Few months ago I had warned you guys from watching KANK and let me once again warn you before you commit a dreadful crime of watching something that goes by the name DON. Yes it indeed is a crime.
At
the outset, new Don is nothing but a cheap reworked copy of 1978’s
classic hit. I am using the word rework and not remake because it is
not a remake. It’s an altered copy of the previous Don. Locale is
different, plot is different, and above all the script is different.
What in heavens name Farhan was thinking when he went touting to
everyone who cared to listen that he is remaking Amitabh’s Don. Either
he got too enthusiastic of the project or he did not know the meaning
of word remake. Later probably sounds more convincing.
Those
who are familiar with the story will find this one starchy and silly.
Don (Shahrukh) is an underworld top dog based in Malaysia. After he
dies in one of those mindless chases, he is replaced by his mirror
image Vijay by cop De Silva (Boman Irani). The trouble begins when he
finds it hard to convince that he is just another guy and not the real
Don. To this add few twists in the middle, ultimate and the crappiest
twist in the end and you are ready with the Farhan’s version of Don.
Technically,
the movie is well shot. Malaysia (Truly Asia) is breath taking and
cameraman has done absolute justice to those picturesque shots. What
gets into the way is lousy script and awful screenplay.
Scrutinizing
the performances, Shahrukh as Don fails to impress. The movie starts
with Shahrukh answering his mobile. The scene shows close up of his
lips and leisurely he utters DON and your immediate reaction is there
goes the movie down the gutter. There is no comparison to Amitabh’s
trendy voice. Shahrukh’s voice has no command and definitely no air of
an underworld don. He as usual trembles throughout the movie and people
love seeing him do that in those Chopra and Johar movies. But seeing
Shahrukh trembling and quivering in each of his dialogues in this one
was a complete let down. Any one would get Goosebumps stepping in
Amitabh’s shoes. However, once you are there and you have accepted to
step in, you have to prove yourself. Well that’s what you are paid for
and that’s why you are watched?
Priyanka
Chopra, Isha Kopikar and Kareena Kapoor have nothing much to offer.
Donning Zeenat’s role was a hard assignment and Priyanka definitely was
wrongly cast. Kareena Kapoor had just one song *Ye Mera Dil *and
two dialogues in her glory. Kareena does have oomph but not enough to
thrash Helen’s. I feel Malaika Arora was better suited for the Helen’s
dance number. If not much then it certainly would have recreated the
magic of *Chhaiya Chhaiya, *which was lost in Arora and Khan’s *Kaal Dhamaal.
Arjun
Rampal as JJ in Pran’s role was another downer. He doesn’t look a bit
as a man who is in lookout for his revenge. Pran always created magic
on screen. Arjun however not only failed to step into Pran’s shoes,
also raised the speculation why was he even approached for the role?
Boman Irani is one actor who tasted success late in his career with
path breaking roles in *Everybody says I am fine, Munnabhai, Lets Talk *to name a few and of late in *Khosla Ka Ghosla. *He is wasted in this one. Now the music part of it. Huh!!!! There is nothing much to talk about. I do not even wish to delve into *Khaike Paan Banaraswaala, *in particular. What a pity?
Finally, the Boss. Farhan Akhtar. Is he the same guy who took Bollywood by storm with his very first movie *Dil Chahta Hai? *Is he the one who came up with wonderfully made and well-executed *Lakshya? *Doesn’t
look though in this one. What was the rational behind giving those
silly striped trousers to Don? It was rage in 70s, not anymore. You
changed the script, you changed the location, you told a story based in
2006 and you gave all those fancy gadgets to Don, then how could you
make him wear something like that? To top it all, you make him wear his
ties under his shirt. Yuck!!!!
