Hoots, whistles, and random dancing ensued throughout the movie, with the theatre jam-packed with die-hard SRK fans – watching Pathaan was a surreal experience, to say the least.
If I was to unpack the plethora of emotions I went through in that over-crowded, crazed-up theatre, it’d take space I don’t have and time I am not bothered with. So let’s just keep it to the bare minimum and dive straight into the religion that is the name – S.R.K.
Shah Rukh Khan in Pathaan: “The Last of The Stars”
The actor was once asked by Anupam Kher in an interview, whether the arrival of new blood, new talent in Bollywood leaves him in sweats about his position as the ‘King’, to which he replied, from behind his crooked smile:
“I’m the last of the stars.”
Well, Pathaan movie reaffirmed his statement and etched it even deeper into my mind. Because while the plot could have been bettered and we COULD have focused less on Fast-and-Furious-ifying the whole movie and give it more substance (I mean, hello? Agent Vinod? ) it still won me over. Yeah, EVEN ME! The most critical movie-buff you’ll ever meet!
And it’s all due to Shah Rukh Khan’s enigmatic presence. Because let me tell you there wasn’t a moment during the whole 180 minutes I sat there that I dared look away. Couldn’t risk missing even a single beat of his masterful expressions, you see!?
But enough of that. How did Pathaan stack up in terms of the storyline?
Pathaan Movie Review: The Spy, The King, and The Glamour
He puts his country before self. He is a patriot in exile. He knows how to part-ayy. AND he is the country’s only hope against, uh, Outfit X’s terror alert.
Now, okay, fine, that poor choice of nomenclature had me wishing we were back to simpler times back when Kim and Kanye named their daughter North-West. Yeah, even THAT’S better than this!)
BUUUT, that said, I have to give credit where credit is due. Pathaan’s rigor and Jim’s fury had me sold on the plot. We could’ve done with a little less of that forced ‘spunk’ though, Rubina. Just sayin’.
The story picked up pace at a breakneck speed. One minute you are wondering whether the “son of India” will be able to bounce back from the trials he is put through and the next, he’s at em like a ravenous tiger. There’s literally no in-between and man alive, was it fun to watch!
Location! Location! Location!
The backdrop of the movie was fantastic. Gorgeous. Mind-blowing. Frostyyy. Until it wasn’t. Yeah, I’m making a lot of contradictory statements today, I know, but bear with me, people. There’s a lot to unpack here, alright?
Now, if you weigh the movie in terms of the commercial currency, it surpasses every other competitor there has or will ever be. But for a movie to truly work its magic, there has to be something more than just glamour shots, you know what I’m saying?
Pathaan has everything – speed, romance, dialogues (oof, the dialogues), star-power – and yet something felt off to me. Could it be the fact that the director decided to make mountains out of a molehill yet again? And that too in multiple countries?
The imagery works well for Besharam Rang, but other than that, the over-the-top icy scenes and Rock-esque chases just left me a bit “meh” and no mistake.
Music: Arijit, you messed up bad, hon!
Yes, I said it. And I know you agree.
Jhoome Jo Pathaan is worse than a stale bread that’s been munched on by 7 different generations of mice. The beats are overworked, there is that annoying dead-stereo creek throughout the song, and Arijit Singh’s voice lacks the power to truly make something out of those below-average beats.
Remember Lagan Lagan Lagi from Tere Naam?
Sukhwinder Singh’s voice was absolutely smashin’ in that. And I feel so cheated by the music producers due to the fact that they chose not to approach him for this one! Such a waste, Dadlani. Such. A. Waste.
So, what am I saying?
Well, Shah Rukh, I love you and I’ll watch every movie you star in, cross my heart. Even if it’s a crap-fest, which Pathaan wasn’t. It had it’s cringe-worthy moments, I agree but overall, it was a delight to watch on the big-screen. And the fangirl in me is already hoping for a next instalment to Pathaan, which I have a feeling we might get sooner rather than later.
So, the VERDICT?
I give it 5 stars.
Yes, despite my reservations. It’s SRK, after all! So, if you haven’t watched the movie yet, this is your cue to go watch it now before you get on my nerves and die. No joke. *smiles*