Aamir Khan is Mr Perfectionist when it comes to picking up wide and diverse scripts. There was huge hype on Thugs Of Hinduston which marks his second time team-up with Vijay Krishna Acharya after Dhoom 3. Made on massive budget with many star faces like Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, will thugs live up to the expectations?
A group of Thugs led by Khudabaksh Azaad (Amitabh Bachchan) poses a grave threat to the British East India Company as Azaad aspires to free the country from the British colonization. As to creep in and defy intimidation, British commander John Clive (Lloyd Owen) sends a cunning small-time thug Firangi Mallah (Aamir Khan), who actually helps British in catching various Thugs batches in the country in order to find whereabouts of Azaad’s gang. Will Mallah accomplish the mission? Which side will he take in the end? Who wins the battle between Thugs Of Hindostan and the British?
Vijay Krishna Acharya is familiar for impeccable writing and blockbuster films like Dhom series, Guru etc showcase his talent. He made grand debut as director with Aamir Khan’s Dhoom 3 which was again a runaway hit. People waited eagerly for this high-budgeted multi-starrer film. But, Acharya disappointed this time with his poor writing skills and sloppy directorial calibre. Except visual grandeur, everything here was excruciating. Cinematography by Manush Nandan is top notch as visuals are on par with Hollywood standards. Songs are a big letdown and placement was erratic. BGM was somehow stirring. Editor Ritesh Soni botched to tighten up the narration and the length is tad big. Art work is one of the biggest assets wherein production values are numero uno.
Onto performances, everybody was literally over-acting including the Mr Perfectionist himself. There was lots of complexity around Aamir Khan’s character and we can’t even predict whose side he was taking. This character behaves differently in wrong situations. Amitabh Bachchan too looked odd in heavy costumes, though he was tolerable compared to AK. Fatima Sana Sheik was decent, whereas the Surayya Katrina Kaif is a bad casting though oozed enough oomph in couple of songs. Lloyd Owen was convincing and we barely remember other artists.
Production
Few Dialogues
Cinematography
Screenplay
Direction
Lead Actors Performances
Songs
Second Half
Thugs of Hindostan is one of the most awaited films as it starred Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif and was directed by Acharya whose last movie Dhoom 3 was a sensation.
Taking inspiration from Hollywood or other language movies is not an offense but Indianizing the theme should be proper and convincing. Acharya missed on common sense and has come up with an awful product.
Movie begins on interesting note with East India Company entering India in ships for trade and in the process to make Indians as their slaves. The initial premise hints on heaps of patriotism in the following episodes. Unfortunately you can’t find such traces till the end.
Aamir Khan’s introduction was not funny as writer-director assumed so. His devious acts won’t bring laughs but torments to the core. Couple of war episodes in between are eye-candy, thanks to incredible stunt choreography. Movie heads to interval with Amitabh handing over great responsibility to AK.
Things won’t change much in second half and AK’s dual acts are further painful to viewers. The back to back episodes of British attacking thugs exhibit poor directorial expertise of Acharya as both look inane. Then, last half an hour is a big and real test for us. A special song followed by heavy drama and final war, ufff movie ends.
All in all, Thugs Of Hindostan is a big disappointment. It’s a complete waste of money, talent and resources. This surely is Aamir Khan’s weakest film this decade. Shoddy Screenplay, extremely lousy direction and a long-gone story are main culprits. Not even AK Fans will love it. The film may rake huge openings but it may not sustain for long. CJ goes with 2.0 stars.