Movie: Brothers
Director: Karan Malhotra
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Jacqueline Frenanadez, Sidharth Malhotra
Genre: Drama
Warrior, a 2011 American Sports drama film, ended up being one of the most talked films of the year. With an Academy Awards nomination and critical acclaim from the critics, it definitely stood out to be an ideal candidate for the remake fraternity. Well, as expected, Bollywood set out to make the remake of this popular film, and delivered us a desi version titled ‘Brothers’. Karan Malhotra gave the fantastic Warrior storyline a good squeeze, rolled it up into a fine ball and flattened it into a flatbread. That, my friends, is Brothers for you!
David (Akshay Kumar) and Monty (Sidharth Malhotra) are brothers whose lives are torn apart by an accident. Separated by hatred and misunderstanding in their childhood, they meet again in the fighting ring of a world championship ‘R2F’ (Right to Fight), but as competitors. It’s a story of their, love, hatred, struggle and hardhships.
There are a few things about the movie I like and a few other that I don’t. As far as the rest f the movie is concerned, I am more or less neutral towards it. This is what I liked about the movie:
- Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez together with a child actor share a lovely chemistry. I loved all the portions involving them as a family. Their characters are finely structured and all the three essay their roles well.
- The music by Ajay-Atul, despite taking not the centre-stage, keep playing in your head long after the movie. I couldn’t stop myself from humming the songs ‘Mera naam Marie hai’ and ‘Sapna Jahaan’.
- Jackie Shroff did a brilliant job as a repentant father and make up just added that extra zest t his character.
- Some of the scenes were thematically brilliant. For example my favourite was the burial scene of David’s mother, where the haunting past and the haunted present are merged together in one frame.
- Ashutosh Rana, my absolutely favourite villain shares a good screen-space and it was, as usual, a pleasure to watch him on screen.
The following are the things that I did not enjoy in the movie:
- Iam unable to decide which one do I dislike the most, sleazy item songs or Kareena Kapoor in an item song. The thing is, however much she may try, Kareena has a face that does not fit into an item song and it kinds ruined the song for me. Though, Iam still humming the tune!
- Jackie Shroff was often not comprehendible. Undoubtedly, his acting was fantastic, but he was mumbling so much, that I could barely make out what he was saying.
- Sidharth Malhotra and his unflattering earring- I was exasperated looking at his earring which closely resembled a rotten, decaying green chilly. The director did not do justice to the character of Monty played by Sidharth. Its ill sketched and very crudely put together.
- The name of the world Championship was too corny for my taste, ‘R2F’- Right to Fight. Seriously now, was there no other way of putting it better?
- Somewhere before the interval, the movie begins to drag and bore. It loses its tempo and really tested my patience.
As you see there are bits and pieces that pleased and annoyed me. But if I were to tell you the general audience’s response, which comprised of around 50 odd people, most of them were grumbling over the slow pace of the movie. It’s your turn to make a choice, ‘R2W’- Right to Watch, maybe?!
My verdict: ***
