Rowdy Rathore

A regular film-goer can recall several films from the recent past with a great first half and a not so happening second. And in most of the cases such films fail to make any major impact on the viewers as well as on the box office. But if a film goes the other way round then it has the most favourable chances to win over the audience.

Luckily Prabhudeva's second directorial venture in Bollywood, produced by UTV and Sanjay Leela Bhansali comes in the latter category of movies with a fairly good second half as compared to its first. Following the sole motive of entertaining the viewers (keeping aside the logics), the director is mostly successful in its aim due to many engaging sequences post intermission full of action. And that is what actually saves ROWDY RATHORE from going on to a negative path.

An almost exact remake of Telugu Hit VIKRAMARKUDU (2006), which was also remade in many other languages, RR strictly follows the path of its original without any new or major alterations made by Prabhudeva. He remains focused on the entertainment factor throughout but in the process makes an uneven film before and after the interval which drops at several places when it comes to emotional drama in the script.

To explain the experience of watching it in its two halves, just imagine sipping an above average soup before going for the main meal at your dinner table. So, the first half of RR is like an OK starter with three fine toppings of a fresh & ravishing Sonakshi Sinha, few comic sequences of Akshay and 3 enjoyable well choreographed songs which don't let you write off the film right away. It starts off with a calm first hour stressing more upon the romance and less on the basic plot. But then Prabhudeva comes up with an energetic 15 minutes just before the interval which pull everyone back into the film forcing them to expect something much better in its next hour.

Post intermission RR suddenly becomes an enjoyable ride with some well directed action sequences reminding you of the good old cinema of 70s which followed entertainment without any logic. In fact this better part of the film can easily be compared to a Manmohan Desai kind of attempt made in the South with fast paced sequences coming one after the other without giving you any time to think. For instance, the conman replaces the Inspector (Akshay in double role) without any hassles or questioning, the heroine follows him to the same small remote area as her parental town, the child simply accepts the second Akshay as her father without raising any doubts, there is no information given about her mother and the villains are easily beaten badly by a single man with his amazing power. But despite of all these glitches, the narration keeps you entertained with its funny one liners and well edited action scenes, not giving you anything to complain particularly in its second half. So if you love watching escapist kind of cinema, just for entertainment as earlier seen in Rohit Shetty's SINGHAM, then you would love Akshay returning to his action mood. Yet ROWDY RATHORE is not another WANTED delivered by Prabhudeva with a weaker first half.

Therefore as a director, I cannot comment upon Prabhudeva's ability since he has only made "Strict Remakes" in Bollywood till now. The dancing maestro very well knows how to keep the viewers engaged and entertained in his movies. But how he would handle the same entertainment quotient in his own original project remains doubtful. Nevertheless in RR he takes ample support from both the fine cinematography and an energetic background score to generate a universally likable impact till the end. Also the action showcased in the film further helps him in generating a positive final result in a big way.

Musically Sajid-Wajid have done a nice job but again they cannot take the whole credit here as the main track of the film "Chinta Ta Chita Chita" remains a true adaptation of its original Telugu song from VIKRAMARKUDU (2006). However both singer Mika and the Choreographers (Saroj Khan, Prabhudev & Bosco Martis) really deserves a special mention here, since the songs become hugely watchable just because of their great dancing steps complimenting the beats.

Akshay returning to his favourite action genre entertains the masses both as a conmen and a police officer. But undoubtedly, he makes a much better impact post interval in all those action and confrontations scenes. Still, RR may not be able to generate the same response for him as WANTED did for Salman (which was appreciated by both critics as well as masses). The pleasant package of the film is Sonakshi Sinha who looks ravishingly fresh & beautiful on the screen, more than her pictures circulating in the print media. She definitely has a strong screen presence but only requires a good author backed role to prove her acting talent. Nassar once again excels in his role of the main villain with a superb portrayal of the Bad Man. Mushtaq Khan provides few lighter moments in the second half and Yashpal Sharma impresses in his helpless character. Both Paresh Ganatra as Akshay's friend and Gurdeep Kohli as the lady inspector are fine but Gurdeep surely becomes a victim of step treatment given by the writers.

In all ROWDY RATHORE satisfies you mid-way with only a great & entertaining second half wherein Akshay performs in his full form as the action hero. But with less romance and more action thrown in the first half it could have been another WANTED for the director without any doubts. So for now, it may get a mixed response with a particular section of viewers (who love watching Manmohan Desai kind of cinema) appreciating it a lot and another slamming it down for its logics taken for a ride.

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 !

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!

Rowdy Rathore is a 'Dkhamakedar' masala movie.....

Akshay Kumar...... 'OUTSTANDING' he proves that he's the master of action.... With his dialogues he shatters the theater, Awesome. He has brilliantly played the role of Vikramsingh Rathore...

Sonakshi is good but doesn't have much to do.

Paresh Ganatra and the rest are good.

The movie starts slow but the Interval point is earth shattering...!!!!

Because of the slow start I'll rate it 7/10 or else I would've rated it 8/10.... This movie belongs only to Akshay Kumar, (Vikramsingh Rathore and Shiva....)