Shakti Mohan.Maryam Zakaria and Mumait Khan sizzle in the item song.

All in all,Rowdy Rathore is a perfect movie for the weekend.I am giving it a seven on ten.Akshay Kumar is Rowdy,Don't ANGRY him!

Writing this review almost a week after Rowdy Rathore has released.So i suppose most of you would have caught up with the flick!But im writing it none the less. Before starting off with the review i must confess i have watched both the telugu as well as the tamil versions,Ravi Teja's Vikramarkudu and Karthi's Siruthai respectively.

I suppose comparing the three wouldn't be of much use,as all three of them have their distinct style.But i would give Karthi a slight edge over the other two(But i maybe biased though):P Rowdy Rathore starring Akshay Kumar , Sonakshi Sinha and directed by our desi-Michael Jackson(aka) Prabhu Deva packs quite a punch i must admit!Rowdy Rathore as most of us know..is another remake from down south.And by and large most southern remakes have worked wonders(case in point gajini,wanted,singham). Now back to the review. The story goes about like this…Shiva (Akshay Kumar), a small-time thief in Mumbai, falls in love with Priya (Sonakshi Sinha), a girl from Patna, who is in Mumbai to attend a marriage. Its love at first sight between the two. Shiva tells her the truth about him being a thief and resolves to give up crime forever.Enter a young girl called Chinki who thinks that Shiva is her father.Shiva is forced by circumstances to keep the girl.Shiva slowly starts loving the innocent child.Priya finds out about the girl and decides to leave for Patna.Shiva is heart-broken.All of a sudden a bunch of goons start chasing him and the girl…and another Akshay(Vikram Rathore) steps in to save them and ends up giving his life for the same. Cut back to the past.Vikram Rathore (Akshay) is a brave and honest cop who wages war against the evil ganglord (Nasser) of the village(Now where have we heard that before??:P) Now here..comes the twist in the tale…Shiva needs to take up the place of the slain Vikram Singh and what happens next for you to guess(or rather watch..but i suppose its easier to guess). To know what works and what doesn't with the movie...

If anything is to say about this movie .... Everything is Loud & Extra ! Extra Action, Extra Songs, Extra Sound, Extra Dialogues, everything is just loud & extra.

May be that takes this movie to take great ups & great downs, there is no such thing in between.

This is typical Bollywood movie with good songs, great action, some emotions BUT with south Indian touch.

The movies takes following ups & downs of your likes, Don't like: First 30-40 mins story doesn't take even a start. Unnecessary songs, Akshay going behind Sonakshi is not that entertaining (& unnecessary) that makes you feel sad (for tickets)

Like: Once the story gets starting then there is no stopping, at least for some time. Yes, till intermission you actually get involved in movie. There is not sonakshi & any other dramas, just a story.

Don't Like: After intermission, movie still goes to the first part of unnecessary things happening, movie going bit slow & no where near the story things happen.

Like: Yes, the end part or climax, this is again coming back to story & see lots of action & fun.

It's really nice to see Akshay in this role, following Salman. Truly Akshay's best movie in recent times. Akshay has taken the part very seriously & reminds KHILADI !

Sonakshi ... really don't know why she is in movie, but Bollywood film & without actress .. can't imagine, may be that's why she has done her job of looking cute & nice. But sometimes, she looks Rowdier than Akshay (specially in dance steps)

Other South Indian Actors have done a BAD job in showing their BIHARI tones ....Those are laughing moments !

Anyway, if you want to watch a bollywood movie, this may be good movie in recent years....

Overall 6/10 !