Salman Khan is back with a bang...and how! Wanted is an unpretentious paisa vasool entertainer that lives up to the massive hype. It’s the comeback-with-a-roaring-vengeance of a superstar who had taken himself for granted for a wee bit too long a time period. Khan seems determined to prove his detractors wrong and his awe-inspiring Hero-giri in this hardcore commercial film floors you completely.
The storyline is wafer thin and there’s absolutely nothing that you haven’t seen before. Radhe (Salman) is a tapori supari killer who doesn’t go back on his ’commitment’. He shifts loyalties between warring gangs, falls in love with pretty Jahnvi (Ayesha Takia), sings songs in scenic Greece locales and then his master Ghani bhai (Prakash Raj ) is forced to return to Mumbai from his safe haven due to trouble in Mumbai’s bhaigiri-paradise.
Wanted adapts every single formula that was very prolific in the cinema of eightees. A deluge of gun shots, liberal blood flow, crackling bones, absolutely unreal song situations and even a bit of rape altercation. But still you enjoy this ride thoroughly. Why? Well, the film never pretends to be anything other than a commercial entertainer. The stylised action scenes, an ample dose of humour and the spicy South Indian idea of herogiri takes you on a joyride.
The film is the best work of Salman Khan since Karan Arjun. He is sincere, earnest and very very involved in each and every scene. His acting has panache, the dancing is joyous, action is incredible, romances with aplomb and also delivers many loud-whistle-worthy dialogues. The action scenes in the train and the climax scenes are a delight. Ayesha looks cute and thankfully she has shed that baby fat. Mahesh Manjrekar is a scene stealer as the slimy corrupt police man. But the biggest surprise of the film is Prakash Raj. Now, he is the National Award winning best actor for Kancheevaram this year. He stuns with his persona and facial expressions. Don’t miss the scenes where he is interrogated by the Police. Funny and grotesque, all at the same time.
Sajid-Wajid’s music is notable for Jalwa and Dil Le Ke Dard-e-Dil. Rest of the songs are ordinary and a few songs could have been removed from the film. Incidentally Sajid also makes his acting debut in the film as one of Salman’s friends. A big miscast. Vijayan Master’s Action is the big highlight of the film. Editing is jumpy and jarring, very typical of South Cinema. It makes the cinematic experience a bit of a distraction. Some of Shiraz Ahmed’s dialogues are punchy and shall surely evoke claps-n-whistles.
Finally, Prabhudeva’s direction is an amalgamation of style, style and some more of it. Wanted is a fun film that doesn’t take itself seriously. It shall be patronised by both classes as well as masses. Nothing can stop it from being a huge hit. Go for it. Today.
Star Rating: 3 1/2