By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-09-07 14:45:02
Remember that Emran Hashmi (playing a director's character) dialogue in The Dirty Picture - "filmein sirf teen cheezo ki wajah se chalti hai, entertainment, entertainment, entertainment". To which Vidya Balan (playing an upcoming actor) replies - "aur main entertainment hun". Shah Rukh Khan has got Emran Hashmi's The Dirty Picture code pat on and he can resoundingly say that main entertainment hun. Close on the heels of the record-breaking Pathaan, SRK has given the cine-going public lots to cheer in another hugely entertaining film, Jawan. It has a good story backed by powerful dialogues and is technically way above anything seen in Indian films. Above all, it has SRK - all of swag and some more.
The best thing is that when SRK is around, all other actors, accomplished in their own right, are infected with his indomitable spirit and give their very best. Hence Vijay Setupati, brilliant as always, performs a notch higher. Deepika Padukone is stunning. Nayantara is a perfect foil to SRK. Sanya Malhotra's performance shows she is hugely underrated and Sunil Grover looks different and gives a wonderful performance. Above all, director Atlee weaves his magic like only he can, with deft touches that have made him one of the most commercially-successful directors in India.
But it is SRK who gives it his all - in several avatars and espousing several causes with seeti-maar dialogues like "chahiye to Alia Bhat"; "bete ko haath lagane se pehle baap se baat kar" (which many think is a riposte to the Aryan Khan drug case) and "hum jawan hain, apni jaan hazaar baar dav pe laga sakte hain par desh ke liye, tumhare jaise desh bechne walon ke liye nahin". He is brilliant in action scenes and outstanding in emotional ones. The film has action, drama, emotion and punch lines is right doses to make it a mass entertainer like no other recent film. Reports suggest that it will have an opening day collection in the range of Rs 70-80cr, the highest ever for an Indian film. None of those who bought opening day tickets will come away disappointed. SRK & Atlee will mesmerize them.