A young filmmaker, Kyra, is itching to join the league of big directors. She eventually succeeds in convincing her producer to allow her to make a biopic of a dreaded gangster. The Bachchhan Paandey remake has come with mixed feelings with a large population being so critical about it. Here, we examine a detailed review of this remake project.
A Review of Bachchhan Paandey
The movie is the story of a famous gangster in the small town of Bhagwa whose notoriety has gone far and wide. Played by Akshay Kumar, Bachchhan Paandey is a tale of a daredevil gangster who threatens the police at will. He also murders journalists for making a cartoon character out of him.
Now, for a movie that is made to evoke fear from its viewers, Farhad Samji (the director) did poorly at keeping the gangster fearful and menacing. From the super long starting credits, looking more like closing credits, to the overly caricatured opening, Bachchhan Paandey didn't do much to make the viewer get the hang of what it is saying to its viewers.
The script was mediocre at best. For a movie that is a remake, where viewers already have an idea of where the movie is going, it didn't do much to challenge the imagination. Viewers are left thinking, "Is this all there is?" You know you get on a cricket bookie app and can’t seem to find a game that interests you? That’s how it feels with this remake.
The producer would have gotten away with this movie if it had been shot in the glory days of the masala movies. However, the heavy input of elements of genres confuses an expectant viewer who wants more and gets way less.
Bachchhan Paandey is an action/comedy movie; it will be judged on both accounts. There's enough content to excite die-hard action movie fans on the action part. However, as a comedy, save for a few moments, the movie is more of a dark comedy let down of sorts.
The Trailer
For a movie remake, the trailer leaves very little to the imagination. Even without seeing the version in Tamil, or the Korean original, one can see the trailer and explain the movie. Usually, trailers give the viewers something to expect; it tells them how interesting the movie will be. If the trailer goes right, the chances are that more people will want to see the movie when it is eventually out.
Unfortunately, this remake's trailer falls short of what to expect from its kind. It appears like the essence of a trailer was missing. It leaves everyone who watched as confused as they would after the full movie.
Star Performance Review
Akshay Kumar plays the lead role, Bachchhan Paandey. He scores a fine point in the areas where the movie manages to get the action right. He also looks at the part and walks the part, but that is it. Every other portrayal of Bachchhan Paandey aside from a gangster in the movie was subpar to what is portrayed. Or it simply had too much drama to prove the point.
Kriti Sanon, the ambitious protégé looking to impress her producer, appears overly careful that she missed some vital points. Nevertheless, she does a good job interpreting her character well and is confident and brave enough to go toe-to-toe with Kumar. Everything about traveling to Bhagwa screams foolishness and danger, but she persists. The reality is quick to dawn on her, but she doesn't relent.
Arshad Warsi is a breath of fresh air. His comic infusions into otherwise distressing content helped save the day a few times. But, save for Arshad Warsi, this review might have taken a different tone.
Jacqueline Fernandez was a backstory for the protagonist, but it looked like a poor attempt to give him a humane side after the fact. The director fails to make a meaningful connection between the past and the present. The cast also features veteran actors like Seema Biswas, Mohan Agashe, and Sanjay Mishra, giving them less flattering roles.
It looks like Bachchhan Paandey is made for a particular audience - viewers who only want a bloodbath and a menacing protagonist. They sacrificed the movie's integrity on the altar of glam, gloss, and grit, and it appears they are unapologetic.
Conclusion
For a remake, one expects to see something slightly different from the original or maybe an unpredictable ending. However, Bachchhan Paandey failed to live up to its hype. It's like sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for something that never happened.
This movie is a solid ⅖ by rating. The plot failed at a point in the movie. Starting Kumar as an unrepentant blood-thirsty gangster and flipping him to a lover boy/movie star failed. The flashback did little to add to the movie's integrity; it might have just prolonged it unnecessarily. But for a few points in the movie and some outstanding feats of a few actors, it's not worth the effort. So if you're going to watch it, it's best if you manage your expectations.
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