Hero Movie Review: Sooraj Pancholi, Athiya Shetty

Sooraj Pancholi has been embroidered in controversy and is now a well known name because of his tryst with the law. Athiya Shetty has been quiet and unassuming thus far. When Salman decided to launch both of these actors in a film which is the remake of a yesteryear classic like Subhash Ghai’s Hero, eyebrows were raised. Do the two debutantes fulfill Salman’s and the audience’s expectations? Will the hit title song sung by Salman elevate the film? Let’s find out.

Story: Sooraj (Sooraj Pancholi) is a Mumabi street gunda who idolizes Pasha (Aditya Pancholi). Pasha has been implicated in a case by the IG of Police (Tigmanshu Dhulia). To take revenge from the IG, Pasha asks Sooraj to kidnap the IG’s daughter Radha (Athiya Shetty). Sooraj kidnaps her and they land up in the snow clad mountains of the North. But, Sooraj and Radha already know each other and Radha has feelings for him. After kidnapping Radha, even Sooraj starts developing feelings for Radha. Raha asks Sooraj to mend his ways? But will Sooraj choose Pasha or his love? To find that out, you have to watch the movie.

Hero Movie Review

Review: Nikhil Advani and Umesh Bisht have adapted the original story into a current setting. They maintain the crux of the original story but are unable to differentiate the screenplay too much from the original. The script has its sparks but eventually the whole film falters because of the strands which neither make a lot of sense to the present day audience nor are they entertaining enough. However, Hero reedeems itself in a lot of sequences and remains a largely enjoyable fare. Hero looks and feels good but the emotional depth which was abound in the 1983 film is lacking in this remake. For what its worth, Hero reeks of 80s action drama movies and that could be enjoyed by a portion of the audience, but the final product is too patchy and prevents it from reaching a higher level.

The technical aspects of Hero suit the nature and tone of the film very well. The action choreography was to the point and stylish. The choreography was also classy. The cinematography captured the terrains of Himachal Pradesh beautifully. The editing was swift and nifty. The music of Hero is definitely above average as the makers chose an assortment of composers. The tracks which caught our attention were Jab We Met and the last song which showcased the entire movie. And of course the title track sung by the one and only Salman Khan. The title track ties the whole film together beautifully.

Acting: Hero is the commercial showcase of Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty. And both of the debutantes put in commendable performances even if the film eventually fails them. Sooraj looks good, fights well and dances perfectly. He will have a good future in Bollywood if he chooses his films wisely. Athiya Shetty isn’t the most conventional looking Bollywood actress but she also shows her acting chops in Hero. If the public overlooks her looks, she can be set for a good innings. She is a good actress. Aditya Pancholi, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sharad Kelkar, Vivan Bhatena, and the actors playing Sooraj’s friends have all done a commendable job.

Conclusion: In essence, Hero is a typical launchpad for any actor-actress in Bollywood. It is helped a lot by the fact that Sooraj and Athiya can actually act unlike the non-actors who debuted in Bollywood in recent years. Nikhil Advani fails to change the storyline too much and the end drags on for a little too long and the film feels patchy but Hero turned out to be an enjoyable watch. If you have a good two hours to spare and money to spend, then Hero is a one-time watch in theatre.

Positives:

• Both Sooraj and Athiya do well on debut
• Excellent cinematography, Himachal has been captured beautifully
• Good music

Negatives

• Emotional depth of the original film is missing
• Story not suited for the present day audience
• The original story hasn’t been changed

Rating: