Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana
Director: Siddharth Anand
Where to watch: in theatres near you
Rating: 3 stars
Shah Rukh Khan, popularly called King Khan, returned to screens with a feature film after nearly a five-year hiatus. The actor seems to have returned with a bang with the Siddharth Anand directorial where he once again essays the role of a patriotic soldier, except with a couple more abs.
Pathaan (SRK) approaches his former superior Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), addressed as ma'am for the entirety of the film, to erect a force of injured soldiers who are still passionate about serving India along the lines of kintsugi.
But the officers here do break a rule or two which doesn't go down well with Colonel Luthra (Ashutosh Rana), RAW chief.
The story—told in a non-linear way—begins with abrogation of Kashmir's special status by the Indian government which angers a Pakistani officer who approaches Jim, an ex-RAW officer wronged by his people.
While Deepika's Rubiya is a former ISI agent and also has a heart of gold and eventually flips on her team. Both Jim and Rubiya have been given a little detailed but archetypal traumatising back stories like every Bollywood movie does.
Pathaan is a dutiful son wanting to save his motherland in the Anand film. Whether he fails or passes his mission is for the audience to find out.
While the basic story development is fine, there are not many memorable dialogues in the film; it borders on cringe.
Anand's treatment to the story is not that of an ordinary spy story but like a superhero film. The suspension of disbelief audience requires to sit through the action sequences is unbelievable. They defy every possible concept of physics and at times common sense as well.
The director also delivered a Karan Arjun moment in the film which roused hoots and whistles; the moment was added to propel the YRF spy universe, and its plugging could've been subtler.
While the music was much talked about, it is disconnected with the film which is a spoiler. Vishal-Shekhar duo however seem like they have formulated the code to deliver songs that'll rock 'Bollywood night' at clubs.
Pathaan, although is a typical Hindi spy film, is entertaining especially with Shah Rukh Khan displaying his tested charm amidst the save-India exercise. The break from jingoism spotted in films these days was refreshing.
