I am not a fan of Sachin Tendulkar but he is a great batsman is a fact and I admire him for that. Similarly I am not a fan of Shahrukh Khan but I watch all his movies because he is a good actor, though with limitations, but is still far better than many others in the industry.
When the much awaited film RNBDJ was released I read almost every review, be it from a professional critic or from a common man like us. Some (SRK’s die hard fans) found the film to be extraordinary; some found it so-so, while some didn’t like it at all. The final outcome, if I am not wrong, was that the number of people who didn’t find the movie up to the mark was more, which reduced the enthusiasm in me to watch the movie in the theater.
Finally I got the DVD and watched the movie last night, with no expectation and I was fully prepared to rip apart the movie in my review. But as I always watch any movie with neutral mind, I watched RNBDJ with same attitude, forgetting all the reviews and views of people about the film. And I found the movie to be OK.
The story we all know is wafer thin, which has been known to everyone by now. But I couldn’t digest that a wife will not recognize her husband just because the mustache is removed and the introvert becomes extrovert.
The director Aditya Chopra is handicapped by writer Aditya Chopra, because the same Shahrukh gets confused at times when wooing Anushka. The writer made him two different characters (well known to SRK that he is one) and the unnecessary war between the two takes birth, which at times becomes difficult to digest, even after I tried to be on the writer/director’s wavelength.
Surprisingly this film from the banner of Yashraj looks like a low budget film. Production values are low and there are hardly any large sets. Though the film is set in Amritsar, nobody spoke Punjabi in the film, not a single word. Why?
New find Anushka makes a confident debut but her long innings in the film industry is doubtful. Vinay Pathak though good but he soon needs to change his style, because he is becoming repetitive in every film.
Music is so-so expect Haule-Haule none of the song leaves a mark.
Shahrukh Khan did a fair job as Raj, but at times went overboard. This has been SRK’s problem from the beginning; he tends to go overboard or takes the viewers for granted.
My conclusion is that this movie is neither a masterpiece nor flawless but is still watchable, plainly due to Surender’s character played by SRK. The role suits him and he performed to perfection with no error whatsoever.