1.5 / 5
Salman Khan is back as Chulbul Pandey in the sequel to his blockbuster Dabangg. His own brother Arbaaz Khan is directing as well as producing this film which released today amid huge hype and expectations, like all other Salman Khan films in the recent past.
Sonakshi Sinha, Vinod Khanna and Arbaaz Khan continue their presence in the sequel along with Salman. The movie is set in Kanpur and Prakash Raj as Bachcha Singh is the prime antagonist. He has two doting brothers who swear by his side. The plot is as thin as it can get as Chulbul has to stop Bachcha’s terrorizing hold on the city. He does so, in his own style which we have come to know by now.
The film also throws some light on his family life – his pregnant wife Rajjo, his concerned father Prajapati Pandey and his good for nothing brother Makhi who wishes to turn a new leaf for the sake of his love Nirmala.
Despite being a film which runs for just more than two hours, the movie isn’t a racy ride and owes whatever it is, to the comical yet macho presence of Salman Khan. His antics, his larger-than-life stunts, the sly one-liners and the typical shirtless avatar towards the end do please his core fans. His mustache looks really funny though and we wish the star had grown a proper ‘mush’ rather than resort to a fake one.
Sonakshi Sinha is just a decked-up doll with nothing to do. Vinod Khanna shares some heartwarming bonding with Salman in their father-son scenes. Arbaaz brings a light chuckle thanks to his foolishness while his pair Mahi Gill is restricted to just a small cameo. Prakash Raj repeats an act that he has done in countless Southern films, that of the loud villain who barks but doesn’t bite much. We feel sad at the typecasting that he has to experience.
Kareena Kapoor’s raunchy ‘low-hip’ act in the ‘Fevicol’ number is among the most relieving moments in the movie. The star continues to glow in film after film. She lifts the bland movie in the limited time she appears in. Talking about the songs, each of them has a heavy Dabangg hangover and it is a major letdown from the composer duo Sajid-Wajid. Even if the songs are played countless times on TV, their merit isn’t up to the mark.
The stunts by South fame ‘Anal’ Arasu play to the gallery and to the larger-than-life image of Salman Khan. Each sequence is unimaginative and just looks to boost the hero’s macho appeal.
All said, Dabangg 2 will probably set some collection records thanks to the mass following that Salman commands. But, the movie hardly has any originality or creativity. It is a sad effort from debut director Arbaaz Khan. The earlier Dabangg was in itself an ordinary movie which was lifted purely by the songs and the star power. But, when the same template is repeated with below-par songs, a dull screenplay, and bland scenes even Salman’s worn out antics and screen presence can’t help matters much.
Dabangg 2 would hopefully be the last of the brand of nonsense that Bollywood has been dishing out as seen in a string of movies like Son of Sardaar, Khiladi 786 and now this much hyped dud.
FINAL WORD: Dabangg 2 might make money thanks to Salman but it is an insipid commercial affair with nothing to savor.
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