SECTIONS
^ Visitor Insurance
^ City News
^ Events
^ Profile
^  Debate
^ Perspective
^ Monthly Calendar
^ Horoscopes
^ Youth
^ Business
^ Immigration
^ Healthwise
^ InVogue
^ Fiction
   
  INTERACTIVE
^ Classifieds
^ Matrimonials
^ What's Cooking?
^ Melting Pot
^ Snapshots
^ A Day In The Life Of...
^ Family Portrait
^ Birthday Greetings
^ Baby Of The Fortnight
^ Model Mania
^ Kids Corner
   
 
Dabangg 2 – Reformatted Version Of Original
BOLLYWOOD GUPSHUP
Dabangg 2


BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE



Cast: Arbaaz Khan, Deepak Dobriyal, Nikitin Dheer, Prakash Raj, Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha,  Vinod Khanna
Director: Arbaaz Khan

Dabangg 2 – Reformatted Version Of Original
Dabangg 2 – Reformatted Version Of Original

Dabangg, if nothing else has created a phenomenon and superstar that is, Salman Khan. While Rajni Sir is the sole proprietor of this coveted title and celebrated fan following down south, it seems Salman Bhai is garnering the same blind faith from Bollywood fans. Foraying into direction for the first time, Arbaaz Khan chooses the safe route, mostly adhering to the framework set up in the original. There is nothing new here, no little surprises like the shirt that comes off on its own, just everything you expected, predicted and anticipated, all nicely packaged to present the super hero of Bollywood at his diverting, devious and delightful best.  

This time around, the charming cop Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan) is beating up bad boys in the city of Kanpur, saving helpless, harassed citizens from the clutches of the evil Bachcha Singh (Prakash Raj). The Pandey parivaar now lives here minus the mother, previously played by Dimple, who is sorely missed in this edition. Sonakshi Sinha as Rajjo is the demure, dutiful wife repeatedly told “You don’t have to obey every instruction of mine.” by her super cop husband, lest you must think he was an MCP, and held no respect to his better half. Nope, this cop is all heart, all the way.

Chulbul also makes time to play pranks on his step dad played by Vinod Khanna, now reconciled with his son and a rather half-witted step brother played by Arbaaz Khan. While he is all naram with his family, he takes no time to shift into garam mode as soon as it is time to bash up baddies “shooting so many holes into the enemy that he won't be able to figure out which end to breathe from and which end to fart from”, a line retained from the master copy.

Somehow the new villain Bachcha Singh seems less powerful than the original and more caricature like. This is sad because Prakash Raj is truly one of the renowned and gifted actor, villain in particular, we have around. Bachcha’s brother played by the talented Deepak Dobriyal, gets to be vicious and vocal about his clout in the city, only to be mocked by one of Pandeyji’s henchmen “Personality ke hisab se, kuch zyada nahin bol raha?" (Based on his personality, don’t you think he is over estimating himself) – one of the better lines in the sequel.

And in case you are wondering, the shirt comes off towards the end too.

With brothers Arbaaz as director and Salman in the lead, sister in law Mailaika Arora as producer and sister Alvira as designer, Dabangg 2 is a completely Khan-daani affair. It appears that there is every effort to stick with the original blockbuster format. Arbaaz as a debutant director is well aware of the franchise’s significance and does fairly well fitting in scenes and sequences that match the initial version. I earnestly wish that Arbaaz had taken chances and tried to build a stronger storyline for Chulbul, who is such an enticing, entertaining and simply engaging character.

Salman seems to have had fun strutting his stuff - he gets to repeat all of the antics from before, romance his loving wife, gyrate to catchy numbers with Malaika and Kareena with some new moves, defy gravity as he oppresses his opponents, and munch on tamarind with his staff who seem to adore him, who pockets bribes one minute, advises them not be rude to senior citizens the next! Yes, let’s not forget Chulbul has a heart of gold. Salman seems so embedded and entrenched into the character of Chulbul that it is hard to really distinguish the two. That is probably what works best for Dabangg. Salman’s fan following is a rather devoted bunch. It appears that they will watch as long as their hero is on screen, it does not matter what he says or does, he just needs to show up, heroines, item girls, villains and pretty much the rest of the cast seem insignificant. Music is good but not as inspired as Dabangg.

With nothing fresh to offer, Dabangg 2 is pretty much a reformatted version of the original. But if you are an ardent fan of Salman, like most of fans usually are, there is much fun to be had. Dabangg 2 is all you expect it to be, and to its credit is unpretentious, unapologetic and unassuming. Those of you keen on robust narratives and realistic cinema may want to reconsider your decision to watch the fearless super cop  Kung-fu Robinhood Pandey in action. It is however a must watch for all Salman fans.


YOUR COMMENTS:
Tell us what  you think of this feature. 
Post your comments.

Or write to us at contact@nripulse.com


Archives:

Satyamev Jayate: Poignant & Profound

'The Best Exotic Marigold...' an exotic film, must watch!

Vicky Donor

Agent Vinod: The Bond- Bourne Bollywood Bonanza!

Travel On Highway Of Love With 'London Paris New York' 

It's Don's Game All The Way

Don 2: It's Don't Game All the Way

The Dirty Picture – A ‘Bombaat’ Entertainer

Ra.One: All H.A.R.T & No Soul

'Force' - action speaks louder than words 

Aarakshan: Socio-Political Drama On Caste Based Reservations

It's The Big B Through & Through In 'Bbuddah...' 

'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' Delightful Rugged Romantic-Comedy 

Dum Maro Dum:
Slick Thriller, But Script Lacks Dum

Tanu Weds Manu: Refreshing Entertainer

Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji - This Child Needed More Nurture

Tees Maar Khan

Guzaarish- A quest to celebrate life, death and everything in between

Too Much Action Mars Flick On Honor Killings

Dabangg: Masala at its Best

Peepli Live: As Real as it Gets

'Once Upon A Time...' A Throwback To Gangsterism In Mumbai 

Inception: Best Summer Movie Yet

Kites Swings & Sways, But Never Soars

Road, Movie – An Abstract Journey Of Life & The Power Of Cinema

Karthik Calling Karthik: Exploring the Human Psyche

My Name is Khan Falls Short of Expectations

'Rann', A Razor-Sharp Biting Look At The Real World 

Paa- A Soulful Experience of Relationships

Kurbaan: A Different K-Brand Of Cinema

Love Aaj Kal – Romance rules forever, Aaj and Kal

New York: Worth Taking a Bite Out of This Apple

Barah Aana Superbly Highlights Vulnerabilities Of Migrants

8X10 Tasveer – A Suspense Aberration

Billu - Too Glamorous For A Simple Tale 

Luck By Chance – The Bollywood Story of Tears and Joys 

Chandni Chowk to China

Mani Ratnam’s Award-winning ‘A Peck on the Cheek (Kannathil Muthamittal)

Taare Zameen Par: A Special Star on Earth

A Captivating Marathi movie: ‘Dohaa (Dark Waters)

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na! Easy Breezy Entertainer

Vanaja Dances its Way to DVD

'U, Me Aur Hum: Tender, tactile melodrama

Jodhaa Akbar: Breathtaking Tale of Love

An Ode To Bollywood: Om Shanti Om

A Sugar Free Romance: Cheeni Kum

The Namesake: Two Worlds, One Journey

A Thing of Beauty: Eklavya-The Royal Guard 

The Polyester Mogul -- Guru: Villager, Visionary, Winner 

Best & Worst of 2006

Dare to be Daring? Dhoom 2: Back in Acton

Nov 16th: BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: DON - THE CHASE BEGINS AGAIN

Oct 16th: BOLEY TO - BANDE MEIN HAIN DAM: LAGE RAHO MUNNA BHAI

Oct 1st: OTHELLO REVISITED: OMKARA

Sept 1st: PAISA, POWER AND POLITICS: CORPORATE

Aug 1st: THE RETURN OF THE BUFFOONS: PHIR HERA PHERI

July 16th: NEW BEGINNINGS: (THE JOURNEY) SANCHARRAM

July 1th: LOVE ANNHILATES: FANAA

June 16th: SEDUCTION, BETRAYAL & SALVATION: GANGSTER: A LOVE STORY

May 16th: CHANGING LANES? TAXI 9211

May 1st: DON’T LET A STRANGER IN, YOUR WORLD MAY CHANGE: BEING CYRUS

April 16th: WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION - A MYTH? DEVAKI: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS

April 1st: LOST IN A LABYRINTH: MAINE GANDHI KO NAHIN MAARA 

March 16th: RANG DE BASANTI: A GENERATION AWAKENS

March 1st: WATER: STILL CURRENTS

February 16th: A WORLD WITHIN A WORLD: 15 PARK AVENUE

February 1st: RAMJI LONDONWALE_ DELECTABLE FARE

January 1st: DREAMS UNLIMITED: THE FILM

December 16th: LONELY AT THE TOP:
THE INNER/OUTER WORLD OF SHAH RUKH KHAN

December 1st: OPPOSITES DISTRACT? MAIN, MERI PATNI AUR WOH

November 16th: OF CHEATING MEN & MORONIC WOMEN

November 1st: AUTUMN TRYST: PYAAR MEIN TWIST

October 16th: HOLLYWOOD SMORGASBORD BOLLYWOOD STYLE:
SALAAM NAMASTE

September 16th:  FANTASY OR NIGHTMARE? MY WIFE'S MURDER

September 1st:  THE RETURN OF THE DON: RGV'S SARKAR

July 1st:  ENTERTAINMENT MAKES A COMEBACK: BUNTY AUR BABLI

June 1st:  FORMULA: GOING, GOING GONE?

May 16th:  KAAL: TIME TO DIE (OF TEDIUM?)

May1 1st:  A FILM THAT TOUCHES THE HEART: MY BROTHER ...NIKHIL

April 1st: THE MANY SHADES OF BLACK

March 16th: REQUIEM FOR THE LOST WORLD? KISNA: THE WARRIOR POET

March 1st: WHAT LIES BENEATH....MADHUR BHANDARKAR'S PAGE 3

February 16th: PHIR BHI DIL HAI HINDUSTANI- FILMS FOR THE NRI HEART

February 1st: SEX, CINEMA & THE NRI

January 16th: LOSING YOUR WAY: AMRITSAR TO LA (BRIDE & PREJUDICE)

January 1st: THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE: A GLANCE AT SWADES

 

 
Copyright © 2004. All rights reserved.