Baaghi is a mix of Rumble in the Bronx and the Protector, but with lopsided sensibilities: the fights here happen in claustrophobic spaces, but there is no rationale behind it. There is no thoughtful action choreography, and thus everything comes down to Tiger’s flexibility to take the film forward. And then, he’s also expected to play a typical Bollywood lover. Needless to say, it’s all messed up.
Instead of a well-etched, strong yet compassionate character, Shroff comes off as someone with a split personality. You see him fighting in mid-air in one scene, and dancing in the very next. There is no point in expecting a logical screenplay here.
Its fight sequences aside, the only other thing worth watching in Baaghi are the exotic locales: From the backwaters in Kerala to the breathtaking beaches of Thailand’s Krabi. Sadly, you must still deal with gore, blood and mindless killings in this 133-minute film.
In short, The Karate Kid enters Bloodsport and appears in a hurry to become Ong-Bak without losing the essential Bollywood qualities. Baaghi shines only in patches.
The director also wastes a lot of time preparing the viewers for the final bloodbath. Only if he had prolonged the action scenes, Baaghi could have been more engaging. This is where Vidyut Jammwal’s Commando(2013) excelled.
Instead of a well-etched, strong yet compassionate character, Shroff comes off as someone with a split personality. You see him fighting in mid-air in one scene, and dancing in the very next. There is no point in expecting a logical screenplay here.