Bollywood’s own ‘Dark’ Knight!. Review on Don 2

If they had the Joker, then we have the King.

Now that’s what one sees as an insane try. You try putting in the half lost souls from MI, Oceans, Die Hard and give it, though fractionally small but present, emotional trauma from Nolan’s stable. The man who we saw as a sincere, slice out of life films director in DCH has ever raised the bar with the stories he tells and the technologies he applies.

My mind was not ready for such an extravagant hike right after MI4. I was rather looking for some routine Bollywood affair that would at least wipe off the Ra.one stains off the King and set his stars in place. Alas, that was not to be. I was greeted by sequences laced with some cool shots and witty lines that did not let my seat lose its heat all through.

Before the release of Don 1, SRK said: Don’t miss the beginning and don’t miss the end. He rather wants you to follow the same rules this time around too. Wondering if I am a pro SRK, then that needs clarification. I am pro Hindi cinema altogether. Well, coming back to the owner of the film. Yes, he simply owns it. An antagonist was never so cool before. To those who think that the actor is ageing, well yes, no one wanted the Godfather to be a 30s guy. So why our Don? His styling, dialogue delivery and screen presence are too good to be forgotten.

Talking of performances, Boman Irani is excellent in his part and has worked hard on his role. That’s visible. Om Puri gets too little to do this time while Nawab Shah is impressive. Kunal Kapoor is good. Among the ladies, Lara Dutta will be forgotten while Priyanka yet again shows why she is the best among Bollywood’s few good women. Except a chase in the first half, she was almost missing but bounces back with words and more at display in the second. Her prowess in the action scenes is noteworthy.

Not describing the plot more or less because that is the part I don’t like in any review; got to follow that then. Technically, the plot is well crafted and a mix of both what is novel and routine for Indian viewers. This being done keeping in mind what attracts the masses is completely acceptable given the business trends in India. However, the pace could have been a bit better but again, our junta mostly wants it to be long and ‘paisa vasool’. Not to forget, it is a sequel which needs thorough work with characterization and past events and Don 2 does not disappoint on that front.

The technical team has done a job way above the level seen in Indian films till date with cinematography being the best of the lot. The chase scene brings you to a whole new level and so does the pre-climax sequence which sweeps you off completely. That’s not all. The film moves forward on exquisitely shot frames and well choreographed action and hence you take home more than what you pay for. Yes, that content feeling!

Thankfully, Indian makers are gradually doing away with songs and synchronized dances which so much spoil the fun when in abundance. This one has just one and seems justified. Overall, the background music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy is fine enough but the soundtracks don’t do complete justice to the Don enterprise. The dialogues need special mention and they leave you with moments aplenty that require you to clap or grin at the wit they exude.

Coming to the real artisan, whom we technically call the director, Farhan Akhtar makes the most of his band of good actors. Not just that, he has worked well with the script a nd technical aspects leaving us with a film that will be remembered for a very new thing that is amalgamating the foreign locales, suitably taut script and local cast with the requirements of an Indian masala entertainer. Now that calls for some praise. The upward graph that his works have been witness to does make him the man to watch out for.

Well it is not yet the Nolan or Tarantino stuff, but we are right on track. It sure is the coming of age moment for Bollywood. The styling, slick chases and suave locations make it worth being termed an international quality affair. It has already paved way for another part (interesting how the film reveals this internally), but no way while lauding the extremes should we miss that the founder of Bagwati himself is the genius behind an SRK we love in all his original class.

I got to repeat,

If they had the Joker, we have the King.

Oh, and it includes a shocker of a cameo in the 1st half.

Do not let the fun get spoilt any more. Go watch it this weekend. 4 stars.