Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan movie review: dull, boring and plain routine even for fans

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan movie review

This reported remake of the 2014 Tamil hit Veeramstarring Ajith written and directed by Siva is adapted for his Hindi version by Farhad Samji, Sparsh Khetarpal & Tasha Bhambra.

The adaptation/screenplay by Farhad Samji, Sparsh Khetarpal & Tasha Bhambra is uninspiring, a mis match and on top of that a sin. The writers have done injustice to the stardom of Salman Khan and love for family masala action lovers in general. The entertainment hungry souls of Bollywood, the true fans of Salman Khan and those who are hoping for a good entertaining weekend on this Eid weekend will be highly disappointed.

This colourful extravaganza lacks soul and fails to connect with the target audience. This may be Farhad Samji, Sparsh Khetarpal & Tasha Bhambra’s understanding of a masala family action drama, I think they need more study in how to catch the pulse of the lovers of a quintessential family masala action drama film. Plus, the writers, the director and Salman Khan himself are guilty of not realising the potential of the mass stardom of Salman Khan and his calibre as an actor.

I had a feeling that Salman Khan in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is the Salman Khan the writer, director, and Salman Khan himself desires to see on screen. Honestly, Salman Khan as an actor and as a star is much better than what we have seen in KKBKKJ.

I liked the way his aura and stardom were used in Wanted and Dabangg. Though Wanted was a remake of Mahesh Babu starrer Pokhri but any Bollywood action lover must have loved Salman Khan in Wanted. Remakes like these are welcome anytime.

But nowadays, we see remakes quite often, as said earlier to have a proper understanding of the subject and star matter you need some extra effort and of course creativity, which writers like Farhad Samji, Sparsh Khetarpal & Tasha Bhambra lack and have avoided.

Remake hai, star hai, studio hai, chepo aur chapoo, audience ki…. Bring it on…

One question to Farhad Samji in particular – when your forte is comedy why allow action to take a front seat. Just because Salman Khan is the star and the producer. Bajrangi Bhaijan was not an action packed masala… juts a reminder.

Second question to the makers – what is so great about Veeram – it was a success but it’s an average affair with nothing happening till the interval, the second half and Ajith did the needful in 2014. Still it’s an average movie. So much cores for remaking an average mainstream cinema. The Bollywood think tank need a quick update on tastes and preferences asap.

What to say about a movie that lacks soul and fails in connecting emotionally, the characters laugh, cry and the audience are wondering why.

The bonding between brothers is not felt, the romance is missing, only the action has some thrill quotient and that too during the last 10 – 15 mins.

Performance

Salman Khan is fantastic in those action scenes. How long will that long lock will go I can’t say. His antics are there to please his diehard fans but nothing that can be underlined or highlighted.

Pooja Hegde is charming.

Venkatesh Daggubati shines.

Jagapathi Babu is marvellous.

Vijender Singh is passable, same for Raghav Juyal, Jassie Gill and Siddharth Nigam Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari and Vinali Bhatnagar just sign the muster. Bhumika Chawla is fine.

Rohini Hattangady makes her presence felt. Satish Kaushik is fabulous. Tej Sapru and Aasif Sheikh are goo as well. Abhimanyu Singh leaves his mark. Bhagyashree looks so beautiful in a special appearance as Bhagya. Himalaya and Abhimanyu Dassani are fine as well. Ram Charan pleases his fans.

Music

All songs look good and colourful on screen. Music by Sukhbir - ‘Billi Billi’, ‘Balle Balle’, is average. Payal Dev’s Yentamma is better. ‘Naiyo Lagda’ by Himesh Reshammiya is average as well. ‘Jee rahe they hum by Amaal Malik is fine. ‘Let’s dance’ by Devi Sri Prasad is poor.

Technicalities

V. Manikandan’s cinematography is eye pleasing. Anl Arasu’s action and stunt scenes are fabulous. Mayuresh Sawant’s editing is fine.

Final words

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is a Salman Khan film. So, if you are expecting something exceptional like 3 Idiots or Munna Bhai MBBS then it’s your fault. But having said so, audience is not an ‘idiot’ be it a love of masala or the so-called sensible cinema. Salman Khan films don’t have foul language, tools of sex and nudity are not used and movies are targeted for family audience. KKBKKJ is also away from foul language, sex nudity and it depicts south respectively. The characters are not shown as those typical caricatures with that accent. After Salman Khan this is the only other USP of this touted Eid Bonanza.

So now when all is said and endured, a Salman Khan bole toh bhai film on Eid is immune to criticism. Who cares?  But it is a duty of some people like us to present the facts as they are. How long will repetition and excess ring in box office returns and how long will Bollywood makers blindly make remakes without knowing the pulse of the audience and potential of the star involved. And how long will the age-old clichés, work? despite all that stardom and publicity.

Bollywood makers like Farhad Samji and stars like Salman Khan have to decide and consider a reinvention asap. Did SRK repeated his signature arm pose in Pathaan?... socho…

Am going with 2 stars (in generosity and festival mood)