Hit Hai Boss!
Pic source: Wikipedia
To be honest, I did not expect much from Ek Tha Tiger. Of course, it was in my must watch list like most Bollywood movies but I was skeptical about a Salman Khan film directed by Kabir Khan. Don’t get me wrong, I do not doubt the director’s ability to make a nice film; his Kabul Express was quite good and New York was also nice. However, I had my reservations about him combining the mindless fun of a Salman blockbuster with that of a thriller. Could he create something ridiculous yet fun like Wanted that fans of Salman Bhai love? Could he stay true to the romantic-thriller genre and avoid the silliness of a regular Salman blockbuster? I was worried that the filmmaker will try to combine both and fail miserably.
Fortunately, I was proved wrong and Ek Tha Tiger managed to reach the level of a decent entertainer. The plot is less ridiculous than usual Bhai films, but there are big tiger sized loopholes (story by Aditya Chopra; screenplay by Kabir Khan & Neelesh Misra). One has to keep shunning out logic and common sense throughout the film but the director has built in enough applause worthy Bhai moments to make up for that. There are enough thrills like the elaborate opening fight sequence shot in Iraq where Tiger (Salman) sledges down the stairs in a marketplace while shooting at the enemies; or when he stops a tram from crashing, using his blazer alone! Coming back to the story, the first half is quite predictable but the chemistry between Salman and Katrina make it watchable. The real fun starts post interval where our desi James Bond, RAW agent, Tiger decides to fight for his love instead of his nation.
Katrina Kaif as Zoya is quite good in the film and you can’t help but applaud at her stunts and parkour skills (of course, there was a body double but that’s not the point). There are more exaggerated stunts that make you jump in your seat – no they’re not the most sophisticated ones but most ridiculously fun, like the usual Salman stuff. The film is shot across the world at picturesque and exotic locations like Ireland, Cuba, Thailand and Turkey. Aseem Mishra does justice to all these locations and the good looking lead pair with his cinematography. However, I fail to understand why so many slow motion sequences were there including milk being poured in a vessel!
The biggest let down in the film is its ending. The film almost ends abruptly while you’re having loads of fun and expect it to continue for fifteen more minutes. But I guess there was nothing more left to say or show so the director decided to just wrap up after a masaledaar sequence. The final montage of Salman and Katrina at popular places around the world is hilarious and could have been avoided. Music by Sohail Sen is disappointing and there is not one song I can say I liked; the one popular number, Mashallah is also done by guest composers – Sajid-Wajid. Background score by Julius Packiam is interesting with music elements from the respective countries where the scenes are set in; and also the introduction music piece for Tiger.
Ek Tha Tiger is definitely a onetime watch and if possible go in a large group to a single screen theatre to enjoy the ceeties and the hooting.
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Never really watched a Sallu film completely except this one. Actually loved it and the atmosphere in the theatre was just amazing. I purposely chose a smaller theatre to see how’d it be and boy I loved it 🙂 Good one, Shrey. Keep em comin’
Wah! You have discovered the magic of Salman Bhai… der aaye, durust aaye 😉
So i would give this a miss then? also whilst i have your attention, is there an Indian film that you would recommend that isn’t Bollywood style? Trying to watch more foreign films 😀
Hi Tim, Yes, you shouldn’t watch it unless you’re in India and want to see how passionate Salman’s fans are 🙂
Here are some films that you may enjoy (recent films; not old/classics):
Taare Zameen Par (about a dyslexic child and his teacher)
Lagaan (It has everything – Bollywood, Sports, Music – a period drama; very long but a fantastic entertainer; was also nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film)
Swades – from the director of Lagaan featuring Shah Rukh Khan; a film about an Indian American wanting to do something for his village in India
Udaan – one of the best coming of age films; you can check out my review also on this site. Premiered at Cannes.
In the contemporary filmmakers, you should look at Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee; some of their films I love are listed below:
Omkara – Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello; set in rural India
Maqbool – Vishal’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth; set in Mumbai’s underworld
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur and Gangs of Wasseypur 2 – see my reviews for details. They are doing very well right now and going to many film festivals. Check when is the American premiere.
Anurag Kashyap’s Black Friday on Mumbai’s underworld and blasts – inspired by real life characters / dons. Was in controversies.
Dibakar Banerjee – he makes very different films and focuses on middle or lower middle class. Watch Oye Lucky Lucky Oye (based on a real con artist); Love Sex or Dhokha; Shanghai
Filmmakers of Indian origin:
Deepa Mehta – Must watch her elements trilogy, all very good films – Fire (on a lesbian relationship between two housewives); 1947 Earth (on India’s partition); Water (on the widows in Varanasi, India set around 1940s; nominated for an Oscar).
Mira Nair – Monsoon Wedding (a fantastic film with the setting of an Indian wedding; quite a close portrayal of an upper middle class family)
I can go on and on…
Haha clearly 😀
But I may check out Maqbool, Dibakar Banerjee and Mira Nair. Thanks for the advice 😀
Great. let me know what you think after you’ve seen them. Cheers!
And how can I forget Lamhe and The Namesake (the first two pictures on my blog’s header).
Lamhe released in 1991; was considered ahead of its time and some labelled it as depicting incest. It was a flop then but received critical acclaim. It is a romantic film directed by Yash Chopra – the king of romance in India. One of my favourites.
The Namesake – directed by Mira Nair; it’s actually an American film on the second generation Indians in the US.