He is back with a bang. Quite a loud one too. This one is for hardcore masala lovers with lotsa action.
And yes, he does get his shirt off, yet again. It seems to fit the context this time though. One can’t help but draw obvious references to the Telugu superhit Pokkiri, directed by Puri Jagannadh. I think Mahesh Babu was extraordinary there. Salman though, proves to be quiet a match for him in Wanted. The Tamil version of Pokkiri enacted by Vijay and directed by Prabhudeva too, didnt quite match up to the standards of its Telugu counterpart. With Wanted however, Prabhudeva proves successful.
Plot: Based on the prevailing land mafia, Wanted shows the cat and mouse game between the police and the bad guys. Radhe is a goon who knows just one thing. Money. He would do anything for it. He starts dealing with big money after he joins the rival gang. While at it , he falls for Jhanvi, a call centre girl. Trouble starts when his gang leader is killed mysteriously. To make matters worse, the gang’s kingpin Gani makes his way back to Mumbai to set matters straight. Watch what happens as Radhe tries to juggle between his love life and the unforgiving world of mafia.
Cast:
Salman Khan - This surely will be one of the biggest hits of his career.He plays the thug outstandingly well.His attitude stands out throughout the film. He maintains his bad-boy tag. It had been a while that he showed up with some action. At 44 though, I felt he was a bit rusty with the action, especially the last scene. But you can’t take anything away from him. He has danced like a dream. He is the life of the film. He is still ’Wanted’.
Ayesha Takia - Plays her part well. You can’t expect more from an actress in a Hindi masala flick with Salman as the hero. Could have done with a bit more glamour.
Prakash Raj - I totally loved his part in Pokkiri. Comes up with an equally great performance here too.
Mahesh Manjrekar - He continues his run from Slumdog. Excels in his part as the chauvinistic and corrupt police officer. You would really want to hate him.
Govind Namdeo - Is refreshing in a non-negative role this time. Just proves what a seasoned actor he is.
Vinod Khanna - Chose a better film to be in. Fits perfectly in his character. Good as always.
Music - Dull and boring. Except for ’Jalwa’ and ’Love Me’, the music is uninteresting. Could have done with fewer and peppier tracks.
The Critic In Me - Wanted succeeds and brings Salman back as the action icon, but not with some chinks in its armour. The script is strictly built for South Indian regional cinema. The comic elements are unfunny and boring. Frankly, I thought, the days when we had a dedicated comedian were over. The songs are painful at times and have a bad habit of showing up without notice. The last song was ridiculous. An absolute no no. Although well paced, the screenplay drags up a bit after the second half. While still being a remake, the script could have done away with some elements and subplots from the original. Specifically the comic ones.
Verdict - Wanted is a great watch. You would probably love it if..... you are masala lover, a Salman fan, can easily digest the boring and random unfunny funny scenes , and, the even more boring and random songs.