Category - Bollywood

‘Raees’ reviews of Indicine readers will be published on this page. If you’ve watched the film and want to share your thoughts with our readers, feel free to post your reviews in the comments section below: The first review is a detailed one from one of our very old readers ‘xzone’. This page will be updated with more reviews very soon! [mks_toggle title=”xzone” state=”open”] Had decided to post my review by night but couldn’t hold my excitement, hence posting it now itself. Note: As far as reviews are concerned , I try to be brutally honest. However, I should be excused, if at any instance, I sound like a hardcore SRK fan instead of a neutral movie buff. So here we go : Instead of getting into the technical terms like screenplay and editing , I will directly come to the +ve’s and -ve’s of Raees. Positives : Let’s discuss each segment in detail. 1. Acting : SRK has nailed it and he is fantastic as usual. He proves it yet again that when it comes to play an antagonist he has no match. (Just look at his eyes when he kills Atul Kulkarni and Mooosa, intensity says it all. He is equally good expressing his resentment when Government declares his ambitious project as part of agricultural land). However, it’s Nawazuddin who steals the show. I remember when Raees trailer was out , many called Nawaz the major disappointment of Raees. Today I urge those people- just go and watch him. He is absolutely amazing and comes out as a winner when the movie gets over. There was nothing much to do for Mahira, but even in that small space (which was allocated to her), she disappoints and looks misfit for her role. 2. Action : Action is “Desi” and typical of 70-80s era. You are bound to remember Big B and Dharam Paji while watching the action sequences as mostly they follow the same lines. Particularly, the fight sequences of Butcher market and one took place in truck are commendable. 3. Songs : What I liked is none of the songs are misplaced. Every song follows a sequence and connects directly to the movie, so audience will never feel that songs are forced (as it happens with most of the movies now-a-days). I didn’t like Udi-Udi at the time of it’s release, but it looks absolutely mesmerizing on big screen. 4. Dialogues : They are the heart of this movie. You will listen a lot of cheers and whistles with every dialogues. I was watching it in plex but I can imagine what euphoria these dialogues would have created on single screens. Negatives : ******************************************************************* 1. Story is not well connected : It seems Dholakia had tried everything which was available in his platter. He drives a number of parallel events/issues together, yet fails to establish a convincing connectivity between them. Examples of such individual segments are – Nawaz chasing SRK Corruption (in police department) Political conspiracy Secularism Communal riots Philanthropic aspect of Raees Plight of workers working in unorganized sector He deals with all the above topics and honestly, they all are shot well but he fails to bind them together at the end. So, though people enjoy these sequences thoroughly (honestly, each of these segments are well crafted individually) at the end they look confuse as what they have gained from Raees- the movie as whole. 2. SRK-Mahira Chemistry : This is yet another drawback and at times their chemistry looks forced. I felt a heroine was added to this movie only to strengthen the commercial aspects of Raees else there was no need for a leading lady as such. 3. Climax : It was surreal for me though it is ‘strictly’ individual opinion of mine. Conclusion : ************************************************ Now comes the major question- whether one should watch or skip Raees. I would categorize the audience into three groups and pass my remarks accordingly. 1. SRK haters : These are the people who always have a prejudice about SRK movies and they don’t even appreciate the positive aspects of his movies. If you are one among them, skip it as you will not like it at all. 2. Neutral audiences : Please understand that the decision – whether to watch Raees or not- totally depends upon your ‘Taste’. Raees is not a Dangal, Bajrangi Bhaijan or CDI. If you love wholesome entertainment and want to be completely engaged and involved for two and half hours, then Raees is for you. I guarantee it you will never get bored and will thoroughly enjoy the movie. However, if you are expecting Raees to be a perfect crime thriller with major twist and turns then I would request you to give it a miss. Because story is quite predictable and what makes it enjoyable is the characterization and performance of the casts, specially SRK and Nawaz and not the story as a whole. 3. SRK fans : Book your tickets if you have not already. You will love this badass yet sensitive Avatar of SRK. ************************************************************** Rating : *** (3/5) (I always get afraid while allocating *(stars) to a movie because I am not good at it. Still trying my hands for the first time :P ) ************************************************ Commercial side : Raees is already a winner at single screens and it will attract large number of audience in coming days. What remains to be seen is, how it fairs at multiplexes. Though SRK’s presence has ensured fair occupancy and phenomenal advance booking for first three days, but will that continue when the actual weekend (Sat-Sun) peeps in, that’s the biggest question. If Kaabil is anything near to the reviews what it has received, it will put a formidable competition in front of Raees. My expectations : Will wrap up within 150 cr (HIT) [/mks_toggle]  

Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees should scored decent reviews from critics. The average reviews are lower than Shah Rukh Khan’s last release FAN, but movies like Raees are never expected to win over critics. [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Raees ‘ Review – 2.9 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Raees Review by Indicine Rating: Rahul Dholakia walks on a narrow edge here and could easily have gone overboard with very sensitive topics. He makes a palatable, almost family friendly version of a gangster film. It isn’t the most refined, and it doesn’t work all the time, but Raees has got a swagger about it which has not been seen in Hindi cinema for quite sometime. It is a throwback to the 70s angry young man movies of Amitabh Bachchan, and quite interestingly plays out like a film from that era. The first half moves at a frantic pace, but the second half slackens when the focus shifts on Robinhood Raees. It suffers from the post interval lull syndrome, but the climax redeems the movie to an extent. Also, credit must go to the makers for daring to make a move on identity politics and masking it in a commercial entertainer avatar.  Raees Review by Taran Adarsh on Bollywood Hungama Rating: Dholakia is not really known to be a hardcore commercial film-maker. One look at his body of work and you realize he tilts more towards realism than make-believe. But he does an about-turn with RAEES, for the film marries realism and masala wonderfully. The narrative moves seamlessly from romance [SRK-Mahira] to the game of one-upmanship as the criminal and cop collide. This is a big ticket film with SRK and Dholakia knows that the stakes are high. He maintains the realism, ensures that the pace and energy seldom dip… but, most importantly, he makes sure SRK’s legion of fans aren’t disappointed. He takes a leap as a storyteller, doing justice to the written material and extracting bravura performances from each and every member of the cast. Blemishes? Oh yes! The first hour unravels at a feverish pace, making you thirst for the second half. But it’s here that the problem arises. The pace slackens soon after the intermission and the romantic song and a few sequences act as spoilers. Thankfully, the film picks up when Raees’ life takes a dramatic turn, which leads to a high-voltage climax. Raees Review by Nihit Bhave on The Times Of India Rating: Shah Rukh Khan has never looked better; he’s full of fury and for once, isn’t spreading his arms, but breaking others’. The film lies entirely on his shoulders and he carries the weight most of the times. When he doesn’t, the ever-so-reliable Nawazuddin Siddiqui steps in with his crackling performance. In the trademark Nawaz style, he delivers some comic relief while playing the Tom to Khan’s Jerry. Mahirah is restricted to songs and a few emotional scenes, but doesn’t really add much. If her purpose was to soften the baddie, it’s lost on the viewer. The movie can feel a bit long, but if you’re going for a great Shah Rukh performance and some good ol’ popcorn-entertainment, it might just ‘raees’ to the occasion. Raees Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express Rating: Dholakia knows his Gujarat . That was clear in his ‘Parzania ‘. There are some flashes of that insider knowledge here too, but you can see how fear of being censored has blunted the edges of this film which could have really lifted off the screen. The riots, both in Mumbai and Gujarat, have a seriously anodyne feel. And the predictable arc of the story weighs the second half down.SRK’s romantic interest, Mahira Khan, too is not as fresh as she could have been: the coyness is old Bollywood and in a film which should have embraced its masala roots much more firmly, it just sinks. So do all those slo-mos. And that Sunny Leone, who shakes it, shakes it, to no avail. So this is what we get: a Nawaz who is having the time of his life, and making us crack multiple grins, up against an SRK who breaks through in some moments (especially one in which he shares with his bete noire, when the film shuts everything else down so that we can focus on the duo ) but gets bogged down in florid, seen-too-many-times flourishes. Raees Review by Rohit Bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Director Rahul Dholakia made an honest attempt to make a typical masala entertainment for the mass audience but gets confused between story telling and making a Shah Rukh Khan film. The film deals with too many issues like his previous film ‘Lamhaa’. The pace of the film is slow too especially in the second half. First half holds a slight promise to offer an interesting chase but fails to impress gradually. The biggest hiccup of the film is its weak plot. Except for the hide and seek between Shah Rukh Khan and Nawaz, ‘Raees’ is a yawn fest. The narrative of the film has been uselessly complicated by giving the political angle to it. The film could have been much more thrilling and gut-wrenching. It is a typical 70’s drama but in 2017, it doesn’t excite much. Review by Sarit Ray on Hindustan Times Rating: Raees is a typical ’80s potboiler. Disturbingly, like commercial cinema from that period, the moral compass is a bit off. As Raees breaks up a political rally with flaming bottles of spirit, it sanctions violence. And it is borderline misogynistic, with the female lead (Mahira Khan) little more than a prop: a love interest he marries, keeps at home to bring up his child, and either yells at or romances. Review by Sreeju Sudhakaran on Bollywood Life Rating: As a movie, Raees is definitely a letdown especially for those who expect a Deewar-like dhamakedaar masala movie. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan might give the movie its huge initial but don’t expect the road ahead to be a smooth ride. And warning for all superstars – acting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui is injurious to your own dramatic talents – he can steal your glory right from under your nose. Review by Prasanna D Zore on Rediff Rating: SRK’s Raees takes you for a boring ride, trying to soak the gangster’s character in filmi spiel that is so typical of Bollywood’s masala films when the film’s creators realise that the plot is absolutely lame. You wonder at SRK’s conviction as an actor playing a gangster when he cries in Mahira Khan’s arms, unable to cope with the pressure of an honest gangster (really?!), when friends-turned-foe politicians play mind games with him. Besides Ram Sampath’s Udi, Udi Jaye, the film’s music lacks character. Dholakia’s direction goes for a spin when he makes Shah Rukh pump bullets into gangsters, showing the bullets hitting them in the chest, not once or twice, but back-to-back. Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies Rating: As for the film itself, it has a very predictable storyline, a stale plot and stock characters- a gangster with a heart of gold, his supportive ladylove, a loyal sidekick, an upright cop, wily politicians, an ostensibly benevolent mentor et al. However, the background score somewhat makes up for it, but merely that is not enough, eh? Not that I have anything against commercial masala films, but for someone who grew up watching films like Deewaar and Scarface, Raees offers nothing new as such. If that was not all, the action scenes are quite unexciting and the ‘Moharram’ action sequence is so badly executed that you may end up wondering what were the makers thinking of while filming those scenes. Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: The film may be set in the ’80s but it also takes the cinematic liberties that films made in the era did. A song sequence to mark every occasion, chest-beating reactions, laboured death scenes (complete with slow-mo falls and multiple bullets punched from pointblank range to complete the job) and loud internal monologues (“Ya Allah, what have I done?” says Raees to no one in particular). In the action scenes, SRK mounts walls and leaps over buildings with the agility of Contra. But this is barely enough to make up for his loud and lazy performance. The actor seems to be too preoccupied with doing a Bachchan and ending up like Raju Srivastav on a bad night. Investing in Mahira Khan’s visa was a wasted cause as the actress can barely construct half an expression. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is surely the only redeeming factor in Raees but sadly, his parts are brief. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: Surprisingly, RAEES (meaning rich) is not just a GARIB (poor/average) film it’s GARIB in its entertainment quotient as well. Shah Rukh Khan is a RAEES ( rich, talented) actor and he doesn,t need the remakes of Don and stories allegedly based on most wanted criminals to prove his stardom. A simple ‘suri’ from RAB NE BANA DI JODI, or the lovable junior artiste ‘Omi’ from OM SHANTI OM can do it while the coach Kabir Khan from CHAK DE INDIA will stay forever allowing us to hug ‘Jug’ from the recent DEAR ZINDAGI. And we hope he realizes that very soon. RAEES is a story that should have better remained untold. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: Shah Rukh and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are simply fun. But at 143 minutes sometimes the cat and mouse game becomes tiresome. And the lackluster music does not help despite the words that insist ‘Raees is single piece’ (one of a kind). Despite all this Shah Rukh pulls off an action hero role that clearly encroaches on Salman territory and manages to keep it convincing. In fact, the violence in the fight sequences make you squirm. And the anger in Shah Rukh’s surma-lined eyes feels straight out of Amitabh Bachchan revenge dramas like Kala Patthar (watch out for the scene from the film beautifully juxtaposed!). Watch it because the recent spate of silly romances have not touched you at all. The bad-guy-with-a-golden-heart Shah Rukh fills that space, and really well. Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: SRK is on top of his game here, recalling his Chak De India! performance in the process. With an effortless actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui snapping at his heels, the lead actor is always on his toes. The modulations that SRK brings to the act are impressive not only on the level of craft but also in relation to the layers they add to the conflicted character. Nawazuddin, in the middle of a red-hot streak, operates in a totally different zone. He digs his teeth deep into his meaty role with customary elan and delivering a dazzling performance. Review by Sarita A Tanwar on DNA India Rating: Raees begins so well. Rahul Dholakia captures the journey of young Raees’ fascination with crime so well that you are completely engrossed in the story. Raees holds you spellbound all through his rise to the top – his journey to Bombay and back is a highlight. The scenes between him and his mentor Atul Kulkarni are brilliant. The fight scene in the meat market is one of the best (read realistic) ever in Hindi films. SRK’s performance in Raees for most part, is on par with Swades and Chak De India. The supporting cast is exemplary, Zeeshan Ayyub deserves a special mention. Review by Devarsi Ghosh on India Today Rating: Putting that aside, the filmmaking is pure masala and this is one well-cooked masala movie. The story is not surprising; a gangster rises and he falls when he becomes bigger than the people who had patronised him for long. You have seen this a hundred times, but director Rahul Dholakia’s treatment seems fresh. There’s the time and place working for him, which is new for the Hindi film screen: Gujarat, the land of prohibition. There’s Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the earnest cop Majmudar, the perfect foil to Raees. Siddiqui gets his own hero moments, for instance, his entry scene is the stuff of genius. His character gets a lot of sharp one-liners, which he has developed a habit of delivering casually, like he has done in several other films. Mahira Khan is, well, there; just because she is not from around these places, you thought she was going to get something else to do other than exist? Silly you. Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: The film mixes research, realism, and more than a whole lot of ‘Bollywood’ to look exclusively into the politics and the inevitable underworld around the booze-trade in prohibitionist Gujarat of the ’80s. Being an anti-prohibitionist myself (how can any sane human not be), you align yourself with the heroic anti-hero instantly. The character is ostensibly based on the real-life rags-to-riches don Abdul Latif. The pesky cop seems more like a high-level Dhoble, although he’s merely doing his job. Between the don on the run, the cop on the chase, there are so many facets to ‘Raees’, recounted through a gasping episode after another that you wished the filmmakers had calmed down just for bit, given us few moments to pause and soak in the material. They could have turned this into a fantastic ‘Narcos’ like television series. There’s nothing niche about a Spanish show being loved by global mainstream audiences anymore, by the way. Yeah, we’d love to see SRK attempt his own version of a Pablo Escobar. Review by Raghav Jaitly on Zeenews Rating: ‘Raees’ is an entertainer which is driven by powerhouse performances. From dialogue delivery to slow motion sequences, the movie will give you goosebumps at times. If you want to witness high-octane actions, intense emotions and sincere filmmaking, then go for ‘Raees’. It amalgamates Shah Rukh’s charm and Rahul’s intelligence. Review by Rajeev Masand on News18 Rating: Evidently inspired by the true-life story of Abdul Latif, the illegal liquor kingpin of Gujarat who was charged for his involvement in the 1993 blasts, Raees shrewdly steers clear of naming names and only hints at true events. Still, it’s a well-made film that benefits from Dholakia’s keen eye for period and atmospheric detail. Although crammed with too much plot, and overlong on account of a screenplay that could’ve done with further tightening, the film nevertheless offers enough to enjoy. As a throwback to those thrilling gangster films from the 70s, many starring Amitabh Bachchan and scripted by Salim-Javed, Raees delivers ample bang for your buck. Review by Subhash K Jha on Bollyspice Rating: Deliberately stagey and selfconsciously ‘retro’ Raees gathers its strength from the voluptuous resources of drama in the protagonist’s life and the power of the narrative to make clichés come alive by their defiant reiteration. The director knows his material is weather-beaten and he doesn’t pretend it is any other way. The shoot-outs filled with bombast and bravado, are from an era when such violence was considered macho. At the end when Raees’ world falls apart with a close encounter of the ‘thud’ kind, there is no surprise left in the plot. It isn’t only Raees who has nowhere to run to. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: Shah Rukh Khan slips in and out of being Shah Rukh Khan, but he is more Raees than Shah Rukh Khan at most times. This is despite some very good yet “film-y” lines. It would have been so easy to get carried away and SRK-ise them. But there’s restraint and that restraint doesn’t glare at you in the face. The rest of the cast isn’t gimmicky either. The tribute to this genre of Hindi films from the 80s is obvious including the song placement. However, the style of songs reminded me more of those from 90s. Yet, neither of those are jarring as they were in their times because of the writing. Sure, there are loopholes and there are continuity jerks (especially in some of the action sequences). However, it is just a relief not to be taken completely for granted as the audience. It is a relief to see a formula film play around with the formula. For now, that is good enough. Review by Lokesh Dharmani on Masala Rating: Sadly there is nothing heroic, tragic or even comic about our protagonist that could get me invested in his story. The hunter and hunted chase sequences between Raees and his cop are so lazily written that they hardly establish the much required edge-on-the-seat tension or drama. When the cops block the roads, Raees smuggles liquor through the waters. Wow. Amaze balls, Captain Obvious. It is this simplistic writing that robs our hero of quick thinking, ruthlessness and a larger than life appeal. Review by Manjusha Radhakrishnan on Gulfnews Rating: While the film is engaging, what lets it down are some of the contrived and ridiculous twists in the second half. But the climax packs a punch and that misgiving — ‘where is this film going?’ — is erased. Give this film a shot. While it doesn’t make you pop the bubbly, it does have some fizz and sparkle to keep you satiated. Review by IANS on Sify Rating: The film is largely elevated by Shah Rukh Khan’s performance and a few dramatic dialogues that are used to churn the emotions. Shah Rukh essays the eponymous character with sincerity and aplomb. He emerges as a sympathetic and even admirable character and he does a very good job of portraying a brutal character albeit with soft tones in equal measure. Nawazuddin Siddique as the incorruptible IPS officer, Jaideep Majumdar is equally competent. His cat-and-mouse chase with Raees, punctuated with vibrant dialogues often elicit a chuckle. Together they keep you hooked. Mohammad Zeeshan Ayub as Sadiq — Raees’ friend and partner in crime — is effortless and affable. Unfortunately, though he has his moments of onscreen glory, he does not rise from being Raees’ lackey. Mahira Khan as Raees’s wife Mohsina is wasted in the film. Her character is perfunctorily included to add the romance angle and her onscreen chemistry with Shah Rukh lacks zing. The rest of the supporting cast are sincere. Raees Review by Indiaglitz Rating: Director Rahul Dholakiain order to get the style and looks of the film, Rahul misses out on the content basis and ends up delivering a good performance oriented dragging and bland film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is fantastic in some scenes and highly repetitive in others. He adds a good balance to Shahrukh Khan’s character and shines out in some of them. Mahira Khan looks adorable in some scenes, but fails to impress with her acting skills. The Sunny Leone’s item song failed to create the expected wonders. ‘Raees’ had all the potential to become a wealthy king, instead settles down to becoming a pauper prince. Best Rated Films in 2016 (a list of 2017 films will be created after 5 films release this year) Dangal – 4.1 stars Pink – 4 stars Neerja – 4 stars The Jungle Book – 3.8 stars Airlift – 3.7 stars Kapoor & Sons – 3.7 stars Udta Punjab – 3.5 stars Fan – 3.5 stars Budhia Singh – Born To Run – 3.4 stars Sultan – 3.3 stars Dhanak – 3.3 stars Phobia – 3.3 stars Waiting – 3.3 stars M.S Dhoni – The Untold Story – 3.2 stars Parched – 3.2 stars Kahaani 2 – 3.1 stars Dear Zindagi – 3 stars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – 3 stars Sarbjit – 3 stars Happy Bhag Jayegi – 2.9 stars TE3N – 2.8 stars Dishoom – 2.7 stars Befikre – 2.6 stars Force 2 – 2.6 stars Akira – 2.6 stars Rustom – 2.6 stars Azhar – 2.6 stars Kabali – 2.6 stars Baar Baar Dekho – 2.4 stars Moh Maya Money – 2.4 stars Mirzya – 2.3 stars Rock On 2 – 2.3 stars Shivaay – 2.2 stars Freaky Ali – 2.2 stars Mohenjo Daro – 2.2 stars Banjo – 2.2 stars Rocky Handsome – 2.1 stars Tum Bin 2 – 2 stars Wajah Tum Ho – 1.4 stars

Shah Rukh Khan tries his hand at the gangster flick with Raees, and returns to the screen as a full fledged action hero after long. With two box office disappointments in Dilwale and Fan, Raees is an important film for the superstar and it has to work wonders for him. Raees has been plagued in one controversy after another, and its release in itself is a success. Mahira Khan makes her debut in India, and Rahul Dhokalia tries his luck at a commercial flick for the first time. Will Raees end up making the makers even more Raees? Time to find out.

[mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Kaabil ‘ Review – 3.2 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Kaabil Review by Indicine Rating: Kaabil starts slow and takes its own sweet time to get going. The 45 minutes are all about the Hrithik and Yami love story, after which the real action begins. And once it does, there is no stopping Kaabil as the revenge portions of the film get better with each new revenge that Hrithik takes. Sanjay Gupta’s direction is top notch, but it’s the writing (Sanjay Masoom and Vijay Kumar Mishra) that makes what was supposed to be a predictable film, very unpredictable with quite a few twists and turns. Kaabil is also a classic Rakesh Roshan film, even though he isn’t the director here. It’s a formula that has worked for him so many times and Kaabil is no different. It sucks you into the happy world of the Bhatnagars and shocks you when the tragedy strikes for the second time. It peaks at the interval point and continues to surprise throughout the second half, culminating in a fantastic climax. Kaabil Review by Taran Adarsh on Bollywood Hungama Rating: KAABIL never fails to involve and entertain the moviegoer and if I may say so, it contains enough worthy material to hold the moviegoer’s attention for most of its run time. The emotional component is well balanced with low-key humor, tension-filled moments, energetic action pieces [fist fights, shootouts, explosions] and of course, some razor-sharp and punch-packed dialogue in dramatic sequences [penned by Sanjay Masoomm]. In the end, it’s the emotional journey of the protagonist that acts as a hook and lingers in your memory. There are minor hiccups in an otherwise smooth narrative. The post-interval portions could’ve been slightly more persuasive, from the writing point of view. The strategies adopted by Hrithik, on a few occasions, take an easy route to depict that the protagonist has an upper hand. Kaabil Review by Meena Iyer on The Times Of India Rating: The highlight of the film is Hrithik’s bravura performance. He is vulnerable as a lover and menacing as a killing-machine. Half a star in the movie-rating is reserved for his all-time best performance here. Yami provides the perfect foil, subtle and super-effective. Technically the film is adept, thanks to with masters like Sudeep Chatterjee (camera) and Resul Pookutty (sound). However Rajesh Roshan’s yesteryear hits—saara zamana and dil kya karen in their remixed avatars are pale imitations of their original versions. Kaabil Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: One can imagine why the filmmakers would have picked up this dark, riveting drama. It’s the kind of script (by Vijay Kumar Mishra) that, if being narrated to a room full of listeners, would have absolutely everyone guessing what happens next. Kaabil Review by Joginder Tuteja on Movietalkies Rating: Now that’s what the core strength of the film since Sanjay manages quite well in helping a viewer connect not just with his lead pair but also the villains of the piece, albeit in contrasting ways. You want the good guy to win over evil and it is this very emotional involvement in the storytelling that makes you clap along when the ‘elimination’ begins. What takes the cake is the last 15 minutes that one just couldn’t see coming, especially the final twist in the tale that has been extremely well incorporated in the film. Well done! Review by Sarita A Tanwar on DNA India Rating: The film begins slow. Too slow. When you have come to watch a thriller, you want the ride to begin. Instead one is lulled into a sense of ease with the romance and the songs, necessary perhaps, but it makes one restless. But once it takes off, there is no dull moment. The special effects in a couple of scenes will make you cringe. How the makers didn’t see the artificiality of that, baffles the mind. Kaabil is old-school, emotional and forceful. And an absolute must for all Hrithik Roshan fans. And if you aren’t his fan, you might feel differently after this film. Review by Tushar P Joshi on Bollywood Life Rating: Kaabil has a lazy first half and we wished the pace picked up early on. The VFX in some scenes is botched up and Mumbai’s familiar terrain (Marine Drive scenes) is mismatched with some unnecessary props. Yami’s scenes in the second half and her dialogues with Hrithik also feel forced. Kaabil is dark and violent. There is very little scope for relief and humor in this script. That can become tiresome after a while. Kaabil is Hrithik Roshan‘s swan song and deservedly so becomes his career best performance. Watch and marvel at what can easily be termed as the finest performance to come out of Bollywood in a long time. Review by Ananya Bhattacharya on India Today Rating: The film feels too good to be true after a certain point. Sanjay Gupta tries and tells his story well. There are several hitches that the viewer needs to deal with in this ride that he or she embarks on, much like Gupta’s protagonist. Kaabil is extremely stretched, several scenes are forced, several others out of place. The remixed Saara Zamana has absolutely no business being in the film. If Kaabil works, it is because of its lead actor. Hrithik Roshan is a delight to watch. He overdoes some bits, but is mostly believable. Roshan takes a risk by breaking away from the norm and saying yes to a character like that of Rohan. He is blind but he doesn’t need your sympathy. He knows how to manage his way around, although several soapy dialogues take the edge away from Rohan. His chemistry with Yami Gautam will not make you hoot for the couple. Yami Gautam, on her part, is passable. Review by Rohit Bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: The highpoint of ‘Kaabil’ is that, the plot of the film is very okay but the screenplay is intelligently played out. The film won’t bore you even for a second. ‘Kaabil’ is overwhelming, magical and a feel good film. The film is one of the most interesting revenge sagas made in the recent times. Review by Rohit Vats on Hindustan Times Rating: The tone of the film takes a hit because of the emphasis on the love story. The flashbacks are also restrictive. With a fierce antagonist, they might have gone all the way. Sometimes it looks too scripted and ‘too easy to be true’ story. Going all out on revenge might have helped Kaabil appear like a ‘different’ film. Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express Rating: The challenge with doing a film whose beats are stacked from its opening frame is to insert surprise. Instead, Kaabil plays it strictly by the numbers, and you can see everything coming from a mile. Yami Gautam’s act includes a permanent unblinking wide-eyed stare. She is light on her feet but seems to have got caught in a series of no account roles after Vicky Donor. Rohit and Ronit Roy are the baddies, and both come off as they have been instructed to: the former a goonda, the latter a grim, glowering local heavyweight. Hrithik does all the heavy lifting and remains the only bright spot in this dispirited mess of a movie. He still has the moves. What he needs is a plot. Review by Manisha Lakhe  on Nowrunning Rating: The revenge drama begins now. You look at the watch: It’s been two hours already. The last thirty minutes of the film are filled with a systematic revenge against the perpetrators, the politician and the cops are left to count bodies. They know it is the blind man who has planned it all, but they don’t have any proof. The violence with which the revenge is extracted is a horrific watch. You know it is deserved, but it makes you want to look away from the screen. How the baddies die is a tad predictable, but the twist in the tale is close to brilliant. This is perhaps Hrithik Roshan’s best work, but the slow pace of everything: the dialog delivery, the hesitant walking, the dull songs (even the title track is a funeral dirge, and hence slow) make it a test of your patience. Review by Sukanya Verma on Rediff Rating: In the beginning, it felt dramatic and moving. When it began to show up routinely, randomly, the desired effect wore out. But the need to portray it in the same timeworn fashion did not.  For freshness, some perceptive actors would stretch their scream or cut it short or, still better; the camera would linger on that single teardrop resting on the rim of their eye. Sanjay Gupta’s Kaabil, produced by Rakesh Roshan, is a lot like that. Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: The plot, though not entirely original, offers enough scope for experimentation and the money surely lies in how well and brutally our lead manages to exact his vengeance. While this also lends itself to an underdog story — as you’re likely to be sympathetic towards the lead’s vulnerable state — it also packs in an element of surprise as one could assume that his disability would undermine his ability to inflict much harm. Hrithik Roshan, who seems to have shed his Mohenjo Daro scars, gets into the skin of his character and is even sharply sensitive to the body language of a sightless person. The film rests on his capable shoulders and as his hands inspect surfaces within his reach, his conviction is apparent. Yami Gautam is equally committed and her ability to enact a range of emotions through her unblinking eyes is commendable. Ronit Roy, as the megalomaniac politician who would stop at nothing to eliminate anyone who crosses him, channels serious intimidation. His brother, Rohit is unobjectionable and despite his crucial role in the film, his screen time is fairly limited. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: What follows is a crowd pleasing and pulse rising vendetta of Rohit who is on an eye for an eye mission in which we see Hrithik Roshan giving a knock out performance. Yami provides able support and supporting cast Rohit Roy, Ronit Roy and the cops Narendra Jha and Girish Kulkarni chip in with excellent support. Technically it’s a mix bag where we see some tacky CGI developed outdoors and the music by Rajesh Roshan who otherwise reserves his best for his home banner disappoints. Review by Ritika Handoo on Zeenews Rating: The second half of ‘Kaabil’ gains pace and wants you to see the end, although by that time we all know what is going to happen. Yet that curiosity of watching justice prevail helps you sail through. Hrithik has done a great job when it comes to acting. Camera work by Sudeep Chatterjee and Ayananka Bose deserves a special mention while music by Rajesh Roshan is a treat! We can safely say, Hrithik delivers a ‘Kaabil’ performance, so book your tickets asap! Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: The second half is, therefore, predictable, but each murderous sortie that the revenge-seeker undertakes against the men who have ruined his life is staged with enough flair to keep the audience glued to the screen. Some of the action seems far-fetched and the way Rohan uses his ability to mimic voices in order to create disarray among the cops and the thugs is near-farcical. Yet, when he gets down to committing the perfect crime, leaving no trace behind of the destructive act, Kaabil acquires some momentum and heft. Review by Rajeev Masand on News18 Rating: Kaabil is a B-movie from the 80s with neither subtext nor nuance. Yami Gautam has a nice presence, but Ronit and Rohit Roy are characters plucked straight out of the Handbook of Bollywood Cliches. The film then is redeemed – to some degree – by the sincerity and the conviction of its leading man. Hrithik makes you care, and keeps you invested in his pain. Even when the film becomes increasingly violent and practically implausible, his commitment doesn’t waver. He is the sole reason Kaabil doesn’t completely derail, and frankly the only reason to give the film a chance. Review by Subhash K Jha on Bollyspice Rating: As a director Sanjay Gupta has seldom been more willing to let his characters appear vulnerable and undefended though not defenceless . Gupta creates a romance splendid and tender, only to quash it with a brutal spin that takes us kicking and screaming to a finale that never ceases to amaze us without losing its plausibility. Kaabil is a film about love and its abrupt send-off. It is a violent film. But the emphasis is on the damage done to the soul of the wronged man. It must be seen for Hrithik Roshan’s incredibly moving performance and for the unexpected glimpse it provides into its director’s romantic personality. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: Kaabil reminded me a lot of Aankhen. It had to, right? And I have this strong feeling that some plot points, if not all have been inspired from elsewhere. The tone of the film from the beginning kind of gives away how things are going to go with our hero. Also, the film spends a good half of the film on the couple but doesn’t leave an emotional tug. These two things put together make Kaabil a little underwhelming. Kaabil Review by Indiaglitz Rating: Despite of some loopholes and cinematic liberties, Sanjay Gupta satisfies his audience by delivering an engaging and entertaining film. Hrithik Roshan is back in form and delivers a stellar performance. His body mannerisms, dance steps, emotional scenes and fights work as an additional merit to his performance in the film. Yami Gautam looks cute and sweet in her part.Ronit Roy is great in his part. Narendra Jha and Girish Kulkarni lend superb support. Review by Manjusha Radhakrishnan on Gulfnews Rating: What redeems this drama is swift revenge ideas and Roshan’s brawn and some brains. There’s a lot of gore to be enjoyed in the second half. Watch this if you are a fan of Roshan and you are in the mood for a love story laced with some stylised, bloody action. Best Rated Films in 2016 (a list of 2017 films will be created after 5 films release this year) Dangal – 4.1 stars Pink – 4 stars Neerja – 4 stars The Jungle Book – 3.8 stars Airlift – 3.7 stars Kapoor & Sons – 3.7 stars Udta Punjab – 3.5 stars Fan – 3.5 stars Budhia Singh – Born To Run – 3.4 stars Sultan – 3.3 stars Dhanak – 3.3 stars Phobia – 3.3 stars Waiting – 3.3 stars M.S Dhoni – The Untold Story – 3.2 stars Parched – 3.2 stars Kahaani 2 – 3.1 stars Dear Zindagi – 3 stars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – 3 stars Sarbjit – 3 stars Happy Bhag Jayegi – 2.9 stars TE3N – 2.8 stars Dishoom – 2.7 stars Befikre – 2.6 stars Force 2 – 2.6 stars Akira – 2.6 stars Rustom – 2.6 stars Azhar – 2.6 stars Kabali – 2.6 stars Baar Baar Dekho – 2.4 stars Moh Maya Money – 2.4 stars Mirzya – 2.3 stars Rock On 2 – 2.3 stars Shivaay – 2.2 stars Freaky Ali – 2.2 stars Mohenjo Daro – 2.2 stars Banjo – 2.2 stars Rocky Handsome – 2.1 stars Tum Bin 2 – 2 stars Wajah Tum Ho – 1.4 stars