A
star, in every possible sense, is born; in a superstar’s film. She plays a cute
but mute young girl accidently separated from her family. Her presence on
screen alone gives a lot of hope to the film. She hardly makes a sound in this
quite ‘loud’ film but still, you will never skip any of the emotions she throws
at you through her rewarding smile, wide-eyed heartrending look and an inspiring
performance. 7-year old Harshaali Malhotra is a lot more than just a name in
the credit rolls. In fact, she is a blessing to Kabir Khan’s BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN-
a film that’s targeted to encash one superstar’s glory, fame and fan-base, and surprisingly
has a story too. Go ahead, pinch yourself to believe it.
A young
mute girl from Pakistan [Harshaali] is left alone across the border in Indian Territory.
Good that she meets a Hanuman-loyal Bajrangi [Salman Khan] who, after several
failed legal attempts, decides to take her back to Pakistan at his own. Rest is
how the good-hearted people from the neighborhood confirm the existence of humanity
and compassion within them. Well, Kabir Khan succeeds in offering us a story
that has its heart at the right place. But the fact that a Salman Khan film has
a story or vice versa a moving story has Salman Khan in it; is enough to make
you ready to expect the unexpected. The first part carries the boring & hurriedly-done
love-track of Bajrangi with an ever-ready to ‘hit the dance floor’ Rasika
[Kareena Kapoor Khan]. The subplot could hint you to the glimpses of the superstar’s
previous hits like BODYGUARD & KICK (He’s given 6 months of ultimatum to
build a house of his own to marry her).
The second
half marks the entry of Nawazuddin Siddiqui- another talent that never
disappoints especially when one is desperately looking for something with
gravity. Nawaaz plays a small-time Pakistani reporter on the likes of YouTube
sensation Chand Nawab. He is even made to recreate that hilarious ‘reporting
live at the railway foot-over bridge’ scene too. Search for it on YouTube, if
you haven’t yet. Leave a couple of scenes aside, and Nawaaz manages to steal
the show from a superstar who’s believed to rule the frame at any given second.
His sincerity is so intact that in one scene, his sign-off line to camera goes
like, “Cameraman Chaand Nawaab ke saath, Chaand Nawaab” (He’s shooting the
video himself)!
In one
of the most poignant scenes, Om Puri playing a Pakistani Maulana smells
Bajrangi’s inhibitions to do a ‘salaam’ gesture and immediately does ‘Jai Shree
Ram’ to make him at ease. BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN gifts us several such scenes where
we are told to get over with the zero tolerance attitude towards different
religions, without being any preachy. Similarly, the Kashmir issue gets a delightful
mention as, “thoda humara bhi toh hai” when describing the Pak owned part of the
same name. On the principle cast, Kareena repeats herself and in all the bad
senses.
Finally, BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN is not your typical ‘bhai’
film. It is impossible to take out Salman from the Salman Khan; and in a way,
we all have learnt to live with it but given the ‘story’ approach, absolutely engaging
talents like Harshaali and Nawaaz, I think it is not a bad film at all. Did I actually
write it?? Can’t believe myself! Watch out yourself and decide. Till then, I will
look out for a valid justification for my verdict. [3/5]
