Snipper: Dabangg

Snip-in: Dabangg: 'Dhan-Te-Nan, New-Tech remix of 80's Bollywood Movies! 'Chulbulhood - The saga begins': Part 1

I got to watch Dabangg promos a few times over last 3-4 weeks while I was visiting Hyderabad. And I was actually sold on the movie. I'm neither a great fan of Sallu, nor of the typical Masala Bollywood movies. The promos were revealing all the true aspects of the genre of the movie and not even the single thing in the promos (dialogues, songs, characters) was claiming it to be 'different' or 'hatke' movie;). So we booked almost the first day first show, a very rare privilege to a movie as far as I'm concerned;). And I'd say I was not disappointed.

It's a story which we have seen umpteen times in the movies of 70s and '80s. It's built on the same 'Bhai-Bhai' story-line which was conceived by Salim-Javed in Deewar and used (to death!) in other similar movies. But it has additional bottleful of flavors containing street smart comedy, new-age action, colloquial dialogues, and characters greatly appealing the masses.

Sajid-Wajid's music is going to be a big hit. (In fact it is already! I started writing the review on 10th September, and even though it took around an hour to write, i could comlpete it only on 18th). The Choreography is equally appealing as the music. 'Munni' as a song is a crowd puller and must be the #1 pick for the Ganapati Dance this year. One of the most appealing steps for Malaika is actually copied from Madhuri's all time great 'Ek-do-teen' (Tejab). 'Tere Mast Mast Do Nain' sounds to be based on 'Sufi' tunes, but actually a soft romantic number, and is a very good one.

Snip-out
Well you don’t see these movies for the perfection - do you? I was not following-it-to-the- point, as 'public' was enjoying every bit of it. However one thing just couldn't escape my eyes - In an extended climax sequence Salman blows a car to have it fly and crash into the villains den so as to trigger an explosion. However the den explodes into flames much before the car bangs into it. It doesn't require a third-umpire;) to give a verdict in this case. This made me recall a 'Z-grade' movie (Nine Deaths of Ninja? Not sure) watched in early 90s- It's Ashok Amritraj Production House in Hollywood - an Action movie, when a grenade is thrown into the cave, and while the grenade is still traversing towards them into the cave, you can see the soldiers die of explosions:-). And off-course about the self-proclaimed 'Robinhood' (more apt:Chulbulhood-the 'Ever-Green Prince' of Bollywood):He is a Robinhood for himself as in he robs the robbers and keeps the money at his home, to buy home appliances :-)(Generators, even the desi refrigerators like 'Matka' at an over-hyped rates, and 'Ray-Ban' goggles for him and his bro.)

Apart from that, considering his Mr. India image, model turned actor Sonu Sood has played 'Chhedi Singh' to a great accuracy. However it feels as if he actually doesn't want to portray a villain in big banner Bollywood movie. He probably doesn’t want fame /stature thru a negative role, but must have done a trade- off :( considering the $$ :-)

Snip-O-Meter
Abhinav Kashyap the director, a debutant though, has made sure that he is doing his job right (even after taking all the U-turns, Summersaults, going Southwards, but still doing in right :-)). He probably have mastered the art of direction much ahead of big-bro (Anurag) in the main-stream Bollywood movies. Sonu Sood looks great, but would need to move back to the 'Good-guy' roles. Sonakshi Sinha nowhere appears to be a debutant. She has carried herself very well, looks nice, and acted to a great extent as well. And somehow I was imagining Raj Babbar and Rakhi, in place of Vinod Khanna and Dimple :-). But why we are talking about all of them - It's Sallu's movie all the way. It's going to be Sallu's greatest hit yet, and whenever we remember him, this would top his list of movies. He has all the Aura to portray ' Chulbul Pande', right from the bizzare apparels, his mush (mustache), and a North Indian accent textured in thick desi-ghee:-). And I guess amongst 3 Khans born in '65, Sallu still looks younger (most eligible bachelor?) compared to Aamir and SRK. Do we blame it on his 'so-called-Unmarried' status;)?

But above all 200% credit goes to Arbaaz, the producer!(He has acted pretty good too). He seemed to be knowing what he is doing - He has ensured to have a great caste, a great North Indian back-drop to pull the masses, an awesome production design (including the title of the movie, designing the look of the movie, 'Matrix' style action sequences, Promos and Posters). He'll go a long way from here , I reckon Dabangg 2 is already on the anvil:-)