I am not a certified film critic. I do not know the technicalities behind making a film. I don’t understand the film business. What I do know is that I love films, I love memorable theatrical experiences, and I love getting my money’s worth. So, when I was seated in the middle of a full-house movie hall surrounded by people cheering and whistling for a majestic presence on the screen at 10 o’clock at night, I knew that all the boxes on my what-makes-a-film-the-best-cinematic-experience list were about to get ticked off.
‘Pathaan’, directed by Siddharth Anand, is a movie worthy of Shahrukh Khan and is made especially for every Shahrukh Khan fan across the globe.
It has everything an SRK fan could ever ask for – a big-shot villain, a gorgeous yet impactful female character, killer action sequences, amazing songs, nail-biting suspense, and the King himself. Oh, and an out-of-this-world cameo + reunion. 😉
The film opens with the abrogation of Article 370, revoking the special status given to Jammu & Kashmir. This triggers Pakistani Army General Qadir who wants to teach India a lesson. However, Qadir is also suffering from cancer, leaving him with 3 years to live. He decides to act quickly and hires Jim, played by John Abraham, to exact revenge on India. Jim is an ex-RAW agent turned leader of a private terror organization named “Outfit X” with his own reasons to wreak havoc on India. Shahrukh Khan plays the titular Pathaan, a field agent, who is given the responsibility to stop Jim and save the country. While he is on his mission, Pathaan meets ISI agent Rubina Mohsin, played by Deepika Padukone, with whom he later joins hands to take Jim down.
But first things first, let’s talk about the casting. It was…like the kids nowadays say…chef’s kiss!🤌
SRK, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana, and actor-who-makes-an-amazing-cameo do a splendid job. I have never seen a film where the entire theatre cheers for the villain but there was not a single moment when John Abraham was on screen and people didn’t cheer for him. Deepika’s role, thankfully, isn’t reduced to just a love interest or a gorgeous painting. It’s pretty badass to see her fight the bad guys and wield heavy weaponry, making a significant contribution to the entire plot of the film. Both John and Deepika’s performances are convincing and remarkable. My jaw dropped every time I saw them on screen. Basically, I had my jaw dropped throughout the entire film.
Now, let’s talk about the man of the hour – Shahrukh Khan. He is the centrepiece around which this entire film is made.
He is the champion. The story is pretty basic – Indian soldiers versus terrorist organisations – nothing we haven’t already seen before. There are just two songs in the film (‘Besharam Rang’ and ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’) and the rest are pretty average background scores. So it can be said that SRK does most of the heavy lifting, and he does it VERY WELL. It is he, and he alone, who makes the film shine the way it does.
SRK’s ‘Pathaan’ is much like him – witty, emotional, soft, humane. His entry sequence in the film is probably his best-ever entry in a film to date. There’s humour, there’s romance, and there’s subtle yet unmissable socio-political commentary which will give you many ‘aha!’ moments if you have been following what has been happening in Shahrukh’s personal and professional life.
Special shoutout to Abbas Tyrewala for the dialogues. They are hard-hitting, masaledaar and full of swag.
So to sum it up, the film will keep you on your toes from the moment it begins till the credits come to an end. So don’t just get off your seats but wait for the sweet surprise that comes after the end credits. There is never a dull moment in ‘Pathaan’ and you will walk out with a huge smile on your face.
It is truly every SRK fan’s dream come true.