Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Review: Salman’s Sweetest Eid Treat Ever!

Films revolving around Indo-Pak relations usually rely on jingoism and nationalism to score brownie points with the audience, but Kabir Khan, maker of films like Kabul Express and Ek Tha Tiger, dares to be different with his latest offering, which can be described as Salman Khan's sweetest Eid treat ever for his fans.   Starring Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and child artiste Harshaali Malhotra, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a touching tale of love, peace and harmony that is bound to bring a lump to your throats.   Bajrangi Bhaijaan revolves around Pavan Chaturvedi (Khan), a do-gooder and a Lord Hanuman devotee from a family of wrestlers, who comes across a mute Pakistani girl Shahida (Harshaali Malhotra), who is lost in Delhi after getting separated from her mother while on a trip to a dargah in India. Not knowing about her origins, the kind-hearted Pavan takes 'Munni' (as he names her) to the place of his family friend (Sharat Saxena), with whose family he stays and on discovering her story, takes it upon himself to reunite her with her family, irrespective of the consequences.   While in Pakistan, Pavan runs into Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a local scribe looking for a big story, who decides to help Pavan and Munni. Will the 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' manage to fulfill his vow? Watch the film to find out… After reinventing himself as the larger-than-life hero with Wanted, Salman plays a very restrained character that comes across as a pleasant surprise. Indeed, it is refreshing to see Salman without his trademark swagger and his Dabangg attitude. Fans of the Bhaijaan will agree that Pavan/Bajrangi is one of the best characters he has played in a long time   Kareena Kapoor Khan, who plays his love interest Rasika, doesn't get much to do but provides apt support to her Good Samaritan lover. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is simply delightful as the plucky reporter, who goes all out to help the protagonist and his impeccable comic sense and his poker-faced humour ensures ample chuckles.   Last but not the least, it is Harshaali, who is the actual hero of the film. The little one simply wraps you around her little finger from the first scene itself and is sure to get you all teary-eyed during most of her scenes. Without a doubt, Harshaali is one of the most talented child artistes to have graced Bollywood with her talent and like Salman once said in an interview, she carries the film on her tiny shoulders.   Kabir Khan had proved his talent with subjects like terrorism and Indo-Pak tension in his past films, but the director does an about turn and touches your heart with his latest offering. Sure enough, some of the scenes are predictable and even downright corny, but you have no choice but to smile indulgently and flow with the emotions, simply because the story has its heart in the right place.   The music of the film is decent enough and the cinematography is simply breath-taking. The team has honestly captured the beauty of Kashmir and deserves kudos for their efforts.   In conclusion, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a must-watch… and not just for Salman fans.