Breath-taking Salman, impressive action sequences and striking locations!
Director: Kabir Khan
Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Girish Karnad, Ranvir Shorey
Rating: 3.5 / 5
For its impeccable action sequences, Salman Khan’s mesmerizing eyes and Katrina Kaif’s sizzling legs, 'Ek Tha Tiger', which has been filmed in some of the most picturesque locales of the world deserves a pat on the back!
Well! Everything else in the film – a little romance, a little flashback, tears and dances are synonymous with any Yash Raj Banner film, this one of course, is sans any sort of family drama or mirch-masala.
The story opens with Tiger, an Indian RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent fighting ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) agents. The mysterious, handsome bachelor played by Salman Khan has been on back-to-back missions since the past 12 years and plans to spend all of his ‘23 lakhs’ of savings when he retires!
When a mission to follow scientist Anwar Jamal Kidwai played by British-Indian actor, Roshan Seth, takes agent Tiger to Dublin, Ireland Tiger finds himself dancing, singing and buying gifts for the lovely Zoya played by Katrina Kaif, who invariably becomes a part of Tiger’s mission.
Things take an uncanny turn when Zoya is none other than a secret ISI agent - which has been poorly developed as a sub-plot in the film.
Sequences before the interval unravel quickly and just before the interval you are left with the sound of a gun shot and a 15 minute wait you cannot wait to see yourself through.
The second half of the film is faster and grips you with filming sequences in Istanbul, Cuba, Delhi and Hong Kong. Girish Karnad as Tiger’s mentor and senior agent on the desk plays an impressive role, but could have been exploited a lot more considering his legendary acting skills.
Ranvir Shorey is fantastic as Gopi, an agent who is Tiger’s friend in the first half and has to irrevocably turn against him in the second. With some of the funniest dialogues in the film, Ranvir Shorey plays the best supporting cast to 'Ek Tha Tiger'!
The constant 30-second flashbacks in the first half of the film, work surprisingly well in engaging the audience in riots of laughter. This however, is what the second half of the film lacks with impressive action (over-the-top at times) but no catchy lines!
The dialogues in the film are a disappointing. With none of the leads having anything remarkable to say! In fact, Katrina’s dialogues are the worst – slow, cheesy and surrounding a father who took her out for a drive and showed her stars – oh! My my… the epitome of Bollywood clichés!
The good thing about 'Ek Tha Tiger' is it’s outstandingly large budget that allows it to be filmed in breath-taking locales, sets that are gorgeous and art designs that ape a sleek Hollywood action thriller. The disspointing low in the film however, is that it depends far too much on the credibility of ‘The Salman factor!’
Undeniably, with housefulls' on day one, and people pre-booking shows as late up to next week, 'Ek Tha Tiger' was a super-hit at the box-office long before it released! But plot-wise, it surely disheartens!
The film concludes leaving you with an empty sensation. You loved the action and you loved the music, but you want a story! Even after the credits role and the finale number of “Mashallah” comes to an end you find yourself seated in the chair, hoping that this was not one of those fairy-tale ending films – which it consistently is!
Director Kabir Khan lacks the ability to tell a brilliant story. The movie could have definitely been a lot better, with stunts and body doubles that made 'Ek Tha Tiger' a very imposing romantic thriller, rather than any other action film.
Cinematographer Aseem Mishra and editor Rameshwar S. Bhagat definitely deserve a huge round of applause for their intriguing judgment and ability to deliver an enthralling visual narration to Tiger’s story. The stunts performed using cars, helicopters, airplanes and old buildings are outstanding! 'Ek Tha Tiger' also boasts of some imaginative action sequences, smartly choreographed by Hollywood stunt coordinator Conrad Palmisano of 'Batman Forever' and 'X-Men' fame!
Music throughout the film – background music by Julius Packiam fitting in wherever Salman throws his glossy, piercingly lovely eyes at Ms. Long legs Kaif and songs by Sohail Sen and Sajid-Wajid, take the movie ahead and are in no way out of film.
As a movie reviewer what is extremely dejecting is that with everything going for it – a huge star cast, a 76 crore budget and all the lavish locales and equipment at your feet, Director Kabir Khan and story-writer cum Producer, Aditya Chopra, fail to tell a story that could have been made a lot more inspiring! This leaves 'Ek Tha Tiger' to be showcased like yet another, Bollywood-hyped film starring the janta’s favourite, Sallu Bhai!
And yes, he is so worth it!
