Mending fences with love

Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Hindi (U/A) ¬¬¬
Cast: Salman Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali
Director: Kabir Khan

A heart of gold, arms of steel and tons of tomfoolery — all the usual suspects join hands to create the man that is Salman, a Hanuman devotee here.

The swagger, the antics and the pelvic thrusts are intact. Bring in a cherubic girl from across the border who can’t speak, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan wins half the battle with its emotional Indo-Pak theme.

The only departure from the Khan drill is the shirt that runs its course. Yes, he keeps it on as he works up the tear ducts on both sides of the fence.

So, you have Pawan aka Bajrangi, the village simpleton who is a disaster in studies but endears himself to everyone with his straightforward ways. And yes, he bows before every monkey that swings past him.

But more than the simian sentiments, it’s his innocent charm that draws Kareena Kapoor (kohl-eyes, secular lessons) to Salman. Kareena’s teacher act is soon eclipsed by the little Pakistani girl (Harshaali) who is lost in Delhi after a Samjhauta Express ride goes wrong. Now, it’s up to Salman to reunite her with her folks in Pakistan.

Director Kabir Khan makes the best use of cricket and its underlying patriotic tones when he suggests there are better ways to mend neighbourly relations. And just when the jingoistic chords begin to jar, he brings in Nawazuddin Siddiqui. As the Pakistani reporter scavenging for stories, Siddiqui is a class apart. Right from his introductory shots to the troubled trips he undertakes with Salman inside Pakistan, the actor keeps one hooked, adding some spring to the movie’s almost-three-hour running time.

In fact, it is the supporting cast that forms the spine of Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Another example is Om Puri, the maulana who reminds  our hero that there is a bit of Kashmir on their side too.

At a time when sparks are flying between the two nations, Bajrangi Bhaijaan tells us love can douse them all. Two cheers to that. And an extra star for the brilliance that is Nawazuddin Siddiqui.