Rating: B
Dir: Aditya Dhar.
Star: Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Rakesh Bedi, Sara Arjun.
Settle in. You probably want to bring some snacks, because this Bollywood action pic is a bit of a chonker, even by Indian standards. As in three hours and twenty-five minutes, for the slightly edited version on Netflix. This didn’t stop it from being a huge success, grossing more than RRR worldwide. It’s more grounded, blending real events into its story of deep undercover work. To these Western eyes, it seemed positively gritty and realistic in comparison to things like The YRF Spy Universe. All things are relative, however. It also improves on RRR by not leaving me feeling like I needed to apologize for the Raj. Less sure Pakistan will like it much though.
It begins in 2001, after an attack on by Indian parliament. A plan is hatched to send an operative into Pakistan, to infiltrate their terrorist organization. The agent in question is Hamza Ali Mazari (Singh), who successfully wins the trust of mobster Rehman Dakait (Khanna) after trying to save Reham’s son during an attack at a wedding. [I will admit, I was severely distracted by the way the soundtrack song copied its chorus wholesale from I Feel Love. I trust Giorgio Moroder was adequately compensated] Mazari then becomes a trusted advisor, as Dakait rises to power, allying with politician Jameel Jamali, who brings contacts with Pakistani intelligence. Our hero also begins seeing Jamali’s daughter, Yalina (Arjun), after they have a hair-off. I’d give it to Hamza, for superior body and shine.
Despite the film’s length, I didn’t feel this dragged. There’s a lot to unpack here, in the collaboration between organized crime, politicians, and the military intelligence complex in Pakistan. It’s certainly not a very flattering portrayal of that country’s government and activities. At one point, we are told “Directly or indirectly, Pakistan has been involved in nearly every major terror attack worldwide.” Yeah, that’s Saudi Arabia in the corner, whistling nervously. I’m pretty sure the Indian government isn’t squeaky clean in the area of links with organized crime either. While there is a massive disclaimer at the beginning, it’s fair to read it as pro-government messaging, and perhaps even propaganda. The inclusion of real audio from the 2008 Mumbai attacks certainly seems like rabble-rousing.
Not that I care. I’m here for the mayhem, and a side order of catchy toons. This delivers both, though it would be a better 2½-hour movie than a 3½-hour one. There’s a head blown off with a shotgun, an Indian spy basically gets Hellraisered (top), and Dakait bludgeons his own father to death, in the middle of the street. Dozens of witnesses, all see nothing. I actually liked Dakait, who resembles a young Stephen McHattie, and is an interesting character. This isn’t a non-stop action-fest, and what there is, does not appear to have strayed in from a superhero film. Bring on the sequel, shot back-to-back, which by all accounts is noisier, more jingoistic and, somehow, longer. I’ll go get a comfy cushion.