MOVIE REVIEWS

Review: Race 2

 

Sanjukta Sharma is clear about her expectations from a film like this one:
Abbas and Mustan Burmawalla, brothers and director-duo, are Bollywood’s master recyclers of pulp action thrillers. They have a glossy, plastic idiom, heavily dependent on European locations and post-production gimmickry. Race cars can be in glitzy slow motion. In fact, slow motion in jagged loops is their trademark. The men in these movies are always rakish; they live in ritzy hotels and casinos, and are surrounded by women who are always fashionably styled and brain-dead. Sexist humour drives the subplots.

But she adds that the “new action thriller is bad pulp; and a love story fit to be a television serial.”

Comparisons to the prequel were inevitable. Shubhra Gupta says in her review:
'Race 2' looks exactly like 'Race'. Which may have been intentional because plush locations and pretty playthings and buff men are very much Abbas Mustan trademarks. But all it does is cause a dismally same-same feeling. So much so that the new characters start feeling old within a few frames. Even the plot, which has a one-line pitch, Ranveer out to avenge the death of the love of his life, becomes subservient to the larger cause of looking glossy.

Anupama Chopra points out that though ‘Race’ was similar, it managed to pack in some thrills, which the sequel seemed to lack:

The first Race was also pure popcorn, but the twists were delicious and the characters were interesting. Here, writer Shiraz Ahmed and Abbas-Mustan were relying so much on style that they forgot about screenplay - this is a film in which even character artiste Rajesh Khattar gets a high-speed-walk moment. 

But is the film all bad? Well, Rajeev Masand doesn’t seem to think so:
What it's lacking in originality, the film tries to make up for in sheer ambition. Abbas-Mustan don't skimp on any effort to deliver a fast-paced, stylish entertainer, even if much of it turns out to be a hoot. From crazy gizmos that would make James Bond's trusted ally Q turn a shade of green, to the sheer gratuitous skin show on display, Race 2 is a guilty pleasure all the way. Leading ladies Deepika Padukone and Jacqueline Fernandes sportingly show up to show off cleavage and leg, and John Abraham and Saif Ali Khan frequently strip down to their waists in an unapologetic buffet of beefcake.

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Hyped from the word go, Son Of Sardar is a big film. Having delivered a string of blockbusters in recent years, this Ajay Devgn production is expected to be yet another hundred-crore-hit for the actor. While the cast is packed with the top names, taking charge of the music is Devgn's new favorite Himesh Reshammiya, whose tunes in Bol Bachchan picked up very well post-release.

The title-track opens with a voice-over by Ajay Devgn and is a light-hearted spoof on the classic Kabhi Kabhi poem (ironically SOS takes on Yash Chopra's next, this Diwali). Sung by Aman Trikha and Himesh himself, it's got all one would expect from the title-song of a film with a Punjabi protagonist. The Bhangra beats are loud, and lyrics are filled with talks of party-sharty, emcee-beecee (you get the drift!). Though nowhere close to the Singh Is Kinng title-song in terms of its catchy-quotient, the number still works as a harmless, time-pass listen; mainly due to its inherently Desi feel.

The romantic duet Rani Tu Mein begins on a peppy note, with a catchy tune and some rap by Yo Yo Honey Singh. Mika and Bhavya Pandit hold their own in the main song, with their lively vocals. The sound is a fusion of Desi and firang hooks, straight out of Pritam’s text-book - But is backed by a strong melody that’s easy to hum and pleasant on the ears.


Po Po instantly reminds you of those Indipop Bhangra numbers that were such a rage in the 90s. Sung by Reshammiya, Aman Trikha and Vikas Bhalla, the song may not hook you instantly, but eventually the tune does start appealing. Just like the title-song, this one keeps the Desi feel intact, and on the whole makes for a foot-tapping listen.

Tu Kamaal Di Kudi follows the Bollywood Bhangra template, and sounds straight out of a 90s Deol flick. Mamta Sharma and Vineet Singh do a spirited job with their singing, making up for an otherwise, routine tune.
After four fast-paced numbers, comes Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s slow ballad, Bichdan. The sound is not Sufi, so the singer gets a chance to move away from his regular style. Though melodious, it is likely to work better on screen.
Next up is Rahat again with Yeh Jo Halki Halki. It’s a solo, Sufi number, deeply rooted in Rahat's comfort zone. There is a hint of Atif Aslam's Tu Jaane Na in some portions of the song. But despite the conventional sound, it has a solid tune. And delivers just what it promises. Never running out of steam, this one is a predictable yet engaging package. 

Ajay Devgn's Kabhi Kabhi spoof gets its own full-fledged theme song. It’s an extended version of the voice-over that plays in the theatrical trailer of the film. Packed with some smart one-liners and a peppy-beat, this one should work quite well in the NRI market.

Surprise surprise! Here's an album in which the remixes are actually distinct in sound, and not just noisy rehashes. In fact some of the tracks work better in their remixed avatars. The title-song benefits from the additional loops and enhanced tempo, while Rani Tu Mein and Bichdan’s remixes are apt for music-videos. But the real star is the lounge-inspired remix of Kabhi Kabhi. It's amazing how a simple voice-over is transformed into a groovy, foot-tapping number. This is definitely the most enjoyable track of the album. 

Son Of Sardar has several melodious moments, but lacks that one, big, potential-blockbuster-track that one would expect from a movie of this canvas .

Like Devgn's Bol Bachchan, the songs of Son Of Sardar will need the support of good choreography and proper placement in the film, to make a mark with listeners.