Genre: Drama/Comedy
Running Length: 2:43
Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Malthotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Director: Kabir Khan
Screenplay: Vijayendra Prasad, Kabir Khan, Parveez Sheikh, Asad Hussain
"Love transcends all borders"
BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN is an emotional movie from the get-go. It is very rare that any film can move me right from the start but the moment the camera pans over rows of serene looking snow-capped mountains coupled with the film's haunting soundtrack, it had me at 'hello'. What made this film worked is its simple focus; one man's mission to get a lost girl back to her parents. Salman Khan is our protagonist Bajrangi, a simpleton, God fearing man with a magnanimous heart. As fate would have it, he comes across a lost mute 6-year old girl in the temple grounds and so begins his journey to reunite the girl with her parents. But she is no ordinary Indian girl - she's from Pakistan.
As with all road trip movies, it's not getting there that matters, but what happens along the way. As expected, the journey gets harder and more unbearable as the film unfolds. Although much has been written about the movie's message of peace between the two foes (it's definitely working as it's touching both hearts and minds of the two nations as reflected in the huge box office collection in India and Pakistan), it is the hero's journey and transformation that caught my attention. The man who reaches his destination is not exactly the same man who departs from the beginning of the movie as he learns about the message of hate and mutual respect from his interaction with a mix bag of people. It's a moving journey of destiny with strong elements of redemption, self discovery and being human.
As far as the performances are concerned, 'Bhaijaan' (brother) Salman Khan delivers an outstanding performance. His kindness is unmistakably charming. And thanks to actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's natural sincerity in approaching his role as a Pakistani news reporter, his outstanding performance injects chuckles throughout the film. And of course, there's Harshaali Malthotra, the child actor who plays the mute girl. She's such a professional in front of the camera as she lights up every scene she's in with her smile and vulnerability.
From a technical standpoint, the cinematography is top rate and the editing is tight. The use of bright colours and cheerful songs balances the movie from falling into overly emotional territory. Although the ending is a tad melodramatic, don't miss it and go catch it in the cinema now (if you can get tickets!). Warning: Don't peel onions while watching Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
Rating: 9/10
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