Director - Vijay Krish... Arre the same guy who helmed Dhoom 3.
Runtime - 2 hrs 44 mins
Genre - Adventure / Thriller (really?) / Action
Plot - Remember the The Boy Who Lived from Harry Potter? Bass vahi hain. Just replace Daniel with Fatima and voila! You have TOH (Not literally tho. I won't dare to compare THAT to THIS but you get it, right?)
A constantly double-crossing doube-double-crosser who double-crosses way too much. Or does he? This is basically the main plot point of the 2 hrs 44 mins film.
The perfectly choreographed action, the outstandingly good background score, cleverly blended fight sequences, first rate performances by the lead cast surely makes you sit up and watch but are these enough reasons for you to spend 3 hrs and INR300+ on?
All the actors give top notch performances and are one of the very very few saving graces but even gifted actors like Amir and Amitabh couldn't save the Indian version of Dumbledore-Snape equation from falling pale. Also, it's galling how Fatima Sana Sheikh isn't given anything more than 2-3 lines in the first 45 mins of the film.
No! Not Katrina. It's sad how her role has been cut down to just 2 item numbers, although she could've been used for the action bits considering how good she is at it. But of course, what is a Bollywood film without a gratuitious dancer who is shimmering with gold on her body much like Aishwarya Rai did in Dhoom 2. And what on earth are these women doing to their lips and why?! Did I miss something like, "Katrina's lips are going to be in 3D so watch out!" It is shocking that her choreography goes out of its way to make her steps exaggeratedly mechanical and look – absurd! Sure, it shows how strong her abs are, but where is the grace? Hello?
The story is bromidic and reminds you of many films (Yes, Race 3 being of them). The only saving grace in the plotline are its dialogues which are minimal but hard hitting for most part of the film. The lines feel honest because the characters seem aware of themselves, their actions and those of others too.
The direction is shoddy along with poor CGI. The second-rate digital work and the even shabby editing snatch that attention away from the lustre of some interestingly conceptualised fight scenes.
The best thing in the film (for me) is how despite being clearly in the “masala” genre, Thugs of Hindostan doesn’t have a romantic sidetrack. The restraint is even more obvious and applaudworthy because there is ample opportunity for a love story. Or even two. Props to whoever thought of that. 👏
Thugs of Hindostan dulls down in the second half with the wit dying out and the story-writing deteriorating to the kind we saw in the multi-starrer masala films from the 80s and 90s. This includes the huge gaps in logical flow and things quite conveniently turning out the way they do.
If you are among the ones looking for a typical masala Diwala release,
TOH might just work for you but I'd still suggest you think before you press that "Proceed for Payment" option.
Ratings - 2.5 (Only for Aamir, Amitabh and the Sound-Makeup-Action Department)
PS - Sorry Katrina. Your amazing dancing skills and luscious lips deserved better.
