Wondering when was the last time
I ventured into a theatre and did not get blasted with over the top dialogue,
colours, background sound and over the top acting. If it had something to do
with patriotism it had to be even more vocally violent. Loud shrieks and the power
of the lungs equated love for the country. And if it had to be about people across
borders the caricaturing of burlesque characters had to abound in the chase for
authenticity. Luckily Bajrangi Bhaijaan succumbs to none of those temptations
as its Bajrangi devotee – Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi Salman Khan makes no bones
about his eternal quest to be a conformist and generally be a nice truthful
human being. Colours run riot as his devotional character is established and
culminates with his coming across a little mute girl who has wandered off into
Indian territory from the Pakistan side across Wagah. While Pawan makes genuine attempts to shake
off his responsibility towards the little girl, she finds familial comfort in
him. After rescuing her from harrowing incidents with unsocial elements he
takes upon himself the arduous task of returning the little girl to her parents
across the border
How does one get a girl across
the border without passports, visa and acceptance of the fact that the mute
girl is indeed a Pakistani citizen? Kabir Khan known for his entertainers like Ek Tha Tiger, New York and Kabul express all of which attempted new screenplay territories
and weaving a gentle social message into it, does not disappoint. His prima
facie victory is his casting. It is
doubtful if anyone other than the muscular but baby faced Salman could have fit
the bill, Nawazuddin as a Pakistani Journalist does not even need any opinion
on and the cute surprise package Harshali Malhotra who plays Shahida the little
lost girl with such subdued panache that one finds it difficult to believe that
she is actually not from Pakistan. The
best part of the story telling is that the director feels no compulsion to find
excuses to get back to the heroine Kareena Kapoor playing Rasika – the hero’s
family friend’s daughter despite a very clear love angle being developed. That
one thought was the sincerity to the conviction of the story that needed to
cross borders.
Treading dangerous terrain of
potential offended feelings Kabir carefully treads the emotion mines and
portrays both nationalities with polite and genuine justice. He defuses
religion and geography sensitive bombs with the ease of a specialist and makes
the audience comfortable with discussion of otherwise regularly volatile topics
like the hesitation to visit the others religious sites or mouth religious
salutations. There is a clear attempt to indicate that it is ok for both the
religious communities not to ostracize the other’s approach to their religion
or its practices. Tolerance towards communities at home is one aspect but
reaching across communities across the borders requires even a wider chest and
Kabir and Salman exploit that need to the fullest by scripting the bottom line
– Being human is more important than being a citizen of a country
The movie is not in the face and
does not have loud head banging music which usually hurts you even after you
exit from a hall and goes at a steady pace sometimes even slowing down without making you shift in your seat. The scenes
supposedly across the border are captured with a lot of authenticity though on
and off one does not notice shortfall in the ethno linguistic area as the people
speaking across the border still sound
like at home. There are certain heart rending scenes that connect very well
thanks to the artiste’s complete conviction towards their roles. With its dose of comic interludes, tear
jerking scenes and a lush photography it is a good watch for the entire family.
Songs do not really complement
the strength in the story line but provide support. The leads are all into
their roles with grand conviction and it is a treat to watch Harshali ,
Nawazuddin and the handsome Salman live up to the director’s expectation. Kabir
true to his name strives to live up to his name of the saint who is revered by
all. He seems to want to bring that thread of affection with this attempt
The Indians and Pakistanis will
not run into each other’s arms with this movie releasing in both the countries
but it is guaranteed to make them want to look at each other with a different
more accepting lens
It will be good to know what the
gods make of it . Jay Shri Ram as Salman could have said.
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