JAWAAN (2023) : review

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And finally the much hyped, much awaited Jawaan saw light of the day ! Big stars, big budget( humongous budget actually), big music composer, everything super large. But does it meet the expectations of the average viewer? No it goes not. Read on.  A decorated jawan locks horns with a criminal called Kaali, this is in 1986 ( the year movies like Aakhri Raasta released, just for reference). Kaali gets him eliminated and send the pregnant wife to jail. The baby born in jail grows up to become the hero (look alike of the father) and decides to avenge the misdeeds done to his innocent patriotic parents. Well, isn’t it a masaaledaar full on Bollywood- Tollywood drama subject ?  And then the director Atlee also borrows ideas and references from various retro movies, some idea from Sholay (1975) as the hero assembled a gang of jailed Qaidis in order to form a team to nab the villain, then there’s an entire episode borrowed from Dhartiputra (1993), and the basic theme is copy pasted ...
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MR BOND (1992) revisited

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MR BOND (1992) Revisited 

Directed by : Raj Sippy 

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sheeba, Saathi Ganguly, Dolly Minhas, Ruchika Panday, Manjeet Khullar, Poonam Dasgupta, Ram Mohan, Hussain Khan, Subbiraj, Mac Mohan, Bob Christo & Pankaj Dheer. 

We know Indianised James Bond in Bollywood like Jumping Jack Jeetu and muscular Mithun in 60s, 70s and 80s who played the agent with fine aplomb and their movies were box office hits as well, but do we remember our very own Khiladi Kumar playing the undercover agent in this forgotten “strictly for adults” thriller?

When a bunch of kids from wealthy families get kidnapped by an Bangkok based underworld don Dragon, an Indian undercover agent Mr. Bond is summoned to rescue the innocent lives. Loaded with generous martial arts action, lot of bloodbath, flexing muscles and ripped bodies, this thriller could well be the lowest rated action movie on IMDb. Nevertheless it’s one of those delightful trashy Bollywood capers that make a random afternoon watch on a rainy day. 

Sippy specialised in thrillers hence he’s infused this movie with extreme violence, very well crafted stunts, and weighed down with a terrible screenplay and loopholed editing. A very young and upcoming Akshay Kumar has a gala time showing off his chiselled body, exploring his martial arts while fighting the baddies and romancing half a dozen beauties (only Sheeba gets a meaty role). Since a major portion is shot at Bangkok the director gets a sleazy excuse to raise the sexual content. 

Anand-Milind’s music is passable with most songs sung by Anuradha Paudwal (T-Series label) in a high pitch voice with a juvenile sounding Udit Narayan. It’s the husky voiced Annette Pinto crooning the title song with full on orgasmic enlightenment. 

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