Pathaan Movie Review
Shah Rukh Khan's last real release was in Zero (2018). Yes, he made a much-loved appearance in Brahmastra last year, but fans were clamoring for more. All we can say, Pathaan is everything a true SRK fan could wish for. It is definitely worth the wait. In one of his recent interviews, SRK said he always wanted to be an action hero but circumstances turned him into a romantic hero. Perhaps he was destined for action because he finally got his wish. Perhaps taking inspiration from another superstar who refuses to grow old - Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh has invested in a film that puts him in and out of unlikely situations every five minutes. We advise you to keep your phones switched off. Otherwise, if you take your eyes off the screen for some reason, you might lose something amazing.
The film is a visual spectacle designed to please the senses. It was widely shot in beautiful locations around the world ranging from Antarctica, Spain, Morocco, Dubai, Afghanistan and even the North Pole. The cinematography is world class and you are sure to fall in love with the perfect locations and call your travel agent immediately. But it is by no means a travel diary. The action choreography is truly out of this world. There's a sequence, for example, where a zipline is split between two parallel hovering helicopters and a man is sent from one to the other. Another has John Abraham and SRK piloting minijets and engaging in dogfights. No expense is spared in creating one over-the-top action sequence after another. Perhaps the best sequence takes place on top of a train falling into a ravine after a massive explosion.
Pathan was billed as Shah Rukh Khan's comeback movie and he's back. It holds the screen from the first image to the last. And brings a touch of inimitable humor even in an action movie. There is a sequence where he sings a lullaby to an elderly woman named Karen, singing Tu hai meri karen to her. His repartee is also evident in his scenes with Deepika Padukone. Their interaction adds extra spice to the film. SRK seems to be doing the action well. His josh, his commitment is second to none. What has always set him apart is the way he makes each character believable and that's the case here too. He's also known for the emotional gravity he lends to his roles, and the creators haven't forgotten that. He's been given a poignant backstory that makes you sympathize with his character. In fact, both Deepika Padukone and John Abraham have stories that allow you to understand them better. They appear as living, breathing human beings, rather than mere killing machines.
John Abraham plays a mercenary who kills for money, rather than for his ideological beliefs and seems fit for the role. His confrontation scenes with SRK are the highlight of the film. He is the antagonist, but as said before, an attempt was made to humanize him. Deepika Padukone looks ethereal in every frame. Whether it's jumping off buildings fully clad in a jumpsuit or rocking the skimpiest of bikinis, you can't take your eyes off her. And she's not there as eye candy, but pulls off some pretty hefty action scenes, including handling a sturdy Gatling gun in a way that would have made Arnold Schwarzenegger proud. Dimple Kapadia lends grace as a caring special ops chief and Ashutosh Rana is perfect as a grumpy colonel who likes to throw away the rulebook.
All in all, Pathaan unequivocally announces that Shah Rukh Khan is back. After conquering romance, he seems ready to reach new heights as an action star. Dismiss it at your own risk.
PS: The film is the beginning of YRF's spy universe. This means that the stars of their various spy movies will mingle. Tiger fighting alongside Pathaan is both the icing on the cake and the tip of the iceberg.
TRAILER: PATHAAN
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