Movie Review: Rowdy Rathore

Rowdy... sweeps you off your feet

Hindi (U/A)

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Yashpal Sharma  

Director: Prabhudeva

A film’s success can be gauged by the manner in which the filmmaker rolls his opening credits. If that be the benchmark, then Prabhudeva’s Rowdy Rathore can safely be declared a superhit from its first frame onwards – welcomed as it was with wolf whistles and catcalls which lasted three hours.

Every true blue artiste’s career is marked by milestones, but there comes that one turning point which is ‘the defining moment’, the one film they will be remembered by – in Dilip Kumar’s case it is Mughal-e-Azam, in Amitabh Bachchan’s it is Zanjeer, in SRK’s life it is DDLJ, for Boman Irani it is Munnabhai MBBS, etc... you get the general drift. The artiste may be a ‘success story’ prior but henceforth – this is what he has immortalised himself with. In Akshay Kumar’s case, Rowdy Rathore is that ‘turning point’. It may just prove to be the pinnacle of his career. 

Forget the story, forget the nuances. Just step into the world of Vikram aka Rowdy Rathore who loves to twirl his moustache when making a point with witty one-liners and getting distracted by Sonakshi Sinha’s curvaceous frame.

He makes a point both as Cop Rathore with his serious demeanour, or as Rowdy-Shiva (brilliantly funny) Rathore who ends up taking his place, when the former is killed by baddies.

It seamlessly blends Akshay Kumar’s action image with his comic style and comes up a sure-shot winner. Rowdy... is one film that finally explains to the North Indian audiences why the South Indian film industry heroes/ heroines land up with temples in their names. 

Rowdy Rathore is Prabhudeva’s show all the way and he tells you in no uncertain terms that he can be so easily one-up on his Mumbai counterparts when given a free hand - thank you Sanjay Leela Bhansali and UTV for doing just that. With its catchy dialogues, songs, chemistry between the lead pair, or comedy offset by action and teary moments – Rowdy... is a complete, total entertainer.

It is rare masala maar ke item which will sweep you off your feet and leave you asking for more. Don’t miss it.