Movie Review

Ra.One

SHAH.One!

TSI Five-O : Gen X says a big yes!


Expectation seduces… and insane expectations, seduces insanely! An undreamt of Rs 150 crore project, with spectacular graphics and visual effects to power it, exploding across over 3500 screens worldwide (in both 2-D and 3-D format) and storm-centred by the ‘King of Kings’ Baadshah Khan is one helluva proposition to ignore! Shahrukh Khan’s much awaited RA.One has released and – on cue – generated mixed reactions. Let me quickly precede this critique by reminding all and sundry that success breeds enemies faster than anything else and Shahrukh’s astonishing fame and popularity has already done its bit. Mocking SMSes and pitting it against Salman’s Bodyguard seems to take more space in the media than any objective assessment of the film. Sad, unfair, even infantile but, ah well…Okay, cut to the film.

In this spectacular, new-age, techno-blazer allegory of good versus evil, several things stand out. The face-offs between the two, G.One and RA.One are fabulously crafted and executed, registering truly high on the audience-delight radar! Superman, Batman, Spiderman, our man – G.One – is everything combined played out with the manic energy and style that only he can bring to any role he rocks with. Next, the amazing gentle touch that graces the screenplay reflected in the wonderful, warm connect between the protagonist and the people he is to protect – Kareena and her son – a brilliant piece of juxtaposition on the part of the gifted director Anubhav Sinha, lending this sci-fi movie a lovely human element that strikes a chord. Then of course there is action, excitement, crazy wit and (wow!) the spectacularly choreographed chhamak chhallo number that seems to be the anthem of the day! There is no great profound storyline and nor does RA.One pretend to have a well-formulated beginning, middle and end. It’s an audacious, goofy, feel-good, larger-than-life, entertainment package designed to take techno-driven story telling to another stratosphere.

Does it succeed? Well, the massive marketing and promo-drive that preceded its release was necessary because it was not another film. Its subject, treatment, budget and scale demanded hype of the crazy kind because it was something else altogether blazing a scorching first in all these areas! Admittedly, there was an over-kill factor but in the end, it’s a splendid ground-breaking, landmark film. Shahrukh Khan naturally is the mesmerising centre piece, investing his astonishing chutzpah in everything he does. The others (Kareena is delectable!) play effective, support roles. Sharing the marquee with him up there is the special effects gang, who have truly raised the bar in Indian cinema to a new high!

Comparisons with Rajnikant’s Robot, Hollywood’s sci-fi products and the BO receipts totally miss the point. Shahrukh Khan is a huge star worldwide and there is no doubt that the film – even as this goes to print – has already got back its ROI and started raking in profits. It is unlikely to be his main worry and focus. He has attempted (as a Producer-Star) to offer today’s Gen X, a product they can relate, connect with and enjoy big time packaged in pacy, exciting, visually-thrilling narrative. The fact that he has pushed the envelope, taken enormous risks and dared to go where angels fear to tread in a herd-mentality industry, speaks of his sense of creative daring and his desire to always challenge the impossible…

A great, enjoyable, time-pass blast, RA.One has once again demonstrated why the sexy superstar is and will always remain – SHAH.One!