Pathaan REVIEW: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone starrer is a MASS ENTERTAINER, has BLOCKBUSTER plastered all over it

Film: Pathaan

Director: Siddharth Anand

Star Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana

Platform: Theatres

Bollywood Bubble ratings: 3.5/5 stars

Pathaan Movie REVIEW: 

Shah Rukh Khan is back with a bang and oh man, he just steals the limelight from everyone, sorry Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, no offence to you guys, you guys were fab too. I’m going to admit that I’m a fan of Shah Rukh but I’ll ensure to keep the fan girl out of me before I write the Pathaan review. Speaking about watching King Khan on the big screen after three years is so surreal.

There’s a mixed feeling to actually see him in an action avatar which only made me cheer loudly. What a fantastic start of the year and the best way to have an SRK comeback.

Remember that dialogue: “3 saal se pathaan ki khabar nahi” and his response: “Zinda hai” in the Pathaan teaser? Well, it is quite relevant as SRK was not seen on the big screen for 3 years. Well, seeing him on the big screen gave me literal chills.

It is about a RAW agent who goes on a mission to stop the enemies who are executing to destroy India with the help of a virus. The mission is led by the one and only Pathaan who ensures to keep his homeland safe from the enemies. Without divulging any details about the movie that will only act as a spoiler, let’s talk about the plot and the execution of pulling off a high-octane action flick.

Fans have high expectations from Pathaan and well, fortunately, it didn’t disappoint me. At the beginning of the movie, Pathaan aka Shah Rukh tells us to fasten our seatbelts and trust me, he didn’t lie because it indeed takes you on an action-packed ride. From the word go, Siddharth Anand makes sure that everyone is taken by storm and how.

Speaking about the story, Siddharth Anand ensures to have a connection with his previous spy thriller War. Keeping Pathaan as part of the spy universe, you can see how he tries to connect all the threads with the previous film and of course, with the upcoming movie as well. Siddharth brings out a relatively captivating story for Pathaan with the right amount of action and swag.

Drawbacks:

Well, like every other film, Pathaan too has some drawbacks which can be a little off-putting. Logic takes a serious hit in some places. It makes you wonder ‘how’s that possible?’ For instance, there’s a fight scene between SRK and John where they are seen battling on the roof of a truck like they are fighting on the plain ground. Where is the motion?

Well, there are quite a few scenes which don’t make any sense. Some of the chopper scenes and other action sequences look unreal and that can be a letdown. Moreover, the major disappointment is the VFX. In some parts, it looks patchy and made-up which doesn’t make me believe in it. I was wondering where is the logic. What about basic physics? I can see it can be a setback for some of the movie buffs.

Story:

An Indian spy takes on the leader of a group of mercenaries who have nefarious plans to target his homeland.

Star Performances: 

Oh man, it is so good to see Shah Rukh Khan back onscreen after a hiatus. When I watched his cameo roles like Laal Singh Chaddha or The Rocketry, I saw people hooting and cheering in the theatres. That time I realised that if his one glance could create waves on the big screen, what would a full-fledged role do to him? Well, I got the answer when I watched SRK in Pathaan. I couldn’t hear the dialogue for a few seconds as the cheers won’t seem to calm down.

Talking about his performance, well, who am I to judge him? The man has smitten me from the first frame. With his charming smile, hot brooding look and his gorgeous tresses flowing, Shah Rukh demanded attention every second. Since the movie is touted to be an action flick, Shah Rukh aces in the action avatar. Though it seems like body double was used and heavy VFX was used in parts, Khan still makes it look so effortless. Yes, there are some glitches but it is avoidable.

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What I have seen in Besharam Rang is nothing compared to what I have seen in the entire movie. There was not a single moment where I didn’t see Deepika Padukone oozing her hotness. Oh wait, there is one, the blonde buzz cut scene and I want to remove that bit from my mind, otherwise, Deepika is a hot siren in the movie for sure.

From her bikini looks to thigh-high slit dresses, Deepika Padukone looks feisty as a soldier and demands all the right attention.

Talking about her performance, she plays her part quite well and looks pretty convincing as a soldier but her action scenes looked quite patchy and scripted. Yes, they are choreographed but Deepika doing those action sequences looked rehearsed and unnatural.

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For a change, John Abraham was not seen giving any brooding looks the way he did in his previous films. After a long time, I liked John in his grey shade and was also drooling over his hot body. John plays the antagonist in the movie and he plays his part quite well.

As I was watching the movie, I realised that this is the John I was missing to see. John Abraham is a visual treat. Be it his style or his action, John looks killer.

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Direction/ Screenplay: 

Director Siddharth Anand brings his action flavour back in Pathaan after War and Bang Bang. We can see how Sid goes all out and about when it comes to action as that can be clearly seen in his movies. Talking about his narration, Anand keeps it quite crisp yet expressive. He once again shines with his impeccable direction skills.

Aarif sheikh is the editor of Pathaan and he has done a fantastic job with the editing. When it comes to action sequences, it gets a little tricky; however, he maintains the balance, making it look smooth. What enhances more is the cinematography, the Director of Photography, Satchith Paulose captures all the right and perfect angles for the movie. You don’t feel like missing a single shot because it is that enticing.

Music: 

There are only two songs in the movie, Besharam Rang and Jhoome Jo Pathaan which are quite catchy. Vishal and Shekhar are the music composers of the film and as usual, they have done a fantastic job. Moreover, John’s theme music is actually one of the best background scores I have heard in recent times. The music adds more value to the scene as well as to his character.

Conclusion: 

Overall, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham starrer Pathaan is definitely a mass entertainer and ensures you fasten your seatbelts. It surely has BLOCKBUSTER plastered all over it. Pathaan is high on action and it has all the calibre to leave you starstruck. The movie is one of the best action films in Bollywood.

Pathaan has all the potential to impress you with its high-voltage action scene; however, the poor VFX and not well-choreographed fight sequences compel me to take out some extra stars from the film. Moreover, Shah Rukh takes over the film and will remind you that he is the King of Bollywood for a reason.

Watch the Pathaan trailer after the review:

Also read: Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pathaan BEATS War and Thugs Of Hindostan in box office advance booking