Full on Entertainer
By MovieTalkies.com, 08 August 2008
3.5 / 5
So finally it has arrived. Vipul Shah's Singh Is Kinng, directed by Anees Bazmee, showcasing Akshay Kumar as the new king. Well, first thoughts first the film is entertaining but a bit too long. A little bit of crispness would have made for an even more enjoyable experience. Akshay Kumar is all over, doing everything but surprisingly, the script gives enough scope to the supporting cast and what actually comes across is more of an ensemble, which is a good sign.
The supporting cast which includes actors of the caliber of Om Puri, Kiron Kher, Sonu Sood and Ranvir Shorey have enough meat to dig their teeth into. The film has enough colours, a lot of Punjabi camaraderie and sufficient song and dance routines to make it an all out entertainer. It is pleasing on the eyes, the songs have been well picturised and the effect, in total is pleasing, just for the second half, where one feels it has been a little stretched.
The story of the film revolves around the character of Happy Singh, who lives in this village of Punjab. A helpful, honest guy, he creates a lot of problems for the villagers because of his helpfulness. Hence they plan to send him away from the village. They give him a mission, which is to bring one of their sons back to the fold. He (Sonu Sood) is the king of crime in Australia along with his brother, played to perfection by Javed Jaffri. Happy is given the task of bringing the king back home to his parents. Charged with his mission, Happy sets out with his best friend, played by Om Puri. But instead of reaching Australia, they make it to Egypt, by mistake. Happy meets Sonia (Katrina Kaif) and it is love at first sight for him. They spend a few happy moments with each other before he makes it back to Australia. Needless to say, the King is hardly moved by Happy's eloquence and throws him out of his house, with the help of his cronies, played by Neha Dhupia, Manoj Pahwa and Sudhanshu Pande. Our Happy befriends a widow who sells flowers, (Kiron Kher).
Meanwhile, the king is shot by his enemies, and Happy, in his endeavor to help him escape, unknowingly causes him a head injury. The result is that Happy is made the new Kinng while the old king lies paralyzed and quaking with anger against Happy. The cronies are further forced to act as servants when Kiron Kher's daughter in the film, Sonia, arrives with her fiancée (Ranvir Shorey). The eternal triangle takes place and in the end, when all is resolved, Singh gets his queen and the old King reforms. And they all make their way back to Punjab.
Akshay really gets into his character with full gusto and renders a very charged performance. He is like a livewire and does everything beginning, from some mind blowing action, to rollicking comedy to romance. And he does it very well indeed. The character of Singh allows him to be himself. The character's rustic simplicity is what he captures very well in his performance, without going over the top. He is supported by a fantastic supporting cast. Om Puri, one of the best actors that we have in the country, plays his belagured friend, who had originally plotted to have him sent off to Australia; little knowing the he would be chosen to accompany him. His attempts at speaking English are hilarious and very well done.
Sonu Sood impresses all over again, with another great performance in this film, following his show in Jodhaa Akbar. This is an absolutely different kind of role, with traces of comedy in it and he is very effective as the paralyzed King. Of his cronies, the ones who stand out are Sudhanshu Pande, Yashpal Sharma and Manoj Pahwa. They all have bit parts, but share a very good chemistry amongst themselves and that comes across very well on screen. The director has given them their little moments as well, and hence prevents the film from being lop sided. Neha Dhupia, as the King's moll, is a revelation. She looks and acts well too. Kiron Kher has less scope but is competent.
Ranvir Shorey plays a slightly negative role and is very impressive indeed. He looks and plays the snobbish, jealous boyfriend with ease. A truly amazing actor. But the best performance is from Javed Jaffrey, who actually plays two roles in the film. He plays Ranvir's father as well as the Sonu Sood's brother. Among the two, it is in the role of the deaf and shortsighted brother that he truly excels. His sense of comic timing is excellent.
The heroine of the movie, Katrina, looks gorgeous and is an ideal foil to Akshay's rustic character of Singh. The two share a very good chemistry on screen and really look good together. The songs that they share are worth watching.
The film's music, which has been given by Pritam, is excellent. The numbers are bound to make one dance. The director, Bazmee has pitcurised the songs really well, bringing out all the colour and fun that we associate with Punjab and all things Punjabi. In fact, kudos to the director for making such an entertaining movie. His film is people by characters, who are not cardboard characters, but ones who fill the canvas with color and joy. The entire ensemble cast has done a very good job. The cinematography is very good, specially, in the song sequences. Best of all, the director is very clear about his intentions, which is to entertain, and he does it very well indeed, without unnecessary deviations.
It is just the second half of the film, which feels a little stretched. It could have been crisper. The first half moves at a very good pace. In all, an out and out entertainer, which should do well at the box office. And it may just cement Akshay Kumar's place as the new king of the box office.