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Pathaan Review: మూవీ రివ్యూ: పఠాన్

చిత్రం: పఠాన్ రేటింగ్: 2.75/5 తారాగణం: షారుఖ్ ఖాన్, దీపిక పదుకోన్, జాన్ అబ్రహాం, అశుతోష్ రాణా, డింపుల్ కపాడియా తదితరులు  కెమెరా: సచ్చిత్ పౌలోస్  ఎడిటింగ్: ఆరిఫ్ షేక్  సంగీతం: విశాల్ - శేఖర్, సంచిత్- అంకిత్  నిర్మాత: ఆదిత్య చోప్రా  దర్శకత్వం: సిద్ధార్థ్ ఆనంద్ విడుదల తేదీ: 25 జనవరి 2023

హిందీ సినిమాలకి విడుదలకి ముందు క్రేజ్ రావడం గగనమైపోయిన ఈ రోజుల్లో ఈ "పఠాన్" చుట్టూ ఆసక్తికరంగా హడావిడి నెలకొంది. ఒక కారణం "బేషరం.." అనే పాట, దానిచుట్టూ ముసిరిన వివాదం. పైగా పూర్తి స్థాయి ఏక్షన్ సినిమాగా ఒక వర్గం ప్రేక్షకులకి అంచనాలు ఏర్పరిచింది. ఊహించిన దాని కంటే తొలి రోజు వసూళ్లు అన్ని ప్రాంతాల్లోనూ బాగున్నాయి. 

ఇక విషయంలోకి వెళ్తే ఇది ముగ్గురు సీక్రెట్ ఏజెంట్ల మధ్యన జరిగే కథ. జిం అనే ఒక నిఖార్సైన భారతీయ సైనికుడు ఒకానొక కారణం వల్ల స్వదేశం మీద ద్వేషం పెంచుకుంటాడు. దేశానికి శత్రువుగా మారతాడు. రక్తబీజ్ అనే ఒక భయానకమైన వైరస్ ని ఆయుధంగా సృష్టింపజేస్తాడు. అతడిని అంతమొందించడానికి మరొక రా ఏజెంట్ పఠాన్ ఏం చేస్తాడనేది కథ. 

వీళ్ల మధ్యలో పాకిస్తాన్ కి చెందిన ఒక ఐ.ఎస్.ఐ ఏజెంట్ రుబాయి ఉంటుంది. ఆమెకి కూడా ఒక మూసకొట్టుడు బ్యాక్ స్టోరీ ఉంటుంది. తన తండ్రి ప్రత్యర్థుల చేతుల్లో బలైనందుకు కసిని పెంచుకుని క్రుయల్ గా మారుతుంది. జిం కథ కూడా ఇదే. 

ట్రయాంగిల్ లవ్ స్టోరీ అని అనలేం కానీ, ఇదొక ట్రయాంగిల్ ఇంటర్నేషనల్ స్పై స్టోరీ అని చెప్పొచ్చు. ఇంటెర్నేషనల్ ఎందుకంటే..ఇందులో పాకిస్తాన్, ఆఫ్రికా, స్పెయిన్, ఫ్రాన్స్, రష్యా, ఆఫ్ఘనిస్తాన్ లాంటి దేశాలన్నీ ఒక ట్రావెల్ వ్లాగ్ మాదిరిగా కవరయ్యాయి. ఇందులోని పాత్రలు ఒక ఊరిలో ఒక పేట నుంచి ఇంకో పేటకి వెళ్తున్నంత ఈజీగా ఆయా దేశాలకి ఆపరేషన్ పేరుతో వెళ్లిపోతుంటారు. 

ఎంత కల్పిత కథ అయినా నమ్మశక్యంగా ఉండాలి. కొత్తదనం తీయడంలో మాత్రమే కాకుండా కథా, కథనాల్లోనూ ఉండాలి. కానీ అవేమీ అక్కర్లేదని ఫిక్సైపోయారు దర్శక నిర్మాతలు. 

పౌరాణిక సినిమాల్లో కూడా చూడని స్టంట్స్ ఇందులో ఉన్నాయి. ఆ కొట్టుకునేది గూఢచార సంస్థల సైనికులా లేక గ్రహాంతరవాసులా అన్నది అర్థం కాకుండా రూపొందించిన యాక్షన్ సీన్స్ చిన్న పిల్లల్ని అబ్బురపరుస్తాయేమో తప్ప కాస్త బుర్ర వాడడం తెలిసిన ఆడియన్స్ కి మాత్రం బొప్పి కట్టిస్తాయి. అతిశయోక్తి అలంకారానికి కూడా అతి అనిపించే సన్నివేశాల కుప్ప ఈ సినిమాలో ఉంది. టెర్రరిస్టులు సైంటిష్టుల్ని బంధించడం, ఏదో వెపన్ తయారు చేసి విధ్వంసం సృష్టించాలనుకోవడం, దానిని హీరో గారు నిర్వీర్యం చేయడం... ఎన్ని సినిమాల్లో చూడలేదు ఈ జేంస్ బాండ్ ఫార్ములా! మళ్లీ అదే పట్టుకొచ్చారు. 

అసలీ సినిమాని ఏ ఆడియన్స్ ని దృష్టిలో పెట్టుకుని తీసారా అనేది ఆలోచిద్దాం. ఒకవేళ యంగ్ ఆడియన్స్ ని టార్గెట్ చేసి తీసారనుకుందాం. అయితే ఇందులోని హీరో, విలన్ 50కి పైబడిన వాళ్లు. హీరోయిన్ 40 కి చేరువలో ఉంది. ఎంత హీరోయిన్ బికినీలు వేసినా బిళ్ల గోచీలు పెట్టుకున్నా, హీరో ఎంత కండలు పెంచి చొక్కాలిప్పేసినా యువ ప్రేక్షకులకి వీళ్లు మధ్యవయసు నటీనటులకిందే లెక్క. కేమియో రోల్ లో వచ్చిన సల్మాన్ ఖాన్ కూడా అంతే. 

"బ్రహ్మాస్త్ర" లాంటి కంగాళీ సినిమాని ఆ ఏజ్ జనం చూసారంటే అమితాబ్, నాగార్జున వల్ల కాదు..రణబీర్, ఆలియాల వల్ల. మరి యంగ్ కపుల్ లేని ఈ సినిమాకి ఎవరొస్తారు అని అనుకుంటే...ఓపెనింగ్స్ మాత్రం అద్భుతంగా వచ్చాయి. హాల్లో వేరే ఏ సినిమా నుంచి పోటీ లేదు కనుక నిర్మాతలు కోరుకున్నట్టుగా నడుస్తుందేమో కూడా. అలాగని ఇది గొప్ప చిత్రం మాత్రం అనిపించుకోదు. చాలా అపరిపక్వతతో కూడిన కథా, కథనాలు; విషయం లేని కథాంశం..వెరసి ఇదొక బిగ్ బడ్జెట్ బక్వాస్. తెర మీద గ్రాఫిక్స్ కి, సీజీలకి తగలేసిన బడ్జెట్ మాత్రం కొట్టొచ్చ్హినట్టు కనపడింది. ఆ హడావిడే తప్ప ఎక్కడా హత్తుకోని సోల్ లెస్ కథ ఇది. 

నటీనటుల విషయనికొస్తే షారుఖ్ ఖాన్ తన వయసుకి సవాలు విసిరి అద్భుతమైన బాడీని చెక్కుకున్నాడు. ఈ హీరో నటన గురించి చెప్పాల్సిన పని లేదు. తన మార్క్ కామెడీ టైమింగ్ కూడా అక్కడక్కడ పలికించాడు. 

దీపిక అందాలతో కనువిందు చేసింది. హీరోయిన్ కం వ్యాంపు టైపులో ఉంది ఈమె పాత్ర. బికినీలు కూడా సిగ్గుపడేంత చిన్న సైజులో ఉన్న పీలికలేసుకుని నటించింది . కొన్ని స్టంట్స్ బాగా చేసింది. 

జాన్ అబ్రహాం విలన్ గా ఓకే. కానీ మరింత పవర్ఫుల్ నటుడిని పెట్టుంటే బాగుండేది. 

సల్మాన్ ఖాన్ తన టైగర్ పాత్రలో వచ్చి ఒక ఫైట్ చేసి పఠాన్ ని రక్షిస్తాడు. ఆ ఫైట్ అయ్యాక తనకు అవసరం వచ్చినప్పుడు పఠాన్ ని పిలుస్తానని చెప్తాడు. అంటే "టైగర్" సీక్వెల్ వస్తే అందులో ఈ పాఠాన్ షారుఖ్ కనిపిస్తాడన్నమాట. ఇలా సినిమాలని క్రాస్ బ్రాండింగ్ చేసుకోవడం ఈ మధ్యన ఒక ట్రెండయ్యింది. 

సాంకేతికంగా చూస్తే బ్యాక్ గ్రౌండ్ మ్యూజిక్ కొంత వరకు ఓకే తప్ప కొత్తదనం లేదు. కెమెరా వర్క్, గ్రాఫిక్స్ మాత్రం అద్భుతమని చెప్పుకోవాలి. ఎడిటింగ్ ఇంకాస్త షార్ప్ గా ఉన్నా బాగుండేది. ప్రధమార్థం, ద్వితీయార్థం మొత్తం ఒకే ఫార్మాట్ లో ఎత్తుకు పై ఎత్తులు వేయడం, భీకరంగా కొట్టుకోవడంతోనే సాగుతుంది. 

ఏ మాత్రం జెనెరల్ నాలెడ్జ్ లేని ఆడియన్స్ కి ఏమో కానీ, గూఢచార వ్యవస్థలు, అందులోని సీరియస్నెస్ తెలిసిన ప్రేక్షకులు మాత్రం దీనిని ట్రోల్ చేసుకుంటూ చూస్తారు. హాలీవుడ్ స్థాయి ఏక్షన్ సీన్స్ ఉంటే చాలు, మిగతావన్నీ అవసరంలేదనుకునే ఆడియన్స్ నుంచి మాత్రం కంప్లైంట్ ఉండకపోవచ్చు. 

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‘Pathaan’ Review: Fighting the Good (and Long) Fight

Filled to the brim with action set pieces, “Pathaan” stars Shah Rukh Khan as a secret agent saving India from havoc unleashed by a vengeful former operative.

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By Nicolas Rapold

The all-out action movie of the sort honed by Hollywood is not as prevalent in Bollywood. But “Pathaan,” a record-setting addition to a series of spy adventures, rolls out a flaming dessert cart of chugging guns, midair melees and ceaseless showdowns.

Shah Rukh Khan stars as an affable Indian government agent, Pathaan, who’s pursuing a vengeful former agent named — somewhat less than diabolically — Jim (John Abraham). Jim’s been hired by a rogue Pakistani general to sow havoc in India because of a dispute over Kashmir. He turned smirkingly nihilistic after India once refused to pay ransom for him and his (now dead) pregnant wife.

Plotting or politics is an afterthought in this delivery system for action on planes, trains and automobiles, in Dubai, Moscow, Paris, the Spanish coast and apparently the Italian Dolomites. The director, Siddharth Anand (“War”), opens big with Pathaan’s breakout from detainment, swiveling the camera to follow kicks and sending a helicopter aloft indoors.

Other setups have the same top-this sense of fun. Anand’s crew boasts the stunt coordinator of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Casey O’Neill, and the “Mad Max: Fury Road” stunt performer Craig Macrae. But the director doesn’t have the greatest feel for tempo, or a consistent flair for staging. A monotonous fight on a train is only redeemed by a Looney Tunes escape from derailment.

Lending welcome panache is Deepika Padukone as another deadly operative, Rubina, who may prove helpful to Pathaan. The sweet rapport between Padukone and Khan loosens up the film’s endless fracas, and it’s the spark for, yes, a song. When Pathaan spots Rubina poolside in Spain, she launches a joyful crowded bump-and-grind number. (“The moment I feel a wave of modesty, I throw it to the wind!”)

As a villain, Jim’s a bit of a cold bath, and not just because he starts video-calling in threats of biological warfare. “Pathaan” is in some ways a save-the-world superhero movie without suits, and while less self-serious, the hefty length can lag. More is not always better — though the gusto of Padukone speedskating to the rescue at one point goes a long way.

Pathaan Not rated. In Hindi, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 26 minutes. In theaters.

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Pathaan Movie Review: PATHAAN is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill and of course, star power.

Pathaan is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill and of course, the star power of shah rukh khan, deepika padukone and john abraham., pathaan review {4.5/5} & review rating.

PATHAAN is the story of a passionate agent working for the country. In 2019, after the government of India revoked Article 370, an enraged Pakistan general Qadir (Manish Wadhwa) decides to take revenge. He signs a contract with Jim ( John Abraham ), a dreaded terrorist who has an extreme enmity towards India. RAW's Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), meanwhile, gets a glimpse of a mysterious lady in France, with whom she has had sort of a past connection. Due to this development, she decides to meet Pathaan ( Shah Rukh Khan ), an agent who was once one of the best agents for India but has now supposedly gone rogue. Three years ago, Pathaan had come across Rubina Mohsin ( Deepika Padukone ) and from thereon, things went downhill for him. But the country right now needs Pathaan to save itself from the clutches of Jim. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Siddharth Anand's story is simple and even clichéd. But Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay is highly engaging as the writer peppers the narrative with loads of action, humour, thrill, and even emotions. Abbas Tyrewala's dialogues are smart yet conversational. A few dialogues are moving.

Siddharth Anand's direction is first-rate. To begin with, he has handled the grandeur very well. In fact, the scale is more than what was seen in WAR [2019]. The way he ensured that he does not go overboard with the scale is praiseworthy. He also does justice to the various twists and turns in the tale. The director very well handles an emotional sequence in the second half, which takes place at the Indian Institute of Contagious Disease.

On the flipside, logic takes a backseat in several places. The way Pathaan conveniently enters even the most high-security zones and escapes almost unscathed is difficult to digest. The Afghanistan episode in the climax is predictable. However, the makers compensate for these shortcomings with some high-octane action and thrilling scenes and hence, one will not complain much after coming out of the cinema hall.

PATHAAN begins with a paisa vasool entry scene of Shah Rukh Khan. The flashback portions also contribute to the fun. Rubina’s entry and the scene thereafter are sure to be greeted with claps and whistles. The Moscow episode has a lot of humour and the intermission point is a shocker. Post interval, several scenes stand out like the chase sequence on the frozen lake, the madness in the train, and at the Indian Institute of Contagious Disease. The climax is nail-biting and the film ends on a high. The scene that follows the end credit song is terrific and because it is relevant to the real-life scenario!

Pathaan | Official Trailer | Shah Rukh Khan | Deepika Padukone | John Abraham

Speaking of performances, Shah Rukh Khan is in superb form. The superstar looks quite dashing and performance-wise, he is a treat to watch. With his humour, style and action, he enhances the commercial element of the film many notches higher. And as expected, he also shines in the emotional scenes. Deepika Padukone is at her hottest best and delivers a bravura performance. Her character is crucial to the narrative and she looks quite cool while doing action. John Abraham is an apt choice for the role of the menacing and dashing villain. His screen time is limited in the first half but he makes up for it after the intermission. Salman Khan (Tiger) is outstanding, to say the least. Both his scenes are the most memorable ones in the film. Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana (Captain Luthra), Manish Wadhwa, Prakash Belawadi (Scientist), Aakash Bhatija (Nandini's junior) and the actor playing the pilot do well.

Vishal-Sheykhar's music is of chartbuster variety. 'Besharam Rang' is already a rage and comes into the film at an important juncture. The same goes for 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan' . Special mention should also go to Vaibhavi Merchant's choreography (in 'Besharam Rang' ) and Bosco-Caesar's choreography (in 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan' ). Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara's background score is memorable, especially the theme played during Jim’s scenes.

Satchith Paulose's cinematography is spectacular and the various foreign locales are breathtakingly shot. Rajat Poddar's production design is top-class. Casey O’Neill, Craig Macrae, and Sunil Rodrigues' action is one of the highpoints of the film. Shaleena Nathani, Mamta Anand, and Niharika Jolly's costumes are stylish, especially the ones worn by Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. yFX's VFX matches global standards. Aarif Sheikh's editing is razor-sharp.

On the whole, PATHAAN is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill, and of course, the star power of Shah Rukh Khan. At the box office, it will take a historic opening and will emerge as one of the biggest hits of Bollywood. In short, it has BLOCKBUSTER written all over it!

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Pathaan Movie Review : An entertaining globetrotting spy thriller that’s massy, messy and outlandish

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love srk Pathaan ❤️❤️��������

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Baap ka movie ke samne koi nahi tikta, Jay baadshah Jay pathaan ������

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Super hit ����

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'Pathaan' has all the ingredients of a masala potboiler — slowmo entries, iconic battle of good versus bad and most importantly a sexy-smouldering Shah Rukh Khan, who can fight the good fight on and off the screen.

Pathaan Movie Review: An entertaining globetrotting spy thriller that’s massy, messy and outlandish

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Maralakunte Rawe 24 96 days ago

Tina tina 206 days ago.

love srk Pathaan ❤️❤️��������

User 59 237 days ago

Baap ka movie ke samne koi nahi tikta, Jay baadshah Jay pathaan ������

bardhanjeet 1 247 days ago

Super hit ����

Chandan Kumar 1 271 days ago

From Sridevi to Alia Bhatt: Bollywood stars who shined as child actors

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• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
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'Pathaan' movie review: A sprightly, entertaining comeback from SRK

He is an old trouper living off the grid. He’s been out of action for a couple of years. He comes shrouded in fanfare and intrigue. When people talk about him, in high circles, they get “uncomfortable”. He’s a keeper of his word. He is a patriot with a Muslim name, and a son of this soil, though his true religion is the movies. His name is Pathaan, played by Shah Rukh Khan, and they are one and the same.

Every once in a while, we need our superstars in unadulterated form. Think of it as not fan servicing but fan sensitivity. Tom Cruise—smiling superciliously in films like Top Gun: Maverick, telling the audience he’s got them covered—is the very embodiment of that shtick. In contrast to Cruise, who’s practically always working, and who is three years his senior, SRK has been on a genuine sabbatical, understandably stymied by the poor receptions of Zero (2018) and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017). Now he returns, riding high and again in Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan. It is an action movie that’s really a soft shell of wrapping, disclosing the SRK delivery machine i t has packed underneath.

In War (2019), also directed by Siddharth Anand, Hrithik Roshan played a superspy gone rogue named Kabir. Along with Salman Khan’s Tiger, the character buffed up what has become the YRF Spy Universe. Pathaan, a battle-scarred soldier who now leads a cover unit called JOCR, rounds out the triumvirate. He’s played by Shah Rukh Khan with the kind of gusto that’s both infectious and a bit, well, extreme. The 57- year-old actor smirks, squints, and deepens his voice. He probably does more action than all his 90-plus films combined. He nods to older hits like Don 2 and Darr (“K..K..K..., Karen”). He has grown his hair. Pathaan is SRK leaving it all on the field, going the extra mile when it’s painfully obvious the standard laps won’t do.

Thankfully, he’s got help. John Abraham holds the screen as Jim, leader of private terror group Outfit X (Siddharth and screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan aren’t the best with names; a prison in the film is simply called ‘Black Prison’). After a long-winded first half, much of it spent on action set-pieces interrupted by gritty backstories, we learn of Outfit X’s plan: destroying India with bioterrorism. “They work on contract, not ideology,” says Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), Pathaan’s boss, like someone describing an IT cell. We also meet Rubina, played by Deepika Padukone, a leggy lass who becomes the mediator — some would say death trap — between Jim and Pathaan.

Like War, Pathaan spares no expense on its action design. Name a vehicle—hummers, trucks, trains, choppers, jetwings—and there’s a chase or combat sequence built around it. I loved the eclectic selection of weapons: in his first fight, Pathaan begins with a pair of improvised escrima sticks, before switching coolly to a shotgun. Jim, meanwhile, favours a small shiny crescent knife among all the endless options at his disposal. The VFX in Pathaan is not very consistent but I suppose most audiences will gladly turn a blind eye. I also wish there was more wit and ingenuity to the action choreography. Witnessed in the wake of RRR, the various rope-based escapes and manoeuvres in this film feel undercooked.

Shah Rukh Khan swims solidly through all the chaos. He is enjoyable in the big action moments but it’s the smaller touches that really sell the performance. During an intense double-cross, he suddenly crinkles up pretty, ditching heaviness for the sort of scrappy romanticism that marks his best roles. The film somehow works best in moments where Rubina is in charge and Pathaan is dustily tagging along, like their Spain interlude. Deepika gets to kick some serious butt, and her scenes with John are just as effective. “Who says love only happens at first sight?” Rubina tells Jim beseechingly, poetically. Only Deepika Padukone can be trusted with delivering such lines in the midst of an action film.

There is a funny Salman Khan cameo - the only justifiable one in a while. I won’t spoil anything further but say that Pathaan goes about its business with humour and diligence. As an actioner, it’s neither irredeemably silly nor overly maudlin (like the recent Bond films). For the most part, it keeps its head low and — as befits a star vehicle – lets its heroes do the talking. There are still some miles left in these old machines. As they assure themselves in the post-credit scene, the young ones won’t cut it.

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone,John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia,Ashutosh Rana

Director: Siddharth Anand

Rating: 3.5/5

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Pathaan Review: Shah Rukh Khan Doesn't Miss A Trick In Phenomenally Entertaining Spy Thriller

Pathaan review: deepika padukone pulls off the dual act of an irrepressible femme fatale and a committed soldier with elan..

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham

Director: Siddharth Anand

Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Phenomenally entertaining and consistently engaging, Pathaan , for all the derivative genre components it compiles, is a spy thriller that crackles with energy. It goes the distance riding on the insouciant and cocky charm that Shah Rukh Khan, in his first full-fledged appearance on the big screen since 2018's Zero , brings to an exercise that is at once excessive and exciting.

It isn't, however, the superstar alone who propels Pathaan, which plays to the gallery with abandon. The writing by Shridhar Raghavan is smart although not everything in the unabashedly fantastical film makes total sense. Abbas Tyrewala, who peppers Pathaan with gunpowder-dry punch lines, contributes in no small measure to keeping this action-packed movie on the boil all the way till the end.

On the technical side, too, Pathaan packs a massive punch. The cinematography by Satchith Paulose is from the topmost drawer. Editor Aarif Sheikh lends the film a pacy rhythm that leaves no room for dull passages. And the pulpy panache of Siddharth Anand's directorial sleights is impressive. They combine to make Pathaan a thoroughly riveting movie that instantly gets the willing suspension of disbelief that it demands and thrives on. 

The ease is, of course, facilitated majorly by the presence of Shah Rukh Khan, who does not miss a trick in jettisoning his King of Romance persona and donning the garb of an unflappable, unstoppable action hero. He does not let the effort behind the transition show one bit. He sails through the role and the film as if this is what he was always meant to do.

The performances from most of the other principal actors - Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana - are perfectly in tune with the style and substance of Pathaan. The film hits its straps without wasting any time. The actors, especially Deepika Padukone, do likewise, getting into the swing of things in a jiffy.   

The heroine of Pathaan is an ISI agent with a back story that makes her the inscrutable and unpredictable person she is. Her enigma ensnares the hero more than once and provides the film's biggest twists. Deepika Padukone pulls off the dual act of an irrepressible femme fatale and a committed soldier with elan.  

However, John Abraham as the very, very bad guy who has a score to settle with the nation he once served with distinction does not exude the level of menace that you would expect from a man wounded and incensed to the point of insanity.     The most striking aspect of Pathaan , a masala entertainer at heart, is that it has the gumption to go beyond the parameters of a massy movie and produce sharp, insightful moments that serve as a commentary on pressing issues of the day. It is far more about humanity than about shallow patriotism, which, coming at a time when the Mumbai movie industry thrives on the othering and demonising of communities to further a dominant political narrative, is an act of courage that deserves to be celebrated. 

Although it is essentially about people going for the jugular and centres on a villain who plans to unleash a biological weapon on civilians, Pathaan adopts a pacifist approach to war and espionage. It offers a counter-narrative to the Islamophobic thrillers and historical epics that the Mumbai industry has of late been dumping upon the audience without the slightest attempt to disguise its prejudices and propensity for falsification. 

Pathaan is in fact a far cry from Yash Raj Films' previous spy drama War, which was also directed by Siddharth Anand. Pathaan is neither jingoistic nor does it direct all its ire at one nation. It does open with a Pakistani general plotting a reprisal against India on the day of the revocation of Article 370, but the villain of the film is not a hate-spewing mullah but a venomous RAW agent gone rogue.

Although the badman's reasons are palpably faulty, he contributes his mite to the discourse that Pathaan engages in. A mercenary who works on behalf of terrorists no matter of what hue they are, he says he does not believe in the notion of a nation and borders do not matter to him. Nations and borders are created by the powerful to lull people into submission, he thunders, implying that he has broken the shackles in order to make a point.  

Jim (John Abraham), whose first appearance on the screen triggers a violent confrontation with a hero who grew up in an orphanage and owes a debt of gratitude to an Afghan family that saved him after a secret mission left him severely wounded.

When asked by Dr. Rubina Mohsin (Deepika Padukone) if he is a Mussalman (this is the only time in the film that anybody's religious identity is broached), the male protagonist reveals that he does not know who his parents were.  The nation assumed the form of a mother and sustained me, so I decided to serve the nation the way I would have served my mother if I had one, he asserts with just a hint of emotion.

He isn't a steely hero who is beyond injury and pain. He needs a painkiller when violent adversaries inflict wounds on his body. The medicine is offered to him by another member of the YRF Spy Universe in the course of a fight sequence staged in a hurtling train somewhere in Russia.

With Shah Rukh Khan joining Tiger (Salman Khan) and Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) to complete a trio of invincible YRF spies, expect a lot of big-screen explosions, extremes and extravagances in the coming years. But it is doubtful if anything would be as big, ballsy or unalloyed as Pathaan. It comes closer to what mass-oriented Hindi cinema once used to be than any other recent star vehicle has done. 

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Pathaan swings and strikes with all the style and aplomb in the world. It will be a hard act to follow.                     

Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham

Siddharth Anand

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Pathaan Movie Review: Shah Rukh’s seat belt warning was serious! This bumpy ride is definitely worth your ticket

Pathaan movie review: shah rukh khan's film graced the screens on january 25. the film, directed by siddharth anand, is replete with high-octane action sequences. but, there are some minor glitches, says our review..

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• Pathaan hit theatres on January 25.
• The film is directed by Siddharth Anand.
• Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abrahman play lead roles.

Cast & Crew

Shah Rukh Khan Actor

Deepika Padukone

Release Date: 25 Jan, 2023

There is a poetic justice in his glare. He has the physique of a spy, but it is the eyes that do most of the talking in Pathaan. After a gap of four years, Shah Rukh Khan is back on the big screen doing what he does best - charm your pants off and remind us why he’s part of a dwindling breed - the real superstars. Director Siddharth Anand, who’s best known for glamorising his stars and presenting them in what sometimes look like lavish set pieces inspired by Hollywood films, Pathaan is no departure from his signature style. If anything, it is a reminder of his previous work - the bromance laden War and the Mr and Mrs Smith desi tribute called Bang Bang ! Here, Anand serenades the audiences with scenes and imagery that is a direct tribute to some iconic Hollywood films.

Shah Rukh’s Pathaan is a shadow of Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark. He might not be as rich as Stark or have a super hero spacesuit, but his game with women and one-liners are an accurate ode to him. Similarly, Deepika’s Pakistani ISI agent act has shades of Scarlett Johansson in her action flicks. The climax and a few other action scenes too feel like blueprints picked from Hollywood films like Mission Impossible, Fast and the Furious and others. But Pathaan isn’t a wannabe film. Neither is it trying to masquerade as a Vin Diesel or Tom Cruise offering. Pathaan’s story is the first chapter in India’s first indigenous spy-verse. If the West has MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), India has its own SCU led by the trio of Tiger, Kabir and now Pathaan. The plot is laden with patriotic sentiment. A rogue agent, Jim (a very good looking John Abraham), is set to seek vengeance against India. The timing of his revenge comes at a time when India scraps Article 370, thereby triggering neighbouring country Pakistan’s sinister designs to capture Kashmir. Pathaan is now on a mission to stop Jim, but trust issues crop up for Pathaan when a sexy distraction presents itself in the form of ISI agent Rubaiya Mohsin (Deepika Padukone). Is she an ally or an enemy ? Her own backstory exposes her intent and gives the story its much-needed pre-interval twist. Heavy on action scenes and smart dialogues, the film looks sexy and sensory.

Pathaan’s second half triumphed over its first. The action pieces are devoid of logic and reason, but then again, this isn’t a documentary. It’s also the first time you watched SRK do hardcore action scenes. And the reason it works is because Anand has given him some realistic hand combat sequences with John. It’s not just jet planes zipping through midair or Ferraris skidding on ice, the action in Pathaan is bold and fearless.

Shah Rukh is the heart of Pathaan and he’s a constant reminder of why we enjoy watching him on the big screen. He sells the most bizarre plot twists with a straight face and you are charmed to buy it. Deepika Padukone needs a bonafide stand-alone action film. She truly has the physique and demeanour to do a Tomb Raider. John Abraham as the bad guy is a terrific casting choice. Once you go beyond how good he looks in Pathaan, you realise why he’s one of the greatest action heroes of our times. John has never got his due in a lot of his films. Thankfully, in Pathaan, he not only holds his ground opposite SRK but also shines with grace. The high point that everyone nervously waits for in Pathaan, which also is a major highlight of the film, is the ‘Pathaan meets Tiger’ moment. It is an absolute thrill to watch Salman and SRK in the same frame throw digs at each other while beating some goons. This will go down in the annals of cinematic history as a perfect tribute to the stardom of these two actors. The main hiccup in Pathaan is the action blocks, which sometimes gets tiring. Some portions look like they have a stunt double and others make it too obvious that they have been shot with a green mat. Recently, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise pulled off a stunt in his latest Mission Impossible film that will go down in history as the greatest love an actor can have for his craft. The 60-year-old actor did his own bike dive from the edge of a cliff. No Chroma, no body double. Just Tom on a bike doing his thing. This makes me realise that when it comes to action, we need to install a part of realism into our choreography. The other glitch with Pathaan is with some of the dialogues, SRK gets flirty with Deepika and calls her a ‘bomb’ while admitting he’s ready for a ‘blast’ as her thigh seductively grazes him. In another scene, he tries to use his comic side to rhyme the Russian currency roubles with the word ‘boobles’ while referring to a lady flaunting her clevage. Smarter writing would definitely have saved Pathaan. Pathaan is unapologetically fun. It isn’t trying to send a public service message or pass commentary on the current state of affairs. Instead, it sets the clock back to a time when a Shah Rukh Khan film at the cinemas was a moment to rejoice. In a recent #AskSRK session, the actor revealed his unfulfilled wish. He wrote, ‘Itni shakti rahe mujh mein ki aap ke bacchon ko bhi entertain kar sakoon’ (I hope I have the strength to even entertain your kids)." If his enthusiasm and energy in Pathaan is anything to go by, then one thing is for sure - SRK is not going anywhere. This Pathaan is the perfect opening to India’s very own Spy Universe.

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‘Pathaan’: Review

By Namrata Joshi 2023-01-25T15:02:00+00:00

Bollywood emerges victorious from a troubled time with Shah Rukh Khan returning to the big screen as a Bond-like action hero

Source: Yashraj Films

Dir: Siddharth Anand. India. 2023. 146mins

Much like its three predecessors in the YRF Spy Universe series of action thrillers — EK The Tiger (2012), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and War (2019) — Pathaan pivots on a wafer-thin plot; this time involving an exiled intelligence agent returning to take on a terrorist organisation. It’s a chaotic, protracted, wild ride that takes the audience across global locations and through past and present, but the amped up scale, imagination and audacity, the spectacular action set-pieces, clever writing and in-your-face charisma of its stars including Shah Rukh Khan in a long-awaited return to the big screen make it, in Indian parlance,  paisa vasool -  a film well worth the price of admission. And that will come as a relief to an embattled Bollywood.

Star Shah Rukh Khan, otherwise known for his romantic persona, shows off his bare chest and rippling muscles and, in the process, scorches the screen as a full-blown action hero.

A lot is at stake when it comes to Pathaan , produced — like the previous titles in the series — by leading production house Yashraj Films. The Hindi film industry has struggled over the last few years, with big budget films failing to make a mark at the box office and political baiting by conservative fringe groups. As the reportedly $30m-plus  Pathaan opens worldwide (with both Hindi and Tamil and Telugu versions screening within India) hopes are high for its prospects, although success will largely rely on audiences turning up on India’s Republic Day holiday and the following long weekend. It’s Shah Rukh Khan’s first major role since Aanand L. Rai’s Zero in 2018, and that should help. Plus, there have already been multiple controversies to keep it in the public eye, including the colour of a bikini worn by SRK’s co-star Deepika Padukone.

In keeping with the occasion of the release, Pathaan sports a suitably patriotic heart with the Indian tricolour fluttering in some scenes and the salutation of Jai Hind  (“Victory to India”) punctuating a few conversations. The film is also very much in line with the unbridled masculine narratives currently dominating Indian mainstream cinema: SRK may be best known for his romantic on-screen persona but he falls in line here, showing off his bare chest and rippling muscles and, in the process, scorching the screen as a full-blown action hero.

He plays exiled intelligence agent Pathaan, brought back on duty to take on rogue agent Jim (John Abraham) who is running a private terrorist enterprise called Outfit X and is armed with a biological weapon of mass destruction, a virus called Raktbeej (a reference to a demon in Hindu mythology who supposedly self-perpetuates with every drop of his blood that falls on the ground). 

But while there’s plenty that puts Pathaan in the league of James Bond movies — including excellent action sequences, stunning global locales (UAE, Turkey, Russia, Siberia, Italy, France, Afghanistan and Siberia) and Deepika Padukone’s novice Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agent Rubina Mohsin — Pathaan himself isn’t simply smart and suave. He cries, he gives into love and cracks silly jokes about getting his long hair shampooed at the hairdressers. The robbery of a Moscow vault is punctuated, for example, with a silly but satisfying reference to SRK’s psychopath act in the popular film Darr (1993).

Pathaan plays safe with its stance — or the lack of it — on the contentious issue of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet its nationalistic spirit comes underlined with grace and dignity. Pathaan’s adversary might be from Pakistan but the film underscores that a few bad men don’t embody an entire nation. An orphan left behind by his parents in a cinema hall, Pathaan finds a proxy family on one of his missions in Afghanistan. His heart is Indian, but he belongs to the world — a welcome return to the simplistic but humanistic nationalism of Hindi cinema.

Most enjoyable, however, are the meta moments on the plight of Bollywood and the trinity of Khans: SRK, Salman and Aamir. There is, for instance, an extended reference to the Japanese art of kintsugi — fixing broken pieces of pottery with gold to create an even more beautiful and precious work of art. In the film, it is used to discuss bringing together injured, unwell and retired agents to form a new unit called Joint Operations and Covert Research. Yet it could also be a reference to Bollywood itself; a hope that it may come out stronger and more resilient after its ongoing trial by fire. After a long time, Shah Rukh Khan has given Bollywood a reason to smile.

Production company: Yashraj Films 

Distribution: Yashraj Films [email protected]

Producer: Aditya Chopra

Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, from a story by Siddharth Anand and dialogue by Abbas Tyrewala 

Cinematography: Satchith Paulose

Production Design: Rajat Poddar

Editing: Aarif Sheikh

Music: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara, 

Main cast: Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana

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Pathaan Movie Review: A sprightly, entertaining comeback from Shah Rukh Khan

Rating: ( 3.5 / 5).

He is an old trouper living off the grid. He’s been out of action for a couple of years. He comes shrouded in fanfare and intrigue. When people talk about him, in high circles, they get “uncomfortable”. He’s a keeper of his word. He is a patriot with a Muslim name, and a son of this soil, though his true religion is the movies. His name is Pathaan , played by Shah Rukh Khan, and they are one and the same. 

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana 

Director: Siddharth Anand

Every once in a while, we need our superstars in unadulterated form. Think of it as not fan servicing but fan sensitivity. Tom Cruise—smiling superciliously in films like Top Gun: Maverick , telling the audience he’s got them covered—is the very embodiment of that shtick. In contrast to Cruise, who’s practically always working, and who is three years his senior, SRK has been on a genuine sabbatical, understandably stymied by the poor receptions of Zero (2018) and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017). Now he returns, riding high and again in Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan . It is an action movie that’s really a soft shell of wrapping, disclosing the SRK delivery machine it has packed underneath.

In War (2019), also directed by Siddharth Anand, Hrithik Roshan played a superspy gone rogue named Kabir. Along with Salman Khan’s Tiger, the character buffed up what has become the YRF Spy Universe. Pathaan, a battle-scarred soldier who now leads a covert unit called JOCR, rounds out the triumvirate. He’s played by Shah Rukh Khan with the kind of gusto that’s both infectious and a bit, well, extreme. The 57-year-old actor smirks, squints, and deepens his voice. He probably does more action than all his 90-plus films combined. He nods to older hits like Don 2 and Darr  (“K..K..K..., Karen"). He has grown his hair. Pathaan is SRK leaving it all on the field, going the extra mile when it’s painfully obvious the standard laps won’t do. 

Thankfully, he’s got help. John Abraham holds the screen as Jim, leader of private terror group Outfit X (Siddharth and screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan aren’t the best with names; a prison in the film is simply called ‘Black Prison’). After a long-winded first half, much of it spent on action set-pieces interrupted by gritty backstories, we learn of Outfit X’s plan: destroying India with bioterrorism. “They work on contract, not ideology,” says Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), Pathaan’s boss, like someone describing an IT cell. We also meet Rubina, played by Deepika Padukone, a leggy lass who becomes the mediator — some would say death trap — between Jim and Pathaan. 

Like War, Pathaan spares no expense on its action design. Name a vehicle—hummers, trucks, trains, choppers, jetwings—and there’s a chase or combat sequence built around it. I loved the eclectic selection of weapons: in his first fight, Pathaan begins with a pair of improvised escrima sticks, before switching coolly to a shotgun. Jim, meanwhile, favours a small shiny crescent knife among all the endless options at his disposal. The VFX in Pathaan is not very consistent but I suppose most audiences will gladly turn a blind eye. I also wish there was more wit and ingenuity to the action choreography. Witnessed in the wake of RRR, the various rope-based escapes and manoeuvres in this film feel undercooked. 

Shah Rukh Khan swims solidly through all the chaos. He is enjoyable in the big action moments but it’s the smaller touches that really sell the performance. During an intense double-cross, he suddenly crinkles up pretty, ditching heaviness for the sort of scrappy romanticism that marks his best roles. The film somehow works best in moments where Rubina is in charge and Pathaan is dustily tagging along, like their Spain interlude. Deepika gets to kick some serious butt, and her scenes with John are just as effective. “Who says love only happens at first sight?” Rubina tells Jim beseechingly, poetically. Only Deepika Padukone can be trusted with delivering such lines in the midst of an action film (and escape unscathed). 

There is a funny Salman Khan cameo -  the only justifiable one in a while. I won’t spoil anything further but say that Pathaan goes about its business with humour and diligence. As an actioner, it’s neither irredeemably silly nor overly maudlin (like the recent Bond movies). For the most part, it keeps its head low and — as befits a star vehicle – lets its heroes do the talking. There are still some miles left in these old machines. As they assure themselves in the post-credit scene, the young ones just won't cut it.

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‘Pathaan’ review: Shah Rukh Khan lights up an entertaining spy thriller

Siddharth anand’s action thriller is out in cinemas..

Shah Rukh Khan is back in a film that does his persona full justice. His hair is longer than usual, he is older and presumably wiser, often bruised and blood-spattered, but the twinkle in the eye and the deep dimples are intact.

Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan is a heady cocktail of Mission: Impossibles and James Bonds past with nods to producer Yash Raj Films’ own espionage thrillers and screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan’s previous Agent Vinod . There are even glimpses of Khan’s early days as a dashing Indian Army soldier in the Doordarshan serial Fauji , which catapulted the actor to fame and laid the foundation of his accidental ladykiller persona.

Legacy is one of the chief selling points in a film with a disposable plot. Patriots never retire and can be repurposed to serve their country in new ways, Khan’s government operative tells his boss Nandini (Dimple Kapadia).

An electric cameo that marks Pathaan as a retrofitted entry in the planned “YRF Spy Universe” not only turbocharges the movie but also yields a delightful post-credits scene. It comes all the way after the last beats of Jhoome Jo Pathaan have faded out. It’s worth the wait.

Pathaan finds smart ways to play on the strengths of its star cast as well as remind viewers of how they earned their luminescence in the first place – and why that hasn’t dimmed. From the endlessly charismatic Khan himself, to John Abraham, in excellent form as Pathaan’s worthy nemesis Jim, to Deepika Padukone, oozing oomph and admirable fitness levels as agent Rubiya, to That Cameo, everyone in the movie is correctly deployed for a mission to repurpose Khan as a full-on action hero.

In the present, Jim is planning something so dastardly that only Pathaan can stop it. Flashbacks – and flashbacks within flashbacks – tell us how Pathaan got his name , the results of his first brush with Jim, and the fatal moment when he sets his eyes on Rubiya. The crackling chemistry between Khan and Padukone ensures that Pathaan, who sometimes appears as ascetic as his lodestar Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible films, melts on occasion.

Back in Delhi, Pathaan’s superboss Luthra (Ashutosh Rana) paces in front of computer screens that are warning of imminent destruction. That takes its own sweet time in a 146-minute film with no hurry to meet Jim’s Armageddon deadline.

It’s knowingly silly and sometimes unknowingly silly too, especially in trying to explain how seemingly impenetrable fortresses get easily breached and agents emerge from life-threatening situations with barely a scar. There are moments when the narrative slumps, when the stunts feel too familiar or derivative, when the thrills look like they are in danger of running out. Whenever Pathaan picks up the action again, and adds Abbas Tyrewala’s whistle-worthy lines to its hero’s arsenal, the film slides back into gear.

The whole shebang is dunked in a soft nationalism that is determinedly less toxic than the jingoism we now see around us. Just like Shah Rukh Khan’s come-into-my-arms gesture , Pathaan aims for an inclusivity that embraces not just India but the entire neighbourhood. While weapons of various sizes are bandied about, the movie’s greatest blaster is its hero itself, parleying his well-oiled impishness, time-tested charm and mesmeric screen presence for a cheesy but also entertaining save-the-nation exercise.

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Release Date : January 25, 2023

123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5

Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana

Director: Siddharth Anand

Producer: Aditya Chopra

Music Director: Vishal and Sheykhar

Cinematography: Satchith Paulose

Editor: Aarif Sheikh

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It’s been more than 4 years since Shah Rukh appeared on the big screen in a leading role. His big film Pathaan, which created humongous hype with its promos, has finally hit screens today worldwide. Let’s see whether the movie lived up to the hype it created or not.

Pathaan, a brave Indian soldier, is a part of JOCR (Joint Operation and Covert Research) led by Nandini (Dimple Kapadia). The brave spy is on a mission to stop a rogue agent Jim (John Abraham), and his team, Outfit X, from attacking India. Pakistani doctor Rubina Mohsin (Deepika Padukone) helps Pathaan in finding something called ‘Raktbeej,’ which Jim is looking to destroy India. But things change as Deepika takes sides. Who is Rubina? What’s Raktbeej? Who is Jim, and why did he want to destroy India? Did Pathaan succeed in his mission? The main movie has all the answers.

Plus Points:

Pathaan has King Khan Shah Rukh Khan, the unique selling point of the movie. It’s been many years since audiences watched him in an action movie. Pathaan delivers what exactly SRK fans want. The story is fine, and what makes the movie a neat one is its narration.

Shah Rukh Khan, as a brave Indian soldier, looks terrific in action. His style, swag, and his witty punches are worth watching. Besides, Deepika Padukone gets a meaty role, and she also gets into the fight against the enemies of the nation.

The one who needs to be appreciated is John Abraham. His look and actions make him a stylish villain. With this film, he proves that he can pull even an antagonist role with so much ease. The face-off scenes between SRK and John make audiences glue their eyes to screens.

Dimple Kapadia, as Nandini, head of JOCR, delivers a neat performance. She is subtle and elegant in her given role. Ashutosh Rana also gives his best.

The way director Siddharth Anand connected Pathaan’s story with War, and Ek Tha Tiger is impressive, and the next installment in the YRF Spy Universe is going to be a blast for sure. Salman Khan’s entry and scenes between him and SRK are whistle worthy. The action scenes in aesthetic locations look incredible.

Minus Points:

Pathaan has everything that fans want from their favorite actor Shah Rukh Khan. Siddharth Anand writes a decent story, but it could have been a lot better. Though the narration makes up for it, more meat was required as far as the story is concerned.

The VFX is bad, especially in the action sequences. The action scenes look so unrealistic just because of poor VFX. In a few scenes, audiences need to forget about logic to enjoy the magic.

Pathaan will be more interesting if the emotional scenes work out well. Unfortunately, the film has very few emotional scenes. Patriotism-related scenes should have been written in a better way to make audiences feel the characters’ emotions.

The interesting yet funny part is Dimple Kapadia has more screen presence compared to John Abraham. The movie would have been mesmerizing if the antagonist’s character had more scenes that could give more details about his past.

Technical Aspects:

Siddharth Anand does a neat job both as a director and writer. But it is the story that needed more care. The dialogues are good. The cinematography is excellent, and so is the score. Production values are okay. VFX could have been better, and the editing is fine.

The score, specially composed for the antagonist’s arrival, is good. The action choreographers need to be praised for putting their blood, sweat, and tears into the film.

On the whole, Pathaan is a high-octane action thriller that has Shah Rukh Khan’s finest performance, Deepika’s glamour, and John Abraham’s villainy. Barring a few over-the-top action scenes, the film is quite enjoyable. So without any thoughts, you can enjoy this action-packed thriller this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

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Pathaan movie review: Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film is high on action, low on logic

Pathaan movie review: shah rukh khan and deepika padukone's actioner is worthy every penny even as it defies gravity and logic..

Pathaan is fast, furious and about missions that are impossible. Bringing perhaps the last superstar of our generation, Shah Rukh Khan , back on screen in a full-fledged role after four years, Pathaan is worth the wait and all the hype. And the best part is that it wastes no time in introducing the man to us in his full glory. 'Zinda Hai', as Pathaan says in the trailer, surrounded by armed blood-thirsty men, the scene appears within 10 mins of the film and that's a bonus. The film is a perfect addition to this ambitious spy universe that previously saw Salman Khan’s Tiger and Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir. Director Sidharth Anand, who has earlier helmed action thrillers Bang Bang and War, once again presents his characters in the most glammed-up avatars, giving you enough drool-worthy moments. From Deepika Padukone's outfits to John Abraham's chiselled muscles to Shah Rukh Khan's CGI-enhanced six-pack abs -- Pathaan has too much in store that doesn't let you complain, albeit you don't look too deep for a meaningful story or logic. (Also read: Pathaan release live updates )

It revolves around Pathaan (Khan), an ex-armyman turned undercover agent who gets caught on a mission. He has now returned to save his country from a former R&AW agent Jim (Abraham) who has turned rogue after he was wronged by his own people. The film introduces its characters with solid back stories. An ex-ISI agent, Rubia (Padukone) becomes a part of the mission and has her loyalties questioned at several junctures. And that's pretty much about it. The whys and hows get answered in the due course of time with a lot of in-your-face action and hopping from one picturesque location to another with views that sometimes distract from the actual action unfolding in front of you.

You've seen Khan do Chaiyya Chaiyaa on top of a train, but Pathaan gives you much more. He's fighting on top of a Hummer, then somewhere mid-air on a rope tied between two helicopters and then jumps on to a truck. Basically, there's very little action on the ground and you'd see men in Pathaan mostly flying through the most high-octance action sequences. Also, when you have Khan and Abraham fighting it off on the big screen, you don't really need anything else to boost that adrenaline. And yes, the train isn't forgotten. Perhaps, the best and highest point of the film is when Pathaan meets Tiger (Salman Khan) and the two have quite an elaborate action sequence inside and then on top of a moving train. It was hard to focus on what was happening on screen with loud cheering, hooting, screaming and whistling throughout the duration of this scene. It was nothing short of celebrating true stardom with two superstars being in one frame in their best possible avatars.

At 146 minutes, Pathaan doesn't bore you but does seem a tad stretched in the second half when you're longing to arrive at the climax. There are some dialogues that make you laugh or sound too heavy, but the overall writing isn't impressive enough to leave a mark. Pathaan is high on action but it's better if you do not question the logic behind gravity-defying lifts and drops for there's none. They are a visual treat and a spectacle that immerses you without even trying too hard. It gets a bit too unrealistic at times, but that's what you get when filmmakers try to mount a film on the scale of a Hollywood actioner. The action is top class but some VFX felt weak and you could so easily make out the green chroma screen in those sequences. Another thing that kept me confused for most part of the first half was Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay and the non-linear narrative. The pace with which it kept jumping from one timeline and one continent to another, it just got too messy after a point. It is at the pre-interval block, that pieces of the puzzle start to fall in place.

It might have taken over three decades to get to play an out-and-out action hero, but it's never too late to pack a punch. He's charming, gritty and lets his eyes do most of the talking. The wit he brings on screen is straight out of his #AskSRK sessions and even in the most intense and deadly scenes, Khan makes you smile with his comic punchlines said with a straight face. Padukone in her hot and sultry avatar amps up the glam quotient so effortlessly. She gets her own share to perform and shine despite the men taking a major share of screen time. With the kind of finesse she brings in action sequences, her own, fleshed-out action flick won't be too much to ask for. Abraham makes you love him as a brooding baddie. Forget the muscles, for you can't take your eyes off his swelling veins through his tattooed arms. Adding gravitas to the story, Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia lend an able support to the cast and have their own lighter moments to shine.

Pathaan is your true-blue commercial, masala entertainer that's not trying to send across any message or be a social commentary on the current state of affairs in the country. It's fun, non-fussy and fantastic at the same time. Go watch it for Shah Rukh Khan and you would only come back with a smile, and maybe grooving a bit. Don't miss the scene just before end credits for it's not everyday you see two superstars in a banter about their stardom.

• Deepika Padukone
• Shah Rukh Khan
• John Abraham

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‘Pathaan’ Review: A Bollywood Espionage Action Spectacular So Fast and Furious — and Chaotic and Derivative — It Makes ‘RRR’ Look Classical

It's James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets Jason Statham meets Fabio in an overwrought epic.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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“ Pathaan ,” the new Bollywood espionage action spectacular, opened wide this past weekend in the U.S., where it amassed an impressive tally of $9.5 million. That’s exactly what “RRR” made on its opening weekend in the U.S. close to a year ago — though, of course, that was before “RRR” went on to become a crossover cultural phenomenon, with a visibility and acclaim in the American media that Indian films seldom, if ever, attain.

For decades, Bollywood movies, at least when they were released here, had an undeniable exoticism. They often repackaged Hollywood forms, most notably the musical, but with their own rhythm and flavor and spice. Baz Luhrmann drew upon the rapture of Bollywood when he made “Moulin Rouge!,” and films like “Lagaan” (2001), a transporting three-hour-and-45-minute class-war operetta about a cricket match (it was the last Indian film before “RRR” to be nominated for an Academy Award), and “Dangal” (2016), a wrestling epic rooted in the rising mores of girl power, had inspirational plots that staked out their own nationalistic identity.

The characters in “Pathaan” often speak like movie posters (“Be rich. Be powerful. Or be a corpse”). They’re photographed like model-gods, and though “Pathaan” isn’t a musical, the music that plays during the action sequences is an overwhelming constant — that EDM Bollywood throb, revving even routine battles to a maximum rush. Khan, who suggests a sleeker, more ripped Adam Driver in a man-bun, plays the title character, a veteran RAW agent who’s gone undercover and been left for dead, though he shows up in an early scene, bloody and battered, tied to a torturer’s chair. He then frees himself and defeats his captors in the first of what must be the film’s two dozen whirling, crunching, gravity-defying fight scenes. This is the sort of movie in which even Pathaan walking in slo-mo slipping on his aviator sunglasses counts as an action moment.

His mission is to stop Jim (Abraham), an agent who has gone rogue and leads Outfit X, an international terror organization that commits atrocities for profit. I wouldn’t even try to describe the plot of “Pathaan,” which zigs and zags all over the globe, and all over the place, in a way that defies logic. The film’s only real logic is its pop fetishization of power (bullet power, fire power, 12-pack-ab power), along with its enthusiastic mutating of genres — now it’s a heist movie, now it’s a human-superhero-with-machine-wings movie, now it’s a contagion thriller with Jim threatening to unleash the power of Raktjeeb, a killer virus that makes COVID look like the common cold. What’s in it for Jim? From what we can tell, the sheer megalomaniacal pleasure of it all.

This may sound like a recipe for fun, but “Pathaan” has a stop-and-go rhythm, and a strung-together structure, that grows wearying. (Two-and-a-half hours of frenetic derivative pulp is a lot of pulp.) There’s a car chase through Dubai, a motorcycle chase on ice, and a hand-to-hand fight at the climax in which Pathaan and Jim go at each other so hard that the wooden shack in which they’re fighting starts to slip down the mountain stilts it’s perched on. “RRR” was no model of restraint (and some critics salivated over its overwrought fairy-tale technological bravura in a way that felt vaguely patronizing), but it was a work of high classical precision next to “Pathaan.” Yet I must say I’m glad that Indian films are finding a home here. Here’s hoping, as in the old days, that they bring a new spirit to our cinemas, rather than just blending in with what we’re already doing.           

Reviewed at AMC Empire, Jan. 30, 2023. Running time: 146 MIN.

• Production: A Yash Raj Films USA Inc. release of a Yash Raj Films, Etalon Films production. Producer: Aditya Chopra.
• Crew: Director: Siddharth Anand. Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Abbas Tyrewala. Camera: Satchith Paulose. Editor: Aarif Sheikh. Music: Ankit Balhara, Sanchit Balhara, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani.
• With: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana, Salman Khan.

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Pathaan review – daft Shah Rukh Khan spy caper is more fun than Bond

The Bollywood megastar plays an unfeasibly ripped agent brought out of retirement to foil the fiendish terror plots of Outfit X

T his enjoyable high-octane action spy movie from India is possibly the most fun you can currently have at the cinema – for the first two hours of its running time at least. At the packed London cinema where I watched it on opening night, the crowd erupted with whoops the moment Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan appeared on screen – face battered to a pulp, gazing up through a bloody swollen half-shut eye.

The film is the latest instalment in the YRF Spy Universe : Khan is Pathaan, a James Bond-ish spy brought out of retirement to take down an international terror organisation known as Outfit X. Its leader is another former Indian spy, Jim (John Abraham), who’s gone rogue, committing atrocities for the likes of Boko Haram and Islamic State in return for cash. Now Jim has got his hands on a biological weapon of mass destruction.

The increasingly daft plot pings around the globe like a Bond or Mission: Impossible. Khan delivers a performance with perfect levels of fun, and light on Bond-ish psychological flaws, playing it instead with a wink here, a joke there. (There’s a very funny line about him going to the hairdressers to get a blow dry.) Saying that, Khan clearly takes his training seriously; he’s impossibly ripped, and his personal trainer probably deserves to share his credits and a chunk of his fee here.

The film sags a little towards the end, with a few too many implausible action sequences: characters jumping out of helicopters and fighting on top of speeding SUVs, the choreography glossing over the basics of gravity and physics. Still, the cheers kept coming: the loudest whoop of all when Salman Khan made an entrance as Tiger, a hero from an earlier movie in the series.

• Action and adventure films
• Salman Khan

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An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country. An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country. An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country.

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• Trivia Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film after four years since Zero 2018.
• Goofs When Deepika picks Uncle Grigor hand and puts it on her upper leg to steal his hand print, he didn't feel that it is not the bare skin of a human body and rather a polythene film he is touching.

Pathaan : A soldier does not ask what the country has done for him. Asks what he can do for the country.

• Crazy credits The Yash Raj Films logo is on the side of a grey box that reads "YRF Spy Universe."
• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to make cuts to scenes of strong violence in order to obtain a 12A classification. An uncut 15 classification was available.
• Connections Featured in Movie Reviews: Pathaan (2023)
• Soundtracks Besharam Rang (Hindi) Music by Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani Lyrics by Kumaar , Vishal Dadlani (Spanish lyrics) Performed by Shilpa Rao , Caralisa Monteiro , Vishal Dadlani , Shekhar Ravjiani

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• January 25, 2023 (United States)
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• Runtime 2 hours 26 minutes
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