R... Rajkumar

Prabhudheva's 'R... Rajkumar' is Below The Mark! The film, despite boasting superb action, fantastic music & an impressive leading-man, fails to engage, as the Script is predictable & not-so-entertaining, at most parts.

'R... Rajkumar' Synopsis: A thug fights for his lady-love, in the middle of a warfare between two warring gangsters.

'R...Rajkumar' has an ordinary first-hour, but a disappointing second. The action-sequences are superb, but the Script is very predictable. One can foresee the entire film & that acts as a minus point. Also, the excessive violence in the goings-on is off-putting.

Prabhudheva's Direction is loud. Cinematography is fair. Editing is hurried up. The Music is fantastic. Each song is catchy & memorable.

Performance-Wise: Shahid is impressive, yet again. He enacts Rajkumar with admirable conviction. Even when the Script slips, he doesn't. He's an under-rated actor, who needs to do better films! Sonakshi Sinha does a fine job. Sonu Sood is wasted. Asrani is over-the-top. Ditto for Ashish Vidyarthi. Mukul Dev is very sincere. Late Actor Srihari does well.

On the whole, 'R... Rajkumar' is not up-to the mark.

This movie doesn't give us anything that we haven't seen a million times before. A hero that can give Superman a run for the money, who don't care for any rules, and is willing to do anything for his love. The matching of Sahid and Sonakshi in this movie is just wrong. No real chemistry between those two. The songs are barely above average. Overall a mindless time filler.

But what else to expect from Pravudeva. He's been recycling materials from south and found a niche following in Bollywood. He's obviously very impressed with Sonakshi as he's been signing her for a lot of his projects. Problem with his movie is that those bits have been done by others before him long before. So watching a movie where the hero breaks the laws of physics gets old real quick. Sahid just don't fit into this kind of role, something that Salman and Akshay have been doing for a while.

There is a overdose of masala films in 2013 - Police giri, Chennai Express , Boss, Bullet Raja , Singh Saab The Great and now R..Rajkumar. Good news is that R..Rajkumar is better than above movie ... bad news is that it is yet another typical action-melodrama with nothing new to offer.

R..Rajkumar (played by Shahid Kapoor) is a fearless and daring thug who lands up in the lawless village and joins a drug-dealer's gang, Shivraj( played by Sonu Sood). Enters Chanda and our hero is head-over- heels in love with her. Things becomes ugly when Shivraj also starts liking and war is declared between the two to marry Chanda.

After giving of string of masala films like Wanted , Rowdy Rathore and Ramaiya Vastavaiya , Prabhudeva is back with yet another popcorn entertainment with strong first half but diluted second half. The film begins with a bang by incorporating scenes like Shahid Kapoor saving Sonu Sood's life , the dance number in the song "Gandi Baat", the chemistry and comic humor between Shahid and Sonakshi. However, the film goes down the rabbit hole and is completely lost in the dark in the later part. Screenplay is weak. Cinematography is amazing. Art direction is good. Background score is better. Songs like "Gandi Baat and Saree ke fall se" are catchy. Shahid steals the thunder from the show. He is superb in acting , dancing and even doing action scenes. This film should prove his mettle. Sonakshi Sinha repeats herself. Sonu Sood is good.

Overall, R..Rajkumar promises to deliver but is letdown by wafer-thin 2nd half. Watch it for Shahid. Average 2.5/5

A decent crowd of all youngsters coming to the theater in its first show was quite a pleasant scene unexpectedly and further a few cheers on its opening titles with the catchy music forced me to accept that may be I was wrong in underestimating another typical masala film before its wide release.

But within an hour the whole scenario changed into something entirely different. The cheers went silent, mobiles could be seen flashing and the energy suddenly vanished into the thin year as the film turned out to be a complete dud with absolutely nothing to offer even to the die- hard fans of its famous cast and director (except the music). In few words, the experience was just like watching one of those routine South dubbed films regularly coming on the channels in a repeat mode when they have nothing else to play in their timeline. With neither anything new in the story department nor something novel in its execution, performances or direction, R… RAJKUMAR simply seemed to me as a loud, over-confident and careless work of a director who has probably formed a fixed outlook towards film-making and has also assumed that the viewers are just a bunch of fools who can convert any crap into a hit if presented with the right packaging, over the top action, fast edits and catchy music.

In fact to explain it differently, I would like to call R….RAJKUMAR a very COURAGEOUS film for the following strong reasons related to its entire team.

A. It is a courageous venture since it has been made with such a lame but confident mindset as if it is to be shown to all dumb men and women sitting in the theater who have not grown their minds and thinking patterns since decades (or since the 80s).

B. It is certainly a brave attempt by the director, who is fast moving on the path of losing his status of a LEGENDARY dancer & choreographer, with all repetitive dance direction and a pinch of vulgarity too in his 'Tapori' kind of steps (more noticed in the last 5-6 years of his career). Moreover, with almost nothing in the name of solid content in his recent films it seems that we are now having quite 'less read' directors around who really are unable or not capable of finding a good subject for their next ventures and just keep making the same kind of movies regularly taking their viewers for granted.

C. The film is a bold move by its leading male star visibly, who despite of giving continuous flops, still displays no intelligence to choose his next projects and also carries a lot of attitude and arrogance in his on screen portrayal of drama, action and comedy altogether.

D. It is a courageous step on part of its female lead too, who has now done exactly similar roles in so many films that probably she herself would not be able to recall any particular film if few selective shots are shown to her in a random order taken from her various films. Further, her expressions and mannerisms have such acute similarities that you often get a Deja-Vu kind of feel watching her repeatedly doing the same things again and again in her latest movie.

E. The project is surely a confident 'at your face' kind of attempt since it feels no shame in using lyrics such as "Achhi Baatein Karli Bahot, Ab Karunga Tere Saath, Gandi Baat" and "Kaddu Phatega To Sab Mein Batega" as its item numbers. No doubt there are some good tracks too like "Saari Ke Faal Sa" but here I wish to add that it seems to be quite weird that when a song has already been composed and arranged so well, then what's the need of getting it written in such a vulgar and silly manner, following a completely sick vision to gain some extra attention.

F. The film is also a courageous one, since the makers here show no respect, sympathy or admiration in using the veteran actor Asrani in a same routine act, shouting, laughing and babbling even at this age, wherein he even gets slapped more than once by Ashish Vidyarthi in an utterly useless or silly sequence.

Hence as mentioned in the above points, R….RAJKUMAR is surely a brave film made by a courageous team, who thinks as if they have mastered the art of fooling the audience and can make anything in the name of cinema served with few catchy songs. The film has its few moments lead by loud music but you must have the same amount of courage to sit through it till the end and would only be able to tolerate this if you a regular viewer of numerous low grade South dubbed films shown on the cable channels as their filler programs.

R... Rajkumar, directed by Prabhu Deva, is a quintessential Bollywood masala film that combines high-energy action, romance, and comedy. Released in 2013, the movie features Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha in lead roles, with Sonu Sood playing the antagonist. While the film delivers on the entertainment front with its over-the-top action sequences and catchy music, it falls short in terms of story depth and character development.

Plot Summary The story follows Romeo Rajkumar (Shahid Kapoor), a carefree and brash young man who arrives in the small town of Dhartipur, ruled by two warring drug lords, Shivraj (Sonu Sood) and Parmar (Ashish Vidyarthi). Rajkumar falls in love at first sight with the beautiful Chanda (Sonakshi Sinha), who turns out to be Parmar's niece. Determined to win her love, Rajkumar finds himself embroiled in the deadly conflict between Shivraj and Parmar. The plot thickens as Rajkumar challenges Shivraj and sets out to protect Chanda, leading to a series of explosive confrontations.

Performances Shahid Kapoor shines as the titular Rajkumar, bringing a blend of charm, swagger, and intensity to his role. His dance skills, showcased in the film's energetic song sequences, and his adeptness at performing high-octane stunts make him a compelling action hero. Despite the film's flaws, Kapoor's performance is a highlight.

Sonakshi Sinha as Chanda delivers a spirited performance, though her character is often limited to the role of a damsel in distress. Sinha manages to bring a certain strength and feistiness to her character, which is refreshing.

Sonu Sood as the antagonist Shivraj is menacing and charismatic. His portrayal of the ruthless drug lord is convincing, and he brings a sense of gravitas to the film. The supporting cast, including Ashish Vidyarthi and Mukul Dev, provide adequate support, though their roles are largely one-dimensional.

Direction and Cinematography Prabhu Deva's direction is marked by his signature style, blending fast-paced action with vibrant dance numbers and comedic elements. The film's pacing is brisk, and the action sequences are choreographed with flair and executed with precision. However, the narrative is often predictable and formulaic, relying heavily on familiar tropes and clichés.

The cinematography by Mohana Krishna captures the rustic and gritty atmosphere of Dhartipur effectively. The action scenes are visually dynamic, and the song sequences are colorful and vibrant, adding to the film's overall appeal.

Music and Background Score The music of R... Rajkumar, composed by Pritam, is one of the film's strong points. Songs like "Gandi Baat," "Saree Ke Fall Sa," and "Mat Maari" are catchy and well-choreographed, showcasing Shahid Kapoor's impressive dance moves. The background score by Sandeep Chowta enhances the film's action and dramatic moments, though it tends to be a bit overbearing at times.

Themes and Impact R... Rajkumar explores themes of love, loyalty, and revenge within the framework of a typical Bollywood masala entertainer. The film's primary focus is on delivering entertainment through its action, music, and comedy, rather than delving into deeper thematic content or character development.

Conclusion R... Rajkumar is a film that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: a high-energy, entertaining ride filled with action, comedy, and romance. While it may not offer much in terms of originality or depth, it succeeds in providing a fun and engaging viewing experience for fans of the masala genre.

For those looking for a light-hearted, action-packed entertainer with catchy music and charismatic performances, R... Rajkumar fits the bill. However, viewers seeking a more nuanced and substantial narrative may find the film lacking in those aspects.