Ek Tha Tiger

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, Girish Karnad, Roshan Seth
Directed by Kabir Khan
Rating: **

Ek Tha Tiger (ETT) is one confused film. Is it yet another platform for unleashing Sallu’s bhaigiri or a well-meaning Indo-Pak peace initiative on celluloid? The film remains unsure as to what it truly wants to be and ends up being unfair to both lofty aims! Not that it matters. With Salman about, nothing seems to matter. So the Bhai tornado rolleth on. He looks stocky, the face seems tired and bloated—but maybe that’s just me. Maybe no one really sees anything in a Bhai film. It is just a mandatory event to be compulsorily thrilled by.

Kahaani, Agent Vinod and now ETT: what is up with playing secret agents? Bhai’s become one too. The sort who stays in a sarkari colony, cooks very good dal and amasses Rs 23 lakh from his sarkari salary. And he takes his fans around the world—Iraq, Dublin, Istanbul, Almaty, Havana—like agents, from Bond to Bourne, are supposed to. The wafer-thin plot is a Veer Zaara-like love-across-the-border tale with RAW and ISI, not family or religion, playing spoilsport. The love sparks engagingly, but becomes unconvincing as the narrative progresses. ETT’s makers may claim it is ‘political, politically correct’ cinema but it doesnot rise above being caricaturish and far-fetched. 

Nothing more needs to be said of Bhai. His mere presence is enough. Katrina is naturally charming in the initial romantic bits. It’s the emotional scenes where she is caught napping. Glycerine tears are not fetching enough. With Bhai and Kat in the limelight, the rest of the cast doesn’t have much to do and so we have Ranvir Shorey, Roshan Seth and Girish Karnad trying hard to make themselves useful.

Bhai has distinct dance and action moves. ETT thrusts some new stunts on him, lending a superhuman quality. He flies, jumps, plunges, lunges. But, the double is visible in every frame. His height, lithe physique and body language are all at odds with Bhai’s. This awareness of another sends the myth of Salman Khan crashing. But fans don’t seem to care. Perhaps they never will.

Two scenes stick, because they truly belong to Bhai. When Kat tells him “Ab tumhari shaadi ki umr hai”. And when his jacket brings a tram to a halt. Literally! The only times I was moved to whistle. Almost.

High Fives

Bollywood

1. Jism 2
2. Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum
3. The Dark Knight Rises (Eng)
4. Bol Bachchan
5. Cocktail

Hollywood

1. The Expendables 2
2. The Bourne Legacy
3. ParaNorman
4. The Campaign
5. Sparkle

Rock

1. Oh Love (Green Day)
2. Burn It Down (Linkin Park)
3. Too Close (Alex Clare)
4. Some Nights (fun.)
5. Gold...Ceiling (The Black Keys)

Courtesy: BoxofficeIndia.com