Ajay Devgn’s latest offering ‘Bholaa’ is remake of 2019’s Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil Hit ‘Kaithi’. Film is directed by Ajay Devgn who directed ‘U Me Aur Hum’, ‘Shivaay’ and ‘Runway 34’ earlier. Tabu, Deepak Dobariyal, Gajraj Rao, Sanjay Mishra join Ajay Devgn in this action drama. Film is produced by Ajay Devgn Films, Reliance Entertainment and Panorama Studios.
Plot:
A drug raid has been successfully executed and 900 kgs of uncut cocaine seized by UP police. Both the drug and its transporters are locked up inside the secretive Lalganj jail. Police officer Diana Joseph (Tabu) thinks the worst is behind her when she finds herself in a situation; several of her colleagues senior police officers have fallen unconscious after their drinks were spiked at a senior’s (Kiran Kumar) farewell party. Running out of options and time, Diana requests Bholaa (Ajay Devgn) (an ex-convict for 10 years) on his way to meet his daughter at an orphanage, to load the cops up in a truck and drive them to the hospital. It’s a two-hour ride, enough time for Ashwatthama (Deepak Dobriyal), the maniacal chief of the drug ring, to lay siege on Lalganj.
There is ageing cop (Sanjay Mishra) along with bunch of young students stuck in Lalganj police station. Different group of goons, an item number, series of action set piece and tacky dialogues form the rest of the film.
Performances:
Ajay Devgn looks the part and he owns every action scene. He is intense and his eyes do the talking. Tabu has nothing to do in the film and she is average in a film after several years. Deepak Dobariyal plays caricature over the top mad villain with aplomb. Vineet Kumar has nothing to do. Gajraj Rao delivers worst performance of career with irritating South Indian accent. Amala Paul is okay in cameo and Rai Lakshmi looks gorgeous in item number. One more cameo right at the end adds some zing to the climax.
Analysis:
There is no doubt that source material ‘Kaithi’ was a well made taut thriller where film takes time to start and then goes mad in second half. Here in ‘Bholaa’, action is maddening from the word go and goes on and on for 2 hours or so.
The sad part is unoriginality once again by director Ajay Devgn – ‘Runway 34’ was heavily inspired from ‘Flight’ and ‘Sully’, ‘U Me Aur Hum’ was worst copy of ‘The Notebook’ and ‘Shivaay’ was poor cousin of ‘Taken’. This time Ajay goes a step further: he takes characters of ‘Kaithi’ and shot it in ‘Mad Max Fury Road’ style. The big machine gun in climax in hands of Bholaa, action set piece and even frames of goons riding the truck in climax are shamelessly lifted from ‘Mad Max’. There is also sprinkle of Nicolas Cage’s ‘Con Air’ – one night and a guy stuck in situation turned saviour.
Background music is so loud and irritating that it overpowers proceedings. Editing is uneven as few shots transit hastily. Cinematography is flawless. Story and screenplay is weakest part of the film as film has been designed as big action piece. Dialogues need special mention, sample this: ‘Tumhari beti 150 ladkiyon ke saath AKELE ek kamre mein farsh pe soti hai’ (alone but with 150 other girls). Over the top dialogues are one thing but unintentionally funny is other, this film’s dialogue falls in second category. Music is confusing as there is no sense of ‘Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tammana hai’ song in an action sequence and item song is edited couple of times abruptly to place proceedings in between. B Praak’s song right at the interval ends in a minute.
Direction by Ajay Devgn is flat as film never ever evokes any emotion. Even some good scenes of ‘Kaithi’ has been butchered mercilessly. For example, Bholaa eats dozen pieces of chicken in ghastly manner but it completely misses the point made in ‘Kaithi’ where it stood for what is going to unfold ahead in terms blood and gore.
Verdict:
To be fair, film might work among masses due to larger than life over the top action and dialogue but classes and multiplexes will not love this. Film is half baked ‘Kaithi’ and more of ‘Mad Max’. It is uninspiring and boring for most of the parts as it lacks soul.
Rating:
Critic’s Rating: 2/5
Box Office Rating: 2.5/5
Also read:
Stay tuned for Movie reviews, ott reviews, latest bollywood movie reviews, box office movie reviews.
