Never Ending Movie Carnival
Never Ending Movie Carnival
Raksha Bandhan movie review: Akshay Kumar gives it all he has
What: Raksha Bandhan - Imagine a hurried clip of women empowerment during the final reels of an enjoyable family drama between brothers and sisters. Good thought but wrong timing but Akshay Kumar gives it all he has.
Raksha Bandhan movie synopsis
Lala Kedarnath (Akshay Kumar) a famous chaat vendor at Chandni Chowk and guess what it gol gappa’s again ( haa ji) the clan of Lala ji is famous for their mouth watering gol gappa amongst pregnant women as they have the magic to bring the joy of a boy child to those pregnant women.
Lalaji is the eldest brother in his family which consists of four sisters Gayatri (Sadia Khateeb), Durga (Deepika Khanna), Laxmi (Smrithi Srikanth), Saraswati (Sahejmeen Kaur).
While Gayatri is the ideal ghar ki bahu material, the other three sisters – a happily plumb Durga (Deepika Khanna), proud to be dusky Laxmi (Smrithi Srikanth), and tomboyish Saraswati (Sahejmeen Kaur) are not the ‘ideal bahu material’.
As a promise to his mother on her deathbed - Lalaji has to get his sisters married first before tying the knot with his childhood beloved Sapna (Bhoomi Pednekar).
Will Lalaji get the match for all his sisters?
Blame it on the writer duo Himanshu Sharma and Kanika Dhillon who after an absorbing family drama, suddenly in the last reels wind this as a social commentary on women empowerment and gender equality. The message is essential no doubt but the delivery is hurried and unstructured.
The first half is entertaining, breezy and lively. The second half is packed with powerful emotions that are relatable to every household who face the demon of dowry.
The message should have come out in a better planned way.
Performance
Akshay Kumar is terrific; he gives it all he has as Lala. Emotional, playful, strong, Akshay Kumar nails it with such a delight.
From the four sisters - Sadia Khateeb gets more screen time and she leaves her mark.
Sahejmeen Kaur is very good.
Smrithi Srikanth makes her presence felt.
Deepika Khanna is a delight.
Seema Pahwa has her moments. Ditto for Neeraj Sood.
What the hell was Bhoomi Pednekar doing in this film, pleading pleading and pleading…
Final words
Raksha Bandhan could have been an ideal emotionally packed brother sister movie releasing on the festival occasion of Raksha Bandhan but the hurried wind up which seems as a forced lecturbaazi on the important issssue of dowry, women empowerment and gender equality spoils the festive celebration. Anyways, Raksha Bandhan has its moments and Akshay Kumar to protect.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma