His stare has a lyrical justice to it. Although he has a spy-like figure, the majority of his Pathaan is communicated through his eyes. Shah Rukh Khan is back on the big screen after a four-year hiatus, doing what he does best: charm the hell out of you and remind us why he belongs to a dying breed—the real superstars. Let’s head to the review of Pathaan movie.
Pathaan is a continuation of the director Siddharth Anand’s unique style, which is most known for glamorising his stars and presenting them in scenes that occasionally resemble extravagant set pieces from Hollywood movies. It serves as a recall of his earlier efforts, specifically the bromance-filled War and the Mr and Mrs Smith desi homage film Bang Bang! Anand here serenades the viewers with sights and graphics that pay homage to several classic Hollywood movies.
Shah Rukh’s Pathaan is a tribute to Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr. He may not be as wealthy as Stark or possess a superhero spacesuit, but his one-liners and game with ladies are a fitting homage to him. Deepika’s portrayal of a Pakistani ISI agent is similar to Scarlett Johansson’s in her action movies. Many of the action scenes, including the climax, seem to have been lifted directly from Hollywood productions like Mission Impossible, Fast and the Furious, and others.
But Pathaan isn’t a pretend movie. It also doesn’t pretend to be a Vin Diesel or a Tom Cruise production. The tale of Pathaan is the first instalment in India’s first original spy verse. India’s SCU, which is headed by the triumvirate of Tiger, Kabir, and now Pathaan, is comparable to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the West. A patriotic attitude permeates the entire plot. Jim, a rogue agent who is played by the incredibly attractive John Abraham, plans to exact revenge on India. The timing of his retaliation coincides with India’s repeal of Article 370, which sets off Pakistan’s nefarious plans to annex Kashmir. Pathaan is now on a quest to stop Jim, but when a seductive diversion in the person of ISI agent Rubina Khan appears, trust difficulties for Pathaan arise (Deepika Padukone). Is she your friend or foe? Her personal past reveals her motivations and provides the tale with a crucial pre-interval twist. The movie has a lot of action and clever conversation, and it looks sensual.
The second half of Pathaan outperforms the first. The action sequences lack logic and reason, but this isn’t a documentary, so that makes sense. You also got to see SRK perform hard-core action scenes for the first time. It works because Anand gives him some realistic hand-to-hand combat scenes with John. The action in Pathaan is daring and courageous; it involves more than just jet planes soaring through the air or Ferraris sliding through the ice.
Pathaan’s heart belongs to Shah Rukh, who serves as a continual reminder of why we love watching him on the big screen. He charms you into buying it while presenting the most absurd plot twists. A true stand-alone action movie is something Deepika Padukone needs. She actually has the body type and personality to play a tomb raider. A fantastic cast includes John Abraham as the antagonist. You begin to understand why he’s one of the greatest action heroes of our time once you look past how good-looking he is in Pathaan. Many of John’s movies never give him the credit he deserves. Thankfully, he not only holds his own against SRK in Pathaan but also shines with grace.
The “Pathaan meets Tiger” scene in Pathaan is a big high point and something that everyone anxiously anticipates. Being in the same frame as Salman and SRK while they are beating up some baddies is an amazing delight to see. This will be remembered as the ideal tribute to the fame of these two performers in the annals of film history.
The action blocks in Pathaan are its worst flaw, as they can occasionally become tedious. Some scenes appear to feature a stunt double, while others overtly show that they were shot on a green mat. Tom Cruise, a well-known Hollywood actor, just pulled off a stunt in his most recent Mission Impossible movie that will be remembered as the height of his devotion to acting. The actor, 60, self-performed a bike dive from a cliff’s edge. Nobody duplicate, no Croma. Tom is alone, working on his bike.
Another problem with Pathaan is that in a few of the language exchanges, SRK flirtatiously refers to Deepika as a “bomb” and says that he is prepared for a “burst” as her thigh playfully brushes against him. In another scenario, he attempts to employ humour by rhyming the Russian currency, the rouble, with the word “boobles,” while making fun of a woman showing off her cleavage. The Pathaan story could have been redeemed with better writing.
Pathaan is blatantly enjoyable. It is not attempting to make a political statement or offer comments on the situation in the world. Instead, it turns back time to when seeing a Shah Rukh Khan movie in theatres was a cause for celebration. The actor recently confessed his unfulfilled ambition during a #AskSRK session. I hope I have the stamina to even entertain your children, he wrote in his letter, “Itni shakti rahe mujh mein ki aap ke bacchon ko bhi entertain kar sakoon.” One thing is certain: SRK is not leaving the spotlight anytime soon if his zeal and intensity in Pathaan are any indications. This Pathaan serves as the ideal introduction to India’s unique spy universe.
If you liked the review above, go and watch “Pathaan” in a theatre near you.