Bajrangi Bhaijaan- where love triumphs !

#BajrangiBhaijaan : Not often you get a chance to spot “Eid Ka Chand”, not often you get to see Salman Khan not behaving like Salman Khan in a Salman Khan movie, not often you go to watch a Salman Khan movie which is not Bhai Porn , not often you enjoy a Salman Khan film where he doesn’t take off his shirt to display those beefy biceps , not often you need a review for a Salman Khan film, not often you find  a Salman Khan film which has a script. Bajrangi Bhaijaan for a change has a script, however manipulative and oversimplified it may be, and characters who are relevant and who get to play a part.

The film opens with a beautiful shot of the snow capped Himalayan Range taken leisurely and almost makes a statement on the predictable and slow pace at which the story is going to unfold.  The first half is set at a languid pace exploring the life of Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi played by Salman , his meeting with Shahida/Munni , a six year old speech impaired girl from Pakistan who has been separated from her mother during their journey to India and Pawan aka Bajrangi’s effort to ascertain the identity and root of Shahida . Salman effortlessly slips into the role of a too good to be true Hanuman Bhakta Bajrangi , who never cheats , who doesn’t lie.  Khan, known for his larger than life, on the face portrayals, plays a simple, subdued character this time around and pulls it off rather nicely. He is endearing and vulnerable.

The story picks up  pace and the drama builds up  as Bajrangi and Munni enter  Pakistan and director Kabir Khan introduces Nawazuddin Siddique as the Pakistani reporter Chand Nawab. Nawaz steals the show with his amazing acting and impeccable comic timing. The story becomes predicable yet interesting as the cat and mouse chance begins between the Pakistani authorities and a determined Bajrangi out on a mission to reunite Shahida with her parents. Harshali Malhotra as six year old Shaheeda is absolutely stunning. She doesn’t get to utter a single word till the last scene, yet her eyes communicate effortlessly through the length of the film. She seems effortless in her performance and unaffected by the presence of Salman and Nawaz.  Kareena Kapoor plays her part well.  The supporting case of Sarat Saxena , Om Puri and  Rajesh Sharma does a wonderful job.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan celebrates the triumph of humanity over religious and parochial intolerance, albeit in an over simplified and sugar coated manner. At 160 minutes it is a bit too long, with Kabir Khan’s attempt to pack it with emotion; it will require you to take your handkerchief along. Yet it is a well written film that has its soul at the right place. In a strife torn world, manipulative love provides the much needed succour than manufactured hatred.Go have your share of honey dipped goodness then.

And rating –Well, do they even matter for a Bhai Bhakt!