Larger than life and vastly entertaining, DABANGG (meaning "Fearless") shattered the box office record in India, and now 3 IDIOTS, the previous record-holder, is all pouty. DABANGG's success hinges mostly on star Salman Khan's drawing power, but you can't front on the highly stylized action sequences, the polished cinematography, the sizzling musical numbers, and the cinematic debut of the gorgeous Sonakshi Sinha. The film boasts a masala of derivative plot points, but this is one of those cases in which the flashy bells and whistles work hard to compensate for the lack of narrative substance. Salman Khan is a friggin' rock star, man.DABANGG takes place in the sprawling northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a place that turns out to be a hotbed of combustible politics and police corruption. Salman Khan plays Police Inspector Chulbul Pandey, a character whom on the surface isn't unsimilar to his role in Wanted (Bollywood Movie). Chulbul Pandey, an unrepentant crooked cop, stalks his world with an unmatched swagger and a p0rn mustache. And he is the film's hero. Raised in strained family dynamics, Chulbul resents his indifferent step-father and useless step-brother, and this has surely affected how he sees the world and his sense of ethics. His mother serves as his only anchor. It's left up to you to determine whether he gains a measure of redemption. Me, I don't think he mends his ways all that much.
Do you appreciate or feel distaste for take charge men? Men who assume they know what's best for you? My eyebrows were consistently raised at Chulbul's rather perfunctory courtship of the beautiful pottery girl Rajo (Sonakshi Sinha). But I guess some girls dig that approach. Not that Chulbul doesn't melt at certain stages of his wooing. He is obviously very smitten with Rajo. To observe that tired old cliche, he's a better man for it. It makes him aware of the importance of salvaging his estranged family.
But all the soap opera hand-wringing feels obligatory, something to tide us over until we get to the bits that we actually came to the theater for: which is force of nature Salman Khan kicking tail with panache. With invisibly rendered wires lending him unearthly grace and athleticism, Salman Khan takes out armed goons in several electrifyingly staged action sequences: in a warehouse during a bust, and during a rooftop shoot-out, and on a train platform as assassins spring out of the woodwork. However, I do sense a whiff of plagiarism. I recall having seen some of the action flourishes in earlier films (the firehose routine is from ROMEO MUST DIE; the window slamming shut just as the thug is jumping thru it is from DISTRICT 13: ULTIMATUM). I probably missed other bits. I'll say this, even if "inspired" by other films, the stunts and fighty fights are stunning stuff.
But this is Bollywood, right? DABANGG follows that successful blueprint. It is action-packed, exaggerated, boisterous, lushly romantic, and so vibrant. It is unashamedly all of those things. The sleek production values suggest an impressive movie budget. I appreciate Salman Khan's having a sense of humor about himself. He willingly spoofs his action hero image. I love his ring tone dance. It makes his "hero" cop more likable. But you merely have to check out his performance in the amazing title song "Hud Dabangg" to realize why he's had such longevity. Salman Khan exudes charisma. Hours after watching DABANGG I'm still going around, jerking my belt buckle this way and that. As if that could make me fearless.
This two-disc set offers the film presentation with optional English sub-titles and includes the following bonus featurettes (but without English sub-titles): "The Making of DABANGG" (00:40:53 minutes long) and "The Making of the Songs" (00:27:07 minutes long).
The film centers on Chulbul Pandey, a sometimes-corrupt, sometimes-noble, but always hilarious and kick-ass cop in a dusty, provincial town. The film could easily have been titled "The Adventures of Chulbul Pandey": Pandey-ji makes enemies with corrupt politicians; Pandey-ji fights with his brother; Pandey-ji navigates falling head-over-heels in love with the town beauty.
Salman Khan's characterization of Chulbul Pandey is pitch-perfect; he's both vicious and vulnerable. And it has introduced a whole new set of trademark moves into the canon of Salman-the-superstar: the belt-buckle swagger, sunglasses hooked over the back of his shirt-collar, and wildly drunken dancing. The filmmakers found a perfect match in newcomer Sonakshi Sinha, who plays the female lead with sensitivity and understatement (in addition to which, she's stunning). Sonakshi and Salman look wonderful paired together.
The songs oh, the songs! The opening number, "Dabangg", is rhythmic and throbbing with simple yet highly effective choreography. The romantic "Tere Mast Do Nain" will have you falling in love and laughing at the same time. The supporting cast is excellent, from Arbaaz Khan as the slightly smarmy but not entirely bad brother (and Salman's real-life brother), to the sympathetic performance of Dimple Kapadia as the mother.
In short, this film is everything a Hindi entertainer should be. Watch it.
Buy Dabangg Bollywood Blu Ray With English Subtitles (2010) Now
Certain holidays in India belong to stars that choose to release their movies on those days and ensuring they become a hit. Aamir Khan ahs released his last two films on Decemeber 25th i.e Ghajini and 3 Idiots. Salman had his last hit released on Eid i.e. Wanted and this year he seems to have secured Eid as his day of release with Dabanng.Hell bent on shattering records it has earned in two weeks what Ghajini did over its entire lifetime, Dabanng is the flavor of the season, like an old wine in a new bottle. In a gist the story is of two step brothers Salman ( Chulbul Pandey ) and Arbaaz Khan ( Makhichand Panday ) harbor small time resentment towards each other when a serious event turns in to deadly enmity. The movie is essentially driven by treatment of the subject and by witty dialogue and some superb fight sequences especially in the opening scene, the railway station and in the climax. The music is also great with some exceptional tracks including the title track and has been filmed extremely well. I was disappointed in the item number by Malaika Arora because I thought she did not exude the necessary raunchiness that the song required. There are also several character artistes but they are hardly there, Anupam Kher, Mahesh Manjrekar , Dimple Kapadia and Vinod Khanna are wasted. Sonakshi Sinha sparkles and oozes freshness in every scene, the camera makes her look radiant from all angles. The movie right from the opening scenes till the end belongs to Salman Khan, who displays his star power by transforming himself completely in the role of Chulbul Robinhood Panday. This is Salman like you have never seen before, I think he is the sole reason that the movie worked. He shines through the film and will be remembered for this for a long time to come. This is a ground breaking film for him, he finds himself and delivers entertainment that will find new fans and loyalists to love him even more. Last year he gave us Wanted and this year Dabanng with the ending lines suggesting a sequel. Go and watch this one for pure entertainment and paisa vasooli......4 stars 9/23/10
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Funny, Salman is such a good actor. I love that he inserts his own personality in the acting and dancing!Want Dabangg Bollywood Blu Ray With English Subtitles (2010) Discount?
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