Rowdy Rathore: A blatant ode to Dabangg

After Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn initiated massive blockbusters with their roguish policeman act, it’s now Akshay Kumar’s turn to don the moustache and aviators to play super-cop. And, just like his predecessors, he too bursts into the screen with his rippling muscles and unreal kicks and punches, with a lovely lady by his side.

Only, he further tweaks the imagery with flamboyant fashion fixations and quirky dance moves. And it works, for most parts, at least.

On the whole, ‘Rowdy Rathore’ is a blatant ode to Salman’s ‘Dabangg’ and Ajay’s ‘Singham’, with Akshay playing up the two personalities in a twin role. In one, he takes cue from Salman’s Chulbul Pandey and clowns around mouthing cheeky English one-liners, and in the other, he pays tribute to Ajay Devgn’s Bajirao Singham by wearing the mask of a broody cop.

Dancer-turned-actor-turned-director Prabudheva’s second Bollywood project, just like his debut, is a borrowed theme. While his first – ‘Wanted’ starring Salman Khan – was a remake of Telugu hit ‘Pokiri’, his second is based on another Telugu movie ‘Vikramarkudu’.

The story is typical of the super-cop crop, with the good cop thumping the baddies in unimaginable fervour, occasionally sidetracking for romance and hideous dance moves. Only, ‘Rowdy Rathore’ throws in a brawny look-a-like, his hapless bunch of cronies and a six-year-old daughter.

While Akshay plays up an impish conman in the first half, with doe-eyed beauty Sonakshi Sinha swaying to numerous tunes by his side, the second part is rocked by thunderous action following the discovery of a little girl, as her macho dad fights the barbaric village villain and his son.

And, with the comic conman and the fiery cop wearing the same face (and moustache), it leads to a comedy of errors, and one that finally ensures that good prevails over evil.

The narrative is puzzling, with the director haphazardly shifting gear from one genre to another. It’s witty one minute, super-heroic the other and tragic another. Prabu, however, won’t take ownership for a mess that was created by the original story writer, but he excels in devising some killer dance moves, which has created a cult following with “Chintata Chita Chita”.

Prabu joins Southern superstar Vijay and superhot Kareena Kapoor, within minutes after the curtains are drawn, to spice up “Chinta Ta Ta Chita Chita”, turning it into an anthem for the rest of the film. It’s not only a tool to woo women but a war cry as well.

Akshay coloured as the witty Shiva is far more entertaining than the one-man army ACP Rathore, who nurses a peculiar brain condition that miraculously cures when he dunks his head under a running tap. Illogical? Well, this isn’t a movie that bases itself on any logic.

Unfortunately in the ranks of honour, this super-cop, with his many tricks and kicks is unable to match up to those of the iconic Chulbul Pandey or the fiery Bajirao Singham.

Sonakshi Sinha is still stuck in the ‘Dabangg’ mode, mouthing dialogues in the same staccato tone and playing up her eyes. And when she’s not springing into a dance, which is mostly every frame, she tries to play saviour and daredevil, although the latter lasts merely a few seconds. Her dancing skills, however, shouldn’t be promoted, which is why there weren’t any featured in her first movie.

Beefy South Indian actor Supreeth’s Bollywood debut as a baddie turns into nothing more than a screeching match, with his chubby cheeks vibrating strangely. An aged Nasser accompanies him as his menacing older brother, who is terrifying in parts but turns into a silly old fool soon enough.

And, staying true to the tradition of spicing up the screen with item girls, Prabu packs in not one, but three girls, but the trio, despite being spunky, just don’t match up to the Munnis and Sheilas.

So, while Akshay deserves points for earnestness, it’s his shocking-purple pants that’ll win him honour for this one.

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