Okay, after a very long hiatus from Hindi movie watching, I just let my hair down and watched Singh is Kinng on the premier night. Just returned home and penning this.
My observations about the movie:-
First, the bouquets…
1. The movie is a hit. No two ways about it. It has that Om Shanti Om kind of goofiness that we so love. Forget logic, forget rationality… just enjoy. The way the people were laughing in the cinema hall through most of the movie ensures a surefire hit.
2. Akshay Kumar is good in the movie, he keeps it going actually. I will admit this is one actor that has really grown. He has always been there(since the early nineties) and has developed from a nerdy shapeless gawk to a very handsome, lithe and expressive(yes, I think with this movie!) actor. He does manage to evoke audience expressions in several parts of the movie, notably at the end.
3. Another person who has really evolved in the Hindi film industry is Katrina Kaif. I agree she is the most beautiful woman in the Indian film industry right now(and I may hazard to say, of all time) but mere sexiness and beauty is not enough to carry one to the post she is now. She has really worked hard on her diction, for one thing, and I think her voice this time is not dubbed. But you never know. She’s more than just eye candy in the movie.
4. The plot. Predictable after a while, but still very good. It has a Munnabhai kind of feel to it, or maybe even a Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge feel. A right man in wrong circumstances who turns everyone right with his sheer nature. The kind of dollops we Indians like so much.
5. The actors. Apart from Akshay and Katrina, I mean. Every character fits the role, but they are just in snippets. There are too many characters and too little of everyone. But the plot wants that there be so many characters. The movie has a filled-out and crowded look in every frame.
6. The dialogs. Most of them will make you genuinely laugh. The dialogs are written in a very different manner. Instead of the usual conversational style, Singh is Kinng uses repartee. That makes the movie wittier.
Now the brickbats…
1. The movie is mostly shot in Australia. But why? This is my biggest complaint. And my biggest disappointment. The title is what made me want to go and watch the movie. I wanted to get a lot more of The Pind than what this movie shows. I wanted the rural rustic Punjab. A Singh who is a King in his own land and then a King in the world would be more apt. This Singh is a King of a place no one cares for them. I didn’t like that part at all. Namastey London(the earlier Akshay-Katrina-Vipul Shah combo) had more of Punjab and infinitely better songs than Singh is Kinng. That’s what I expected this movie to better. Sadly it didn’t.
2. You have to leave all your intelligence at home if you want to enjoy this movie. I did that and so I enjoyed this one. If you think a motorboat cannot fly right into a helicopter, you have to watch this movie. But then it is Akshay Kumar pulling off the stunt, so no one is complaining.
3. Songs are pathetic. Except for Singh is Kinng, you want all other songs to just finish. Even Singh is Kinng isn’t that catchy, it’s just the fanatical lyrics that make the song jump to your attention. However, the good point is that Anees Bazmee has only used portions of songs in the movie, so everyone is happy:)
The Verdict:
Go and watch Singh is Kinng by all means. You will enjoy it immensely, like I did. But you will forget it with the next movie you watch. The movie is likeable, will become a monster hit, but for the viewer’s mind it has no staying power, if you understand what I mean.