SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2014 (PAGE-4) MOVIE- REVIEW SOCIETY A mass entertainer Gujjars- The cream of our society Taran Adarsh crooks. Sure, it's a familiar terrain for moviegoers, since we have experienced such face offs in countless films, but A number of storytellers seek inspiration from the what matters ultimately is how persuasive, ambitious and masala movies attempted in the 1970s and 1980s. An era imaginative it appears, despite the conventional con- that witnessed the emergence of the angry young man. An straints. Both, Ajay and Rohit dive into the film with earnest- era when storytellers such as Vijay Anand, Manmohan ness and conviction, relishing every moment and deliver Desai, Prakash Mehra, Ramesh Sippy, Yash Chopra, Sub- a knock out entertainer. hash Ghai and other reputable names transported the sin- Here's the plotline: The courageous Bajirao Singham gle screen audience [there were no multiplexes then; just [Ajay Devgn] now returns to Mumbai. The story takes off 'Balcony' and 'Stalls' in cinemas] to a world of make believe. when an officer from Singham's squad [Ganesh Yadav] is An era that gave us a string of unforgettable entertainers. found dead, holding an enormous sum of money and No wonder, a number of present-day film-makers bor- charged with being corrupt. Singham begins his quest to row/seek inspiration from films of yore... a couple of direc- trace the mystery behind it. tors even going to the extent of remaking those all-time Known for escapist entertainers like the GOLMAAL classics. series, ALL THE BEST, BOL BACHCHAN and CHENNAI EXPRESS, Rohit does an about turn with the SINGHAM franchise. Besides, he and screenplay writer Yunus Sajaw- al add a dash of realism to reinvent the formula, but the focal point remains the same: Entertainment. Expect a deafening applause when Singham stages an entry or when he gets into a war of words with the Swamiji or when he exchanges blows with his bare fists or when the officers march to Swamiji's office in the climax. However, there are loopholes you cannot overlook. Much like the first part [SINGHAM], the romantic scenes just don't cut ice and appear forced in the narrative. In fact, the story stagnates when the songs are incorporated to make the romance factor work. The film could've done with- Excelsior/Amin War out songs actually. Also, the action pieces are too lengthy Om Saraf to different religions (most of them are Hindus outside at times and could've been crisper. Additionally, the sound- J&K) but bigotry is foreign to their blood. Their universal track, which, despite a couple of reputed names associat- Gujjars have always struck me as the most fascinat- status must not be taken as an aspersion on their loyal- ed with it, doesn't linger in your memory, including Yo Yo ing people around us-a distinct ethnic entity with rich his- ty to the motherland. Let me say with all the strength at Honey Singh's 'Aata Majhi Satakli'. toric and cultural background, an utterly self-reliant com- my command that they breathe patriotism and when it Sajid-Farhad adorn the sequences with seeti-maar dia- munity, a perfect example of a sound mind in a sound comes to the defence of the land of their birth, they are logue that are sure to be an instant hit with audiences, body. Let me confess it is a profound problem for me to in the forefront of resistance. Nothing hurts them more especially during the high-voltage dramatic sequences. consider them backward in any sense of the word. I may than the vandalism of their environment of which they Dudley's cinematography is top notch, while the action prove it up to the hilt that not a few so-called forward- consider themselves an inalienable part. Ecological sequences are raw and gritty. looking people deserve this epithet rather more aptly. security is their very heart and soul and not something Although Ajay's body of work includes several memo- Seen in a larger context of familiar economic indicators, to be fashionable about. There are no statistics available rable characters and films, the character of Bajirao Sing- the self employed Gujjars are in no way responsible for on the point but I am convinced that betrayal may be a ham does optimal justice to his personality, acting skills the economic backwardness of Jammu and Kashmir good pastime for mammonists in other communities but and star charisma. Expectedly, the actor delivers a tower- State. not the Gujjars who always love to live by the sweat of Rohit Shetty's SINGHAM -- his best effort to date, in my ing performance, grabbing your attention the moment he So far as our all embracing backwardness is con- their brow. opinion -- was a forceful blast from the past. Afilm that faith- enters the story. He packs a solid punch in a role that seems cerned, again, the real culprit are the people belonging The Gujjars have a keen practical sense leaving little fully followed the rules of entertainment to the T. A remake, tailor-made for him, a character that will remain synony- to other communities who consume most of the resource time for them for any complicated mischievous or dan- the first part brought back memories of the classics that mous with his name. You've to give it to Kareena for being and produce most of the perpetrators of major and minor were attempted by our peers. SINGHAM emerged a sol- gerous designing. They have their feet firmly on the able to hold her own effectively, despite Ajay being the crimes in the society. Blinded by wealth acquired by ground. I am reminded of a global organization zealous- id hit for varied reasons: high-voltage drama, raw action, showstopper. She's lively and though she goes over the means more foul rather than fair and using education dialogue-baazi during the confrontations and of course, ly working for spreading the message of "being rather top occasionally, the masses will like her loud character. simply to sharpen their criminal wits, they feel no qualms than becoming." The total membership of the world body power-packed performances by Ajay Devgn and Prakash There's tremendous curiosity for Singham's adversary of conscience to organize murders, decoities, gang is less than a couple of thousands. Here is a large sized Raj that elicited wolf-whistles. Quite obviously, the expec- this time. In fact, it must've been a challenge for Rohit to rapes, adulterations, black markets and what not. No community of Gujjars each one of whom whether male tations from SINGHAM RETURNS, which brings the make the opponent as commanding as the one in the pre- wonder our hospitals are full of patients belonging to or female, young or old go about several routines rather unbeatable combo of Ajay and Rohit Shetty together, are vious film [Jaikant Shikre]. Amole Gupte as Swamiji, the those classes. I have scarcely come across a Gujjar male effortlessly in peace within and without in complete har- gargantuan. antagonist, does a marvelous job. Anupam Kher is extraor- or female begging, borrowing or stealing. He is occasion- mony with the surrounding like the potters wheel which SINGHAM RETURNS is dissimilar when you draw par- dinary. He slides into his part most effortlessly. Mahesh ally accused of selling adulterated milk. I have surveyed looks absolutely calm after attaining the maximum allels with the first part -- there's no connect between the Manjrekar is subdued, but effective. the problem in some detail and found out that the Guj- speed. I can't think of a better example of being rather two films, except, of course, Bajirao Singham. In SING- Zakir Hussain hits the bull's eye yet again. Sharat Sax- jars are often made to be part of such unethical prac- than becoming. HAM, Singham took on the powerful politician [Prakash ena is in fine form. Dayanand Shetty infuses life into his tices. Years ago before 1947 Chowdhary Mohd. Din Bar- Raj], while the second installment throws light on the upright part. He's first-rate! The supporting cast -- Ganesh Yadav, There have been times when other communities in nalvi who enjoyed good reputation as a junior police offi- cop's crusade against corrupt politicians, including an influ- Govind Namdev, Pankaj Tripathi, Deepraj Rana, Sameer Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have been in a state of cial brought out a weekly newspaper Al-Insan after retire- ential Swamiji [Amole Gupte]. Much like the first install- Dharmadhikari, Vineet Sharma -- do justice to their respec- frenzy and provoked to indulge in diabolical activities. ment. Like the universal name of his paper, his balanced ment, the combat is amongst equals yet again, with the tive characters. Ashwini Kalsekar is excellent. But the Gujjars never. I can recall of no occasion when and well written editorial comments impressed me much. protagonist and the antagonist going all out to knock each On the whole, SINGHAM RETURNS is a complete the Gujjars have collectively taken to the path of insan- We soon became good friends. He would insist that 'Guj- other down. mass entertainer with power-packed drama, hi-intensity ity. At any rate, they can't think of harming any non Guj- jar' is a derivative of Gao-char and that Gujjars belong SINGHAM RETURNS reflects the times we are living dialogue and towering performances as its aces. The brand jar. Even at the hands of a callous establishment they to the fraternity of Gopal (Lord Krishna). Neither a lin- in. Scams, frauds, corruption, misuse of power by the high value attached to it coupled with a long weekend will help prefer to continue to suffer silently.