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Pathaan Movie Review : An entertaining globetrotting spy thriller that’s massy, messy and outlandish

• Times Of India

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Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Pathaan - Official Trailer

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Pathaan | Song - Jhoome Jo Pathaan

Pathaan | Song - Besharam Rang

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Baap ka movie ke samne koi nahi tikta, Jay baadshah Jay pathaan ������

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An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country. An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country. An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country.

• Siddharth Anand
• Shridhar Raghavan
• Abbas Tyrewala
• Shah Rukh Khan
• Deepika Padukone
• John Abraham
• 881 User reviews
• 57 Critic reviews
• 47 Metascore
• 10 wins & 44 nominations

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• Trivia Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film after four years since Zero 2018.
• Goofs When Deepika picks Uncle Grigor hand and puts it on her upper leg to steal his hand print, he didn't feel that it is not the bare skin of a human body and rather a polythene film he is touching.

Pathaan : A soldier does not ask what the country has done for him. Asks what he can do for the country.

• Crazy credits The Yash Raj Films logo is on the side of a grey box that reads "YRF Spy Universe."
• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to make cuts to scenes of strong violence in order to obtain a 12A classification. An uncut 15 classification was available.
• Connections Featured in Movie Reviews: Pathaan (2023)
• Soundtracks Besharam Rang (Hindi) Music by Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani Lyrics by Kumaar , Vishal Dadlani (Spanish lyrics) Performed by Shilpa Rao , Caralisa Monteiro , Vishal Dadlani , Shekhar Ravjiani

User reviews 881

• Mar 11, 2023
• How long is Pathaan? Powered by Alexa
• January 25, 2023 (United States)
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Yash Raj Films
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $17,487,476
• Jan 29, 2023
• $128,780,000

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• Runtime 2 hours 26 minutes
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• Dolby Atmos
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‘Pathaan’ Review: Fighting the Good (and Long) Fight

Filled to the brim with action set pieces, “Pathaan” stars Shah Rukh Khan as a secret agent saving India from havoc unleashed by a vengeful former operative.

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By Nicolas Rapold

The all-out action movie of the sort honed by Hollywood is not as prevalent in Bollywood. But “Pathaan,” a record-setting addition to a series of spy adventures, rolls out a flaming dessert cart of chugging guns, midair melees and ceaseless showdowns.

Shah Rukh Khan stars as an affable Indian government agent, Pathaan, who’s pursuing a vengeful former agent named — somewhat less than diabolically — Jim (John Abraham). Jim’s been hired by a rogue Pakistani general to sow havoc in India because of a dispute over Kashmir. He turned smirkingly nihilistic after India once refused to pay ransom for him and his (now dead) pregnant wife.

Plotting or politics is an afterthought in this delivery system for action on planes, trains and automobiles, in Dubai, Moscow, Paris, the Spanish coast and apparently the Italian Dolomites. The director, Siddharth Anand (“War”), opens big with Pathaan’s breakout from detainment, swiveling the camera to follow kicks and sending a helicopter aloft indoors.

Other setups have the same top-this sense of fun. Anand’s crew boasts the stunt coordinator of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Casey O’Neill, and the “Mad Max: Fury Road” stunt performer Craig Macrae. But the director doesn’t have the greatest feel for tempo, or a consistent flair for staging. A monotonous fight on a train is only redeemed by a Looney Tunes escape from derailment.

Lending welcome panache is Deepika Padukone as another deadly operative, Rubina, who may prove helpful to Pathaan. The sweet rapport between Padukone and Khan loosens up the film’s endless fracas, and it’s the spark for, yes, a song. When Pathaan spots Rubina poolside in Spain, she launches a joyful crowded bump-and-grind number. (“The moment I feel a wave of modesty, I throw it to the wind!”)

As a villain, Jim’s a bit of a cold bath, and not just because he starts video-calling in threats of biological warfare. “Pathaan” is in some ways a save-the-world superhero movie without suits, and while less self-serious, the hefty length can lag. More is not always better — though the gusto of Padukone speedskating to the rescue at one point goes a long way.

Pathaan Not rated. In Hindi, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 26 minutes. In theaters.

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‘Pathaan’ Review: A Bollywood Espionage Action Spectacular So Fast and Furious — and Chaotic and Derivative — It Makes ‘RRR’ Look Classical

It's James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets Jason Statham meets Fabio in an overwrought epic.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

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“ Pathaan ,” the new Bollywood espionage action spectacular, opened wide this past weekend in the U.S., where it amassed an impressive tally of $9.5 million. That’s exactly what “RRR” made on its opening weekend in the U.S. close to a year ago — though, of course, that was before “RRR” went on to become a crossover cultural phenomenon, with a visibility and acclaim in the American media that Indian films seldom, if ever, attain.

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The characters in “Pathaan” often speak like movie posters (“Be rich. Be powerful. Or be a corpse”). They’re photographed like model-gods, and though “Pathaan” isn’t a musical, the music that plays during the action sequences is an overwhelming constant — that EDM Bollywood throb, revving even routine battles to a maximum rush. Khan, who suggests a sleeker, more ripped Adam Driver in a man-bun, plays the title character, a veteran RAW agent who’s gone undercover and been left for dead, though he shows up in an early scene, bloody and battered, tied to a torturer’s chair. He then frees himself and defeats his captors in the first of what must be the film’s two dozen whirling, crunching, gravity-defying fight scenes. This is the sort of movie in which even Pathaan walking in slo-mo slipping on his aviator sunglasses counts as an action moment.

His mission is to stop Jim (Abraham), an agent who has gone rogue and leads Outfit X, an international terror organization that commits atrocities for profit. I wouldn’t even try to describe the plot of “Pathaan,” which zigs and zags all over the globe, and all over the place, in a way that defies logic. The film’s only real logic is its pop fetishization of power (bullet power, fire power, 12-pack-ab power), along with its enthusiastic mutating of genres — now it’s a heist movie, now it’s a human-superhero-with-machine-wings movie, now it’s a contagion thriller with Jim threatening to unleash the power of Raktjeeb, a killer virus that makes COVID look like the common cold. What’s in it for Jim? From what we can tell, the sheer megalomaniacal pleasure of it all.

This may sound like a recipe for fun, but “Pathaan” has a stop-and-go rhythm, and a strung-together structure, that grows wearying. (Two-and-a-half hours of frenetic derivative pulp is a lot of pulp.) There’s a car chase through Dubai, a motorcycle chase on ice, and a hand-to-hand fight at the climax in which Pathaan and Jim go at each other so hard that the wooden shack in which they’re fighting starts to slip down the mountain stilts it’s perched on. “RRR” was no model of restraint (and some critics salivated over its overwrought fairy-tale technological bravura in a way that felt vaguely patronizing), but it was a work of high classical precision next to “Pathaan.” Yet I must say I’m glad that Indian films are finding a home here. Here’s hoping, as in the old days, that they bring a new spirit to our cinemas, rather than just blending in with what we’re already doing.           

Reviewed at AMC Empire, Jan. 30, 2023. Running time: 146 MIN.

• Production: A Yash Raj Films USA Inc. release of a Yash Raj Films, Etalon Films production. Producer: Aditya Chopra.
• Crew: Director: Siddharth Anand. Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Abbas Tyrewala. Camera: Satchith Paulose. Editor: Aarif Sheikh. Music: Ankit Balhara, Sanchit Balhara, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani.
• With: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana, Salman Khan.

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'Pathaan' has all the ingredients of a masala potboiler — slowmo entries, iconic battle of good versus bad and most importantly a sexy-smouldering Shah Rukh Khan, who can fight the good fight on and off the screen.

Pathaan Movie Review: An entertaining globetrotting spy thriller that’s massy, messy and outlandish

• Times of India

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

Pathaan - Official Trailer

Pathaan - Official Teaser

Pathaan - Official Tamil Teaser

Pathaan - Official Telugu Teaser

Pathaan - Official Tamil Trailer

Pathaan - Motion Poster

Pathaan | Song - Jhoome Jo Pathaan

Pathaan | Song - Besharam Rang

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Maralakunte Rawe 24 108 days ago

Tina tina 218 days ago.

love srk Pathaan ❤️❤️��������

User 59 249 days ago

Baap ka movie ke samne koi nahi tikta, Jay baadshah Jay pathaan ������

bardhanjeet 1 259 days ago

Super hit ����

Chandan Kumar 1 283 days ago

10 stunning saree looks of Pavithra Janani

Manushi Chhillar reigns as both beauty queen and dazzling gown royalty

Beautiful clicks of Nikki Galrani

9 everyday things that keep the brain healthy

How to make viral 2-ingredient Apple Mousse Cake

Kriti Sanon and Ranveer Singh radiate royal glam at Manish Malhotra's fashion show

Stunning ethnic outfits of Sara Tendulkar

Neha Malik's jaw-dropping pics in gym outfit

Stellar ethnic looks of Rukmini Vasanth

Baby girl names: Different names of goddess Durga and their meanings

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• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor. Share
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
• This is the second time Arjun Kapoor is playing a double role, the first being Aurangzeb (2013).
• The song ‘Yamma yamma’ from ‘Shaan’ is sampled in the song ‘Partywali Night' for the film.

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Pathaan review – daft Shah Rukh Khan spy caper is more fun than Bond

The Bollywood megastar plays an unfeasibly ripped agent brought out of retirement to foil the fiendish terror plots of Outfit X

T his enjoyable high-octane action spy movie from India is possibly the most fun you can currently have at the cinema – for the first two hours of its running time at least. At the packed London cinema where I watched it on opening night, the crowd erupted with whoops the moment Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan appeared on screen – face battered to a pulp, gazing up through a bloody swollen half-shut eye.

The film is the latest instalment in the YRF Spy Universe : Khan is Pathaan, a James Bond-ish spy brought out of retirement to take down an international terror organisation known as Outfit X. Its leader is another former Indian spy, Jim (John Abraham), who’s gone rogue, committing atrocities for the likes of Boko Haram and Islamic State in return for cash. Now Jim has got his hands on a biological weapon of mass destruction.

The increasingly daft plot pings around the globe like a Bond or Mission: Impossible. Khan delivers a performance with perfect levels of fun, and light on Bond-ish psychological flaws, playing it instead with a wink here, a joke there. (There’s a very funny line about him going to the hairdressers to get a blow dry.) Saying that, Khan clearly takes his training seriously; he’s impossibly ripped, and his personal trainer probably deserves to share his credits and a chunk of his fee here.

The film sags a little towards the end, with a few too many implausible action sequences: characters jumping out of helicopters and fighting on top of speeding SUVs, the choreography glossing over the basics of gravity and physics. Still, the cheers kept coming: the loudest whoop of all when Salman Khan made an entrance as Tiger, a hero from an earlier movie in the series.

• Action and adventure films
• Salman Khan

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Pathaan Review: Shah Rukh Khan Doesn't Miss A Trick In Phenomenally Entertaining Spy Thriller

Pathaan review: deepika padukone pulls off the dual act of an irrepressible femme fatale and a committed soldier with elan..

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham

Director: Siddharth Anand

Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Phenomenally entertaining and consistently engaging, Pathaan , for all the derivative genre components it compiles, is a spy thriller that crackles with energy. It goes the distance riding on the insouciant and cocky charm that Shah Rukh Khan, in his first full-fledged appearance on the big screen since 2018's Zero , brings to an exercise that is at once excessive and exciting.

It isn't, however, the superstar alone who propels Pathaan, which plays to the gallery with abandon. The writing by Shridhar Raghavan is smart although not everything in the unabashedly fantastical film makes total sense. Abbas Tyrewala, who peppers Pathaan with gunpowder-dry punch lines, contributes in no small measure to keeping this action-packed movie on the boil all the way till the end.

On the technical side, too, Pathaan packs a massive punch. The cinematography by Satchith Paulose is from the topmost drawer. Editor Aarif Sheikh lends the film a pacy rhythm that leaves no room for dull passages. And the pulpy panache of Siddharth Anand's directorial sleights is impressive. They combine to make Pathaan a thoroughly riveting movie that instantly gets the willing suspension of disbelief that it demands and thrives on. 

The ease is, of course, facilitated majorly by the presence of Shah Rukh Khan, who does not miss a trick in jettisoning his King of Romance persona and donning the garb of an unflappable, unstoppable action hero. He does not let the effort behind the transition show one bit. He sails through the role and the film as if this is what he was always meant to do.

The performances from most of the other principal actors - Deepika Padukone, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana - are perfectly in tune with the style and substance of Pathaan. The film hits its straps without wasting any time. The actors, especially Deepika Padukone, do likewise, getting into the swing of things in a jiffy.   

The heroine of Pathaan is an ISI agent with a back story that makes her the inscrutable and unpredictable person she is. Her enigma ensnares the hero more than once and provides the film's biggest twists. Deepika Padukone pulls off the dual act of an irrepressible femme fatale and a committed soldier with elan.  

However, John Abraham as the very, very bad guy who has a score to settle with the nation he once served with distinction does not exude the level of menace that you would expect from a man wounded and incensed to the point of insanity.     The most striking aspect of Pathaan , a masala entertainer at heart, is that it has the gumption to go beyond the parameters of a massy movie and produce sharp, insightful moments that serve as a commentary on pressing issues of the day. It is far more about humanity than about shallow patriotism, which, coming at a time when the Mumbai movie industry thrives on the othering and demonising of communities to further a dominant political narrative, is an act of courage that deserves to be celebrated. 

Although it is essentially about people going for the jugular and centres on a villain who plans to unleash a biological weapon on civilians, Pathaan adopts a pacifist approach to war and espionage. It offers a counter-narrative to the Islamophobic thrillers and historical epics that the Mumbai industry has of late been dumping upon the audience without the slightest attempt to disguise its prejudices and propensity for falsification. 

Pathaan is in fact a far cry from Yash Raj Films' previous spy drama War, which was also directed by Siddharth Anand. Pathaan is neither jingoistic nor does it direct all its ire at one nation. It does open with a Pakistani general plotting a reprisal against India on the day of the revocation of Article 370, but the villain of the film is not a hate-spewing mullah but a venomous RAW agent gone rogue.

Although the badman's reasons are palpably faulty, he contributes his mite to the discourse that Pathaan engages in. A mercenary who works on behalf of terrorists no matter of what hue they are, he says he does not believe in the notion of a nation and borders do not matter to him. Nations and borders are created by the powerful to lull people into submission, he thunders, implying that he has broken the shackles in order to make a point.  

Jim (John Abraham), whose first appearance on the screen triggers a violent confrontation with a hero who grew up in an orphanage and owes a debt of gratitude to an Afghan family that saved him after a secret mission left him severely wounded.

When asked by Dr. Rubina Mohsin (Deepika Padukone) if he is a Mussalman (this is the only time in the film that anybody's religious identity is broached), the male protagonist reveals that he does not know who his parents were.  The nation assumed the form of a mother and sustained me, so I decided to serve the nation the way I would have served my mother if I had one, he asserts with just a hint of emotion.

He isn't a steely hero who is beyond injury and pain. He needs a painkiller when violent adversaries inflict wounds on his body. The medicine is offered to him by another member of the YRF Spy Universe in the course of a fight sequence staged in a hurtling train somewhere in Russia.

With Shah Rukh Khan joining Tiger (Salman Khan) and Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) to complete a trio of invincible YRF spies, expect a lot of big-screen explosions, extremes and extravagances in the coming years. But it is doubtful if anything would be as big, ballsy or unalloyed as Pathaan. It comes closer to what mass-oriented Hindi cinema once used to be than any other recent star vehicle has done. 

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Pathaan swings and strikes with all the style and aplomb in the world. It will be a hard act to follow.                     

Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham

Siddharth Anand

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Pathaan Movie Review: Shah Rukh’s seat belt warning was serious! This bumpy ride is definitely worth your ticket

Pathaan movie review: shah rukh khan's film graced the screens on january 25. the film, directed by siddharth anand, is replete with high-octane action sequences. but, there are some minor glitches, says our review..

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• Pathaan hit theatres on January 25.
• The film is directed by Siddharth Anand.
• Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abrahman play lead roles.

Cast & Crew

Shah Rukh Khan Actor

Deepika Padukone

Release Date: 25 Jan, 2023

There is a poetic justice in his glare. He has the physique of a spy, but it is the eyes that do most of the talking in Pathaan. After a gap of four years, Shah Rukh Khan is back on the big screen doing what he does best - charm your pants off and remind us why he’s part of a dwindling breed - the real superstars. Director Siddharth Anand, who’s best known for glamorising his stars and presenting them in what sometimes look like lavish set pieces inspired by Hollywood films, Pathaan is no departure from his signature style. If anything, it is a reminder of his previous work - the bromance laden War and the Mr and Mrs Smith desi tribute called Bang Bang ! Here, Anand serenades the audiences with scenes and imagery that is a direct tribute to some iconic Hollywood films.

Shah Rukh’s Pathaan is a shadow of Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark. He might not be as rich as Stark or have a super hero spacesuit, but his game with women and one-liners are an accurate ode to him. Similarly, Deepika’s Pakistani ISI agent act has shades of Scarlett Johansson in her action flicks. The climax and a few other action scenes too feel like blueprints picked from Hollywood films like Mission Impossible, Fast and the Furious and others. But Pathaan isn’t a wannabe film. Neither is it trying to masquerade as a Vin Diesel or Tom Cruise offering. Pathaan’s story is the first chapter in India’s first indigenous spy-verse. If the West has MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), India has its own SCU led by the trio of Tiger, Kabir and now Pathaan. The plot is laden with patriotic sentiment. A rogue agent, Jim (a very good looking John Abraham), is set to seek vengeance against India. The timing of his revenge comes at a time when India scraps Article 370, thereby triggering neighbouring country Pakistan’s sinister designs to capture Kashmir. Pathaan is now on a mission to stop Jim, but trust issues crop up for Pathaan when a sexy distraction presents itself in the form of ISI agent Rubaiya Mohsin (Deepika Padukone). Is she an ally or an enemy ? Her own backstory exposes her intent and gives the story its much-needed pre-interval twist. Heavy on action scenes and smart dialogues, the film looks sexy and sensory.

Pathaan’s second half triumphed over its first. The action pieces are devoid of logic and reason, but then again, this isn’t a documentary. It’s also the first time you watched SRK do hardcore action scenes. And the reason it works is because Anand has given him some realistic hand combat sequences with John. It’s not just jet planes zipping through midair or Ferraris skidding on ice, the action in Pathaan is bold and fearless.

Shah Rukh is the heart of Pathaan and he’s a constant reminder of why we enjoy watching him on the big screen. He sells the most bizarre plot twists with a straight face and you are charmed to buy it. Deepika Padukone needs a bonafide stand-alone action film. She truly has the physique and demeanour to do a Tomb Raider. John Abraham as the bad guy is a terrific casting choice. Once you go beyond how good he looks in Pathaan, you realise why he’s one of the greatest action heroes of our times. John has never got his due in a lot of his films. Thankfully, in Pathaan, he not only holds his ground opposite SRK but also shines with grace. The high point that everyone nervously waits for in Pathaan, which also is a major highlight of the film, is the ‘Pathaan meets Tiger’ moment. It is an absolute thrill to watch Salman and SRK in the same frame throw digs at each other while beating some goons. This will go down in the annals of cinematic history as a perfect tribute to the stardom of these two actors. The main hiccup in Pathaan is the action blocks, which sometimes gets tiring. Some portions look like they have a stunt double and others make it too obvious that they have been shot with a green mat. Recently, Hollywood actor Tom Cruise pulled off a stunt in his latest Mission Impossible film that will go down in history as the greatest love an actor can have for his craft. The 60-year-old actor did his own bike dive from the edge of a cliff. No Chroma, no body double. Just Tom on a bike doing his thing. This makes me realise that when it comes to action, we need to install a part of realism into our choreography. The other glitch with Pathaan is with some of the dialogues, SRK gets flirty with Deepika and calls her a ‘bomb’ while admitting he’s ready for a ‘blast’ as her thigh seductively grazes him. In another scene, he tries to use his comic side to rhyme the Russian currency roubles with the word ‘boobles’ while referring to a lady flaunting her clevage. Smarter writing would definitely have saved Pathaan. Pathaan is unapologetically fun. It isn’t trying to send a public service message or pass commentary on the current state of affairs. Instead, it sets the clock back to a time when a Shah Rukh Khan film at the cinemas was a moment to rejoice. In a recent #AskSRK session, the actor revealed his unfulfilled wish. He wrote, ‘Itni shakti rahe mujh mein ki aap ke bacchon ko bhi entertain kar sakoon’ (I hope I have the strength to even entertain your kids)." If his enthusiasm and energy in Pathaan is anything to go by, then one thing is for sure - SRK is not going anywhere. This Pathaan is the perfect opening to India’s very own Spy Universe.

'Pathaan' movie review: A sprightly, entertaining comeback from SRK

He is an old trouper living off the grid. He’s been out of action for a couple of years. He comes shrouded in fanfare and intrigue. When people talk about him, in high circles, they get “uncomfortable”. He’s a keeper of his word. He is a patriot with a Muslim name, and a son of this soil, though his true religion is the movies. His name is Pathaan, played by Shah Rukh Khan, and they are one and the same.

Every once in a while, we need our superstars in unadulterated form. Think of it as not fan servicing but fan sensitivity. Tom Cruise—smiling superciliously in films like Top Gun: Maverick, telling the audience he’s got them covered—is the very embodiment of that shtick. In contrast to Cruise, who’s practically always working, and who is three years his senior, SRK has been on a genuine sabbatical, understandably stymied by the poor receptions of Zero (2018) and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017). Now he returns, riding high and again in Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan. It is an action movie that’s really a soft shell of wrapping, disclosing the SRK delivery machine i t has packed underneath.

In War (2019), also directed by Siddharth Anand, Hrithik Roshan played a superspy gone rogue named Kabir. Along with Salman Khan’s Tiger, the character buffed up what has become the YRF Spy Universe. Pathaan, a battle-scarred soldier who now leads a cover unit called JOCR, rounds out the triumvirate. He’s played by Shah Rukh Khan with the kind of gusto that’s both infectious and a bit, well, extreme. The 57- year-old actor smirks, squints, and deepens his voice. He probably does more action than all his 90-plus films combined. He nods to older hits like Don 2 and Darr (“K..K..K..., Karen”). He has grown his hair. Pathaan is SRK leaving it all on the field, going the extra mile when it’s painfully obvious the standard laps won’t do.

Thankfully, he’s got help. John Abraham holds the screen as Jim, leader of private terror group Outfit X (Siddharth and screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan aren’t the best with names; a prison in the film is simply called ‘Black Prison’). After a long-winded first half, much of it spent on action set-pieces interrupted by gritty backstories, we learn of Outfit X’s plan: destroying India with bioterrorism. “They work on contract, not ideology,” says Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), Pathaan’s boss, like someone describing an IT cell. We also meet Rubina, played by Deepika Padukone, a leggy lass who becomes the mediator — some would say death trap — between Jim and Pathaan.

Like War, Pathaan spares no expense on its action design. Name a vehicle—hummers, trucks, trains, choppers, jetwings—and there’s a chase or combat sequence built around it. I loved the eclectic selection of weapons: in his first fight, Pathaan begins with a pair of improvised escrima sticks, before switching coolly to a shotgun. Jim, meanwhile, favours a small shiny crescent knife among all the endless options at his disposal. The VFX in Pathaan is not very consistent but I suppose most audiences will gladly turn a blind eye. I also wish there was more wit and ingenuity to the action choreography. Witnessed in the wake of RRR, the various rope-based escapes and manoeuvres in this film feel undercooked.

Shah Rukh Khan swims solidly through all the chaos. He is enjoyable in the big action moments but it’s the smaller touches that really sell the performance. During an intense double-cross, he suddenly crinkles up pretty, ditching heaviness for the sort of scrappy romanticism that marks his best roles. The film somehow works best in moments where Rubina is in charge and Pathaan is dustily tagging along, like their Spain interlude. Deepika gets to kick some serious butt, and her scenes with John are just as effective. “Who says love only happens at first sight?” Rubina tells Jim beseechingly, poetically. Only Deepika Padukone can be trusted with delivering such lines in the midst of an action film.

There is a funny Salman Khan cameo - the only justifiable one in a while. I won’t spoil anything further but say that Pathaan goes about its business with humour and diligence. As an actioner, it’s neither irredeemably silly nor overly maudlin (like the recent Bond films). For the most part, it keeps its head low and — as befits a star vehicle – lets its heroes do the talking. There are still some miles left in these old machines. As they assure themselves in the post-credit scene, the young ones won’t cut it.

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone,John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia,Ashutosh Rana

Director: Siddharth Anand

Rating: 3.5/5

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Pathaan Movie Review: PATHAAN is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill and of course, star power.

Pathaan is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill and of course, the star power of shah rukh khan, deepika padukone and john abraham., pathaan review {4.5/5} & review rating.

PATHAAN is the story of a passionate agent working for the country. In 2019, after the government of India revoked Article 370, an enraged Pakistan general Qadir (Manish Wadhwa) decides to take revenge. He signs a contract with Jim ( John Abraham ), a dreaded terrorist who has an extreme enmity towards India. RAW's Nandini (Dimple Kapadia), meanwhile, gets a glimpse of a mysterious lady in France, with whom she has had sort of a past connection. Due to this development, she decides to meet Pathaan ( Shah Rukh Khan ), an agent who was once one of the best agents for India but has now supposedly gone rogue. Three years ago, Pathaan had come across Rubina Mohsin ( Deepika Padukone ) and from thereon, things went downhill for him. But the country right now needs Pathaan to save itself from the clutches of Jim. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Siddharth Anand's story is simple and even clichéd. But Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay is highly engaging as the writer peppers the narrative with loads of action, humour, thrill, and even emotions. Abbas Tyrewala's dialogues are smart yet conversational. A few dialogues are moving.

Siddharth Anand's direction is first-rate. To begin with, he has handled the grandeur very well. In fact, the scale is more than what was seen in WAR [2019]. The way he ensured that he does not go overboard with the scale is praiseworthy. He also does justice to the various twists and turns in the tale. The director very well handles an emotional sequence in the second half, which takes place at the Indian Institute of Contagious Disease.

On the flipside, logic takes a backseat in several places. The way Pathaan conveniently enters even the most high-security zones and escapes almost unscathed is difficult to digest. The Afghanistan episode in the climax is predictable. However, the makers compensate for these shortcomings with some high-octane action and thrilling scenes and hence, one will not complain much after coming out of the cinema hall.

PATHAAN begins with a paisa vasool entry scene of Shah Rukh Khan. The flashback portions also contribute to the fun. Rubina’s entry and the scene thereafter are sure to be greeted with claps and whistles. The Moscow episode has a lot of humour and the intermission point is a shocker. Post interval, several scenes stand out like the chase sequence on the frozen lake, the madness in the train, and at the Indian Institute of Contagious Disease. The climax is nail-biting and the film ends on a high. The scene that follows the end credit song is terrific and because it is relevant to the real-life scenario!

Pathaan | Official Trailer | Shah Rukh Khan | Deepika Padukone | John Abraham

Speaking of performances, Shah Rukh Khan is in superb form. The superstar looks quite dashing and performance-wise, he is a treat to watch. With his humour, style and action, he enhances the commercial element of the film many notches higher. And as expected, he also shines in the emotional scenes. Deepika Padukone is at her hottest best and delivers a bravura performance. Her character is crucial to the narrative and she looks quite cool while doing action. John Abraham is an apt choice for the role of the menacing and dashing villain. His screen time is limited in the first half but he makes up for it after the intermission. Salman Khan (Tiger) is outstanding, to say the least. Both his scenes are the most memorable ones in the film. Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana (Captain Luthra), Manish Wadhwa, Prakash Belawadi (Scientist), Aakash Bhatija (Nandini's junior) and the actor playing the pilot do well.

Vishal-Sheykhar's music is of chartbuster variety. 'Besharam Rang' is already a rage and comes into the film at an important juncture. The same goes for 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan' . Special mention should also go to Vaibhavi Merchant's choreography (in 'Besharam Rang' ) and Bosco-Caesar's choreography (in 'Jhoome Jo Pathaan' ). Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara's background score is memorable, especially the theme played during Jim’s scenes.

Satchith Paulose's cinematography is spectacular and the various foreign locales are breathtakingly shot. Rajat Poddar's production design is top-class. Casey O’Neill, Craig Macrae, and Sunil Rodrigues' action is one of the highpoints of the film. Shaleena Nathani, Mamta Anand, and Niharika Jolly's costumes are stylish, especially the ones worn by Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. yFX's VFX matches global standards. Aarif Sheikh's editing is razor-sharp.

On the whole, PATHAAN is a complete entertainer, replete with action, emotions, patriotism, humour, thrill, and of course, the star power of Shah Rukh Khan. At the box office, it will take a historic opening and will emerge as one of the biggest hits of Bollywood. In short, it has BLOCKBUSTER written all over it!

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All time blockbuster

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Good Things about The Movie: - The story well developed, which is appreciated. - The plot was…

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‘Pathaan’: Review

By Namrata Joshi 2023-01-25T15:02:00+00:00

Bollywood emerges victorious from a troubled time with Shah Rukh Khan returning to the big screen as a Bond-like action hero

Source: Yashraj Films

Dir: Siddharth Anand. India. 2023. 146mins

Much like its three predecessors in the YRF Spy Universe series of action thrillers — EK The Tiger (2012), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and War (2019) — Pathaan pivots on a wafer-thin plot; this time involving an exiled intelligence agent returning to take on a terrorist organisation. It’s a chaotic, protracted, wild ride that takes the audience across global locations and through past and present, but the amped up scale, imagination and audacity, the spectacular action set-pieces, clever writing and in-your-face charisma of its stars including Shah Rukh Khan in a long-awaited return to the big screen make it, in Indian parlance,  paisa vasool -  a film well worth the price of admission. And that will come as a relief to an embattled Bollywood.

Star Shah Rukh Khan, otherwise known for his romantic persona, shows off his bare chest and rippling muscles and, in the process, scorches the screen as a full-blown action hero.

A lot is at stake when it comes to Pathaan , produced — like the previous titles in the series — by leading production house Yashraj Films. The Hindi film industry has struggled over the last few years, with big budget films failing to make a mark at the box office and political baiting by conservative fringe groups. As the reportedly $30m-plus  Pathaan opens worldwide (with both Hindi and Tamil and Telugu versions screening within India) hopes are high for its prospects, although success will largely rely on audiences turning up on India’s Republic Day holiday and the following long weekend. It’s Shah Rukh Khan’s first major role since Aanand L. Rai’s Zero in 2018, and that should help. Plus, there have already been multiple controversies to keep it in the public eye, including the colour of a bikini worn by SRK’s co-star Deepika Padukone.

In keeping with the occasion of the release, Pathaan sports a suitably patriotic heart with the Indian tricolour fluttering in some scenes and the salutation of Jai Hind  (“Victory to India”) punctuating a few conversations. The film is also very much in line with the unbridled masculine narratives currently dominating Indian mainstream cinema: SRK may be best known for his romantic on-screen persona but he falls in line here, showing off his bare chest and rippling muscles and, in the process, scorching the screen as a full-blown action hero.

He plays exiled intelligence agent Pathaan, brought back on duty to take on rogue agent Jim (John Abraham) who is running a private terrorist enterprise called Outfit X and is armed with a biological weapon of mass destruction, a virus called Raktbeej (a reference to a demon in Hindu mythology who supposedly self-perpetuates with every drop of his blood that falls on the ground). 

But while there’s plenty that puts Pathaan in the league of James Bond movies — including excellent action sequences, stunning global locales (UAE, Turkey, Russia, Siberia, Italy, France, Afghanistan and Siberia) and Deepika Padukone’s novice Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agent Rubina Mohsin — Pathaan himself isn’t simply smart and suave. He cries, he gives into love and cracks silly jokes about getting his long hair shampooed at the hairdressers. The robbery of a Moscow vault is punctuated, for example, with a silly but satisfying reference to SRK’s psychopath act in the popular film Darr (1993).

Pathaan plays safe with its stance — or the lack of it — on the contentious issue of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which granted special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet its nationalistic spirit comes underlined with grace and dignity. Pathaan’s adversary might be from Pakistan but the film underscores that a few bad men don’t embody an entire nation. An orphan left behind by his parents in a cinema hall, Pathaan finds a proxy family on one of his missions in Afghanistan. His heart is Indian, but he belongs to the world — a welcome return to the simplistic but humanistic nationalism of Hindi cinema.

Most enjoyable, however, are the meta moments on the plight of Bollywood and the trinity of Khans: SRK, Salman and Aamir. There is, for instance, an extended reference to the Japanese art of kintsugi — fixing broken pieces of pottery with gold to create an even more beautiful and precious work of art. In the film, it is used to discuss bringing together injured, unwell and retired agents to form a new unit called Joint Operations and Covert Research. Yet it could also be a reference to Bollywood itself; a hope that it may come out stronger and more resilient after its ongoing trial by fire. After a long time, Shah Rukh Khan has given Bollywood a reason to smile.

Production company: Yashraj Films 

Distribution: Yashraj Films [email protected]

Producer: Aditya Chopra

Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, from a story by Siddharth Anand and dialogue by Abbas Tyrewala 

Cinematography: Satchith Paulose

Production Design: Rajat Poddar

Editing: Aarif Sheikh

Music: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara, 

Main cast: Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana

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Pathaan movie review: Shah Rukh Khan's comeback film is high on action, low on logic

Pathaan movie review: shah rukh khan and deepika padukone's actioner is worthy every penny even as it defies gravity and logic..

Pathaan is fast, furious and about missions that are impossible. Bringing perhaps the last superstar of our generation, Shah Rukh Khan , back on screen in a full-fledged role after four years, Pathaan is worth the wait and all the hype. And the best part is that it wastes no time in introducing the man to us in his full glory. 'Zinda Hai', as Pathaan says in the trailer, surrounded by armed blood-thirsty men, the scene appears within 10 mins of the film and that's a bonus. The film is a perfect addition to this ambitious spy universe that previously saw Salman Khan’s Tiger and Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir. Director Sidharth Anand, who has earlier helmed action thrillers Bang Bang and War, once again presents his characters in the most glammed-up avatars, giving you enough drool-worthy moments. From Deepika Padukone's outfits to John Abraham's chiselled muscles to Shah Rukh Khan's CGI-enhanced six-pack abs -- Pathaan has too much in store that doesn't let you complain, albeit you don't look too deep for a meaningful story or logic. (Also read: Pathaan release live updates )

It revolves around Pathaan (Khan), an ex-armyman turned undercover agent who gets caught on a mission. He has now returned to save his country from a former R&AW agent Jim (Abraham) who has turned rogue after he was wronged by his own people. The film introduces its characters with solid back stories. An ex-ISI agent, Rubia (Padukone) becomes a part of the mission and has her loyalties questioned at several junctures. And that's pretty much about it. The whys and hows get answered in the due course of time with a lot of in-your-face action and hopping from one picturesque location to another with views that sometimes distract from the actual action unfolding in front of you.

You've seen Khan do Chaiyya Chaiyaa on top of a train, but Pathaan gives you much more. He's fighting on top of a Hummer, then somewhere mid-air on a rope tied between two helicopters and then jumps on to a truck. Basically, there's very little action on the ground and you'd see men in Pathaan mostly flying through the most high-octance action sequences. Also, when you have Khan and Abraham fighting it off on the big screen, you don't really need anything else to boost that adrenaline. And yes, the train isn't forgotten. Perhaps, the best and highest point of the film is when Pathaan meets Tiger (Salman Khan) and the two have quite an elaborate action sequence inside and then on top of a moving train. It was hard to focus on what was happening on screen with loud cheering, hooting, screaming and whistling throughout the duration of this scene. It was nothing short of celebrating true stardom with two superstars being in one frame in their best possible avatars.

At 146 minutes, Pathaan doesn't bore you but does seem a tad stretched in the second half when you're longing to arrive at the climax. There are some dialogues that make you laugh or sound too heavy, but the overall writing isn't impressive enough to leave a mark. Pathaan is high on action but it's better if you do not question the logic behind gravity-defying lifts and drops for there's none. They are a visual treat and a spectacle that immerses you without even trying too hard. It gets a bit too unrealistic at times, but that's what you get when filmmakers try to mount a film on the scale of a Hollywood actioner. The action is top class but some VFX felt weak and you could so easily make out the green chroma screen in those sequences. Another thing that kept me confused for most part of the first half was Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay and the non-linear narrative. The pace with which it kept jumping from one timeline and one continent to another, it just got too messy after a point. It is at the pre-interval block, that pieces of the puzzle start to fall in place.

It might have taken over three decades to get to play an out-and-out action hero, but it's never too late to pack a punch. He's charming, gritty and lets his eyes do most of the talking. The wit he brings on screen is straight out of his #AskSRK sessions and even in the most intense and deadly scenes, Khan makes you smile with his comic punchlines said with a straight face. Padukone in her hot and sultry avatar amps up the glam quotient so effortlessly. She gets her own share to perform and shine despite the men taking a major share of screen time. With the kind of finesse she brings in action sequences, her own, fleshed-out action flick won't be too much to ask for. Abraham makes you love him as a brooding baddie. Forget the muscles, for you can't take your eyes off his swelling veins through his tattooed arms. Adding gravitas to the story, Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia lend an able support to the cast and have their own lighter moments to shine.

Pathaan is your true-blue commercial, masala entertainer that's not trying to send across any message or be a social commentary on the current state of affairs in the country. It's fun, non-fussy and fantastic at the same time. Go watch it for Shah Rukh Khan and you would only come back with a smile, and maybe grooving a bit. Don't miss the scene just before end credits for it's not everyday you see two superstars in a banter about their stardom.

• Deepika Padukone
• Shah Rukh Khan
• John Abraham

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KT APPDOWNLOAD

'pathaan' review: shah rukh khan is all action and style in this spy thriller, bollywood superstar goes guns blazing in this overtly patriotic movie just in time for india’s republic day celebrations.

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Published: Wed 25 Jan 2023, 12:42 PM

Last updated: Mon 30 Jan 2023, 3:57 PM

At 57, can Shah Rukh Khan shoulder the burden of powering an action thriller like Pathaan , upon whose success probably rests, not just a refuelling of his career but the very future of Bollywood? In a post Covid cinematic landscape where superstars and production houses are forced to re-jig the staid old formula to attract fans back into the theatres does Pathaan , directed by Siddharth Anand (of flamboyant Bang Bang and War fame ) make the cut?

Shah Rukh alongside ‘ bhai ’ Salman Khan can be counted among the last of Bollywood’s superstars. So it’s only fitting that King Khan marks his comeback after a 4-year sabbatical (his last release was 2018’s Zero ) guns blazing, fists pounding, bronzed 6-pack abs gleaming, leaping off buildings, flying mid-air fuelled by cinematic licence alone - looking admittedly a bit threadbare with his stubble and unkempt hair, but nevertheless with his rakish charm intact.

As far as Pathaan ’s plot is concerned, any storyline that lets its embattled hero pilot a chopper through buildings, jump mid-air with no safety harness and face off against a dozen global adversaries, each of whom are kind enough to wait their turn to try their luck against India’s biggest superstar, of course, cannot be counted on to be the sole glue to keep this spy thriller together.

Khan plays a former RAW agent, Pathaan, who is resurrected by his erstwhile boss (played by a classy Dimple Kapadia) to fight off Outfit X, led by an extremely dapper and angst-ridden Jim (John Abraham in his career best we’d say, mouthing some of the movie's best dialogues) an international terrorist bent on taking revenge on ‘Bharat Maa’.

Deepika Padukone plays a slightly confused ISI agent, Dr Rubina Mohsin, code named Rubai, who is not exactly sure where her allegiance should lie. But that doesn't dither her from looking like a million bucks and kicking up some heavy duty dust alongside the boys.

The action flits from India to Afghanistan, Spain, Russia, UAE, and France - a whirlwind trip that could easily give one a heavy dose of jet lag, but not our intrepid spies. Watch out especially for the scenes set in Dubai - Downtown and Palm Jumeirah seem the perfect setting for car chases and helicopter rides and a hearth-thumping fight sequence atop a truck.

Watching Pathaan may give one a heavy sense of deja vu - there are shades of Mission Impossible, James Bond , a heist scene a la Oceans Eleven and closer to home, the Tiger series headlined by Bollywood’s other resident spy Salman Khan.

In the end Pathaan is a typical Bollywood action-thriller that believes the way to audiences' (and maybe the authorities?) heart is by wearing one's patriotism on one's sleeve.

But what elevates it from being just another over-the-top, spy thriller where the action scenes are better choreographed than the plot line, is the presence of Khan alongside an extended cameo by another superstar. Their quips about ageing bodies and tongue-in-cheek references to there being no worthy successor to their action star avatars showcase that Pathaan is not averse to taking pot-shots at itself.

Watch if you are a Khan fan or even an action junkie. Just don’t go expecting any original story or plot to keep you hooked to the screen. In other words to rephrase Pathaan’s dialogue to Jim - ask not what Pathaan can do for the Bollywood film industry, just ask how well you can be entertained by Pathaan’s six-pack abs and roguish charm!

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

• Is Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' a blockbuster even before its release? 7 reasons why the Bollywood film is blazing a trail
• Pathaan crosses Dh9 million in advance bookings: 5 other times Shah Rukh Khan broke box-office records
• Deepika Padukone calls Shah Rukh Khan 'most favourite co-star' ahead of 'Pathaan' release in UAE
• [email protected]

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Pathaan Reviews

You will get some 50 variations from him. That's Mr. Shah Rukh Khan for you...

Full Review | Nov 10, 2023

The mass euphoria of Shah Rukh Khan’s grand comeback doesn’t change the fact that Pathaan is a bad film. As an action-thriller, it fails to deliver any thrills and is boring, relying on tired templates.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 26, 2023

Let’s be honest, we are watching Pathaan for the one and only Shah Rukh Khan. And, as mentioned before, the minute he appears on the screen, you feel goosebumps coursing through your body.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 23, 2023

Pathaan does not undermine our intelligence. Written by Anand (Shridhar Raghavan has furnished the screenplay and Abbas Tyrewala the dialogues), the film walks the tightrope between fitting fan service and a clever entertainer.

Full Review | Jul 20, 2023

If there's one thing you can't fault here it's the film's ambition.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 24, 2023

With Khan's irresistible charm on full display, one cannot help but overlook Pathaan's many flaws and just immerse yourself in the action.

Full Review | Feb 17, 2023

Director Siddharth Anand and his creative company conjure a globetrotting spectacle bursting with crowd-pleasing allures.

Full Review | Feb 16, 2023

There are too many dull spots in this overlong thriller to overcome.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Feb 4, 2023

This film feels like Siddharth Anand watched all of the Mission: Impossible movies and determined John Woo’s MI2 was the best but could be done even better.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 2, 2023

The director doesn’t have the greatest feel for tempo, or a consistent flair for staging.

Full Review | Feb 2, 2023

Pathaan is a blast.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 1, 2023

Pathaan got Indians across the world to cheer for a Pakistani ex-ISI agent, and Pakistanis to cheer for a Bollywood superstar. Nobel Peace Prize or bust.

Full Review | Feb 1, 2023

A sprawling, mountainous tangle of pulp that stacks one genre on top of the next with an arbitrary verve.

Pathaan delivers high-octane thrills through over-the-top action sequences that would feel right at home in any Mission Impossible film. The characters are deeply developed and extremely charismatic, creating story arcs that are captivating and emotional.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jan 31, 2023

While its reach may exceed its grasp, any shortcomings of Pathaan are papered over by the sheer charisma of its lead actor [Shah Rukh Khan], who once again demonstrates why he is one of the most popular movie stars in the world.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 30, 2023

Bursting at the seams with high-caliber action and loads of panache, “Pathaan” is an off-the-charts, full-throttle Bollywood blockbuster in every sense.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 30, 2023

An amateurish Indian super-spy thriller that’s never as well-executed as it is conceptually goofy and politically dubious.

Full Review | Jan 29, 2023

A cartoonish, patriotic action saga, whose scattered pieces are heat-welded together by Khan’s blazing screen presence.

Full Review | Jan 27, 2023

Pathaan finds smart ways to play on the strengths of its star cast as well as remind viewers of how they earned their luminescence in the first place...

A tall order, but Shah Rukh Khan might be the one who can deliver...

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‘Pathaan’ review: Shah Rukh Khan lights up an entertaining spy thriller

Siddharth anand’s action thriller is out in cinemas..

Shah Rukh Khan is back in a film that does his persona full justice. His hair is longer than usual, he is older and presumably wiser, often bruised and blood-spattered, but the twinkle in the eye and the deep dimples are intact.

Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan is a heady cocktail of Mission: Impossibles and James Bonds past with nods to producer Yash Raj Films’ own espionage thrillers and screenwriter Shridhar Raghavan’s previous Agent Vinod . There are even glimpses of Khan’s early days as a dashing Indian Army soldier in the Doordarshan serial Fauji , which catapulted the actor to fame and laid the foundation of his accidental ladykiller persona.

Legacy is one of the chief selling points in a film with a disposable plot. Patriots never retire and can be repurposed to serve their country in new ways, Khan’s government operative tells his boss Nandini (Dimple Kapadia).

An electric cameo that marks Pathaan as a retrofitted entry in the planned “YRF Spy Universe” not only turbocharges the movie but also yields a delightful post-credits scene. It comes all the way after the last beats of Jhoome Jo Pathaan have faded out. It’s worth the wait.

Pathaan finds smart ways to play on the strengths of its star cast as well as remind viewers of how they earned their luminescence in the first place – and why that hasn’t dimmed. From the endlessly charismatic Khan himself, to John Abraham, in excellent form as Pathaan’s worthy nemesis Jim, to Deepika Padukone, oozing oomph and admirable fitness levels as agent Rubiya, to That Cameo, everyone in the movie is correctly deployed for a mission to repurpose Khan as a full-on action hero.

In the present, Jim is planning something so dastardly that only Pathaan can stop it. Flashbacks – and flashbacks within flashbacks – tell us how Pathaan got his name , the results of his first brush with Jim, and the fatal moment when he sets his eyes on Rubiya. The crackling chemistry between Khan and Padukone ensures that Pathaan, who sometimes appears as ascetic as his lodestar Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible films, melts on occasion.

Back in Delhi, Pathaan’s superboss Luthra (Ashutosh Rana) paces in front of computer screens that are warning of imminent destruction. That takes its own sweet time in a 146-minute film with no hurry to meet Jim’s Armageddon deadline.

It’s knowingly silly and sometimes unknowingly silly too, especially in trying to explain how seemingly impenetrable fortresses get easily breached and agents emerge from life-threatening situations with barely a scar. There are moments when the narrative slumps, when the stunts feel too familiar or derivative, when the thrills look like they are in danger of running out. Whenever Pathaan picks up the action again, and adds Abbas Tyrewala’s whistle-worthy lines to its hero’s arsenal, the film slides back into gear.

The whole shebang is dunked in a soft nationalism that is determinedly less toxic than the jingoism we now see around us. Just like Shah Rukh Khan’s come-into-my-arms gesture , Pathaan aims for an inclusivity that embraces not just India but the entire neighbourhood. While weapons of various sizes are bandied about, the movie’s greatest blaster is its hero itself, parleying his well-oiled impishness, time-tested charm and mesmeric screen presence for a cheesy but also entertaining save-the-nation exercise.

In Shah Rukh Khan’s new movie ‘Pathaan’, a sort of homecoming

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• Pathaan review
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• Deepika Padukone
• Siddharth Anand

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Home » Movies » Bollywood Movie Reviews

Pathaan Movie Review: Shah Rukh Khan Gifts Every Second Of 4 Saal, 1 Mahina Aur 4 Din Back To His Fans In The Most Entertaining Way He Could!

Shah rukh khan brings back 'mass' to 'masala entertainment' and he's definitely one of the most charismatic 57-year-olds you'd witness on screen today..

Star Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, Ashutosh Rana

Director: Siddharth Anand

What’s Good: Shah Rukh Khan proving how a wounded lion is more dangerous than a hungry one, he runs after his prey not to satisfy his hunger but gratify his anger

What’s Bad: The cinematography in moving action sequences goes for a toss, Satchith Paulose’s (whose other notable work apart from this is Divine’s track One Side) camera starts to rely heavily on below-the-par VFX hampering the watching experience

Loo Break: Nope, you might either miss a cool moment by Shah Rukh Khan or some already-heard dialogue

Watch or Not?: Watch it on the big screen, if you’re. If you didn’t like War, probably even this won’t satisfy your quench as well

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical Release

Runtime: 146 Minutes

Following the routine ‘spy thriller’ template, we have the good guy in India’s best soldier/spy Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan), we have a bad guy in Jim (John Abraham), we’ve “I could either seduce you to no limits to fall in love with me or kill you” kinda leading lady in Rubai (Deepika Padukone). Why Jim is the bad guy and Pathaan is the good guy is explained through some weak subplots. But the director forgets to focus on why Rubai is what she is.

Jim is creating a ‘Raktbeej’, a virus that could blow up an entire city and we all know in what country that would be – Bharat Maa (as referred by Jim). He calls himself the ‘aashiq’ of Bharat Maa which sounded kinda weird (could be just me). Pathaan is on a mission to stop him, Rubai is burning up the screen with her hotness & by using a machine gun respectively. Who, amid, all of this could jump in with a cold coffee glass in his hand to save Pathaan? Yep, right.

Pathaan Movie Review: Script Analysis

Only if looks could’ve killed, this film could’ve been a better killer. It suffers from ‘War’ syndrome, but not as worse. This spy thriller has some spy & some thrills but are they enough? Yes, and no. Yes, for they’re enough to keep you intrigued for a while but no they’re not as smart as you’d expect them to be. Siddharth Anand keeps style up & high on the priority list hence hampering the story side of the film which has usually been his weakness. Sridhar Raghavan’s best work remains to be Bluffmaster, this comes with the great pressure of being ‘grand’ and he treats things with an overly generic treatment.

If War is the benchmark, this touches that safely but that film was just a 2.5/5 for me. What works better in Pathaan? To start with, the story isn’t given the shi’twist’ like Tiger Shroff’s character being his duplicate in War. The twists in this will remind you of Abbas Mustan’s times but that also somewhere makes it feel dated. It all starts extremely well going good till the first half, it’s the latter half that reveals the brilliantly set twists in a not-so-interesting manner.

Pathaan Movie Review: Star Performance

Shah Rukh Khan brings back ‘mass’ to ‘massala entertainment’ and he’s definitely one of the most charismatic 57-year-olds you’d witness on screen today. Just like Hrithik Roshan did with War, he carries the weak story of the film with his alluring aura. I wish he could’ve gotten better dialogues though.

Despite Deepika Padukone’s Rubai is too smart to fool Pathaan & Jim single-handedly, why she has to dance in a bikini & seduce Pathaan every chance she gets is what I’d never understand about writing ‘women’ in Bollywood. She has looked as s*xy as a living soul in the history of mankind has ever could, but that’s not should’ve been the takeaway.

John Abraham is as if not #HrithikRoshan he would have been Dhoom 2’s Mr. A but the script restricts him to be just a failed prototype for the same. He holds the wicked bewitchery for a long time but he could’ve done more than what he has. Underutilised to fit in more things like… ahem… a generic cameo… ahem. Dimple Kapadia , too, falls into the trope of half-baked scriptwriting & ends up doing something that has been done by many before.

Ashutosh Rana doesn’t get a whole lot of importance, he’s just basic at its best. It’s something he could do with his numbed brain. Salman Khan’s cameo is as generic as it could’ve been. Many predicted what he’d be doing in the film & they were right. Though it seemed to be the only way of carrying forward the Spy Universe it’s the easiest way to do that.

Pathaan Movie Review: Direction, Music

Siddharth Anand has always been the audience’s director and he has done that job pretty well here as well. He has improved from War & it seems YRF is completely in the right direction with him. There are downs as well but those aren’t enough to hamper the ups. From picking up the ‘fingerprints through the honey-trap technique from Fast & Furious 5 ‘s Gal Gadot scene to a scene turning into a trippy Asphalt level, Sid tries to make things look as cool as possible, no matter if it’s original or not.

Sanchit Balhara & Ankit Balhara’s backg round score is an example of how films with this scale should be treated like. War had a similar plus point and the tradition of the brothers delivering bangers continues to thrive. All thanks to Vishal – Shekhar Besharm Rang’s interlude with all the dhol is a certified banger & it adds that extra style quotient to the film. Jhoome Jo Pathaan’s best thing is it doesn’t interrupt your watching experience.

Pathaan Movie Review: The Last Word

All said and done, Pathaan is the perfect comeback material for Shah Rukh Khan as he gifts back his fans each & every second worth of the wait they did for, to be specific – 4 saal, 1 mahina aur 4 din.

Three stars!

Pathaan Trailer

Pathaan releases on 25th January, 2023.

Share with us your experience of watching Pathaan.

For more recommendations, read our An Action Hero Movie Review here.

Must Read: Cirkus Movie Review: Rohit Shetty, Ranveer Singh’s Comedy Of Err…Errs Is A Tale Of The 60s That Should’ve Stayed In The 60s!

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Pathaan Movie Review

English | Hindi | Telugu | Tamil | Russian

25 Jan 2023 | U/A | 146 Mins

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Pathaan Movie Review: Shah Rukh Khan roars as this actioner has all ingredients of a BONAFIDE BLOCKBUSTER

Shah Rukh Khan makes a smashing comeback with Pathaan as the film is high on action and entertainment. Read Pinkvilla Review

By himesh mankad.

Name: Pathaan

Director: siddharth anand, cast: salman khan,john abraham,deepika padukone,shah rukh khan,dimple kapadia,ashutosh rana,viraf patel, writer: siddharth anand, rating: 3.5, where to watch: amazon prime video.

Jim ( John Abraham ) is planning an attack on India and the motivation to do so is neither money nor power, but something personal. The only person who can stop this attack on Indian soil is Pathaan ( Shah Rukh Khan ) – one of R&AW’s most powerful agents. The story of the film is a cat-and-mouse chase between Jim and Pathaan , with Rubina (Deepika Padukone) bringing an added dimension of twists and turns through the narrative. What’s the motive of Jim? Will Pathaan be able to stop the attack? Who is Rubina? Watch Pathaan to know all this.

What works?

Pathaan is a tentpole event film that is perfectly packaged with the right dose of action, thrill, emotion, and drama. Director Siddharth Anand with screenplay writer, Shridhar Raghavan, ensure that the narrative is fast-paced with high points at regular intervals. Shah Rukh Khan’s introductory sequence is easily among the best in his career. He is presented as a true-blue superstar of Indian Cinema and deserves every bit of the manner in which he is projected on the screen. It’s a celebration of a man named Shah Rukh Khan. John’s character also has an interesting arc, which one might not have expected through the pre-release assets. Ditto for Deepika Padukone’s character.

The interval block also has a twist, which gives the audience a break to put their thinking caps on. The story takes a different turn in the second half to bring in the element of drama and emotion, as it gives Pathaan’s character a personal arc to rise and roar above all the odds. The action sequences in the film are the biggest that we have seen in a Hindi film to date – both in terms of vision and execution. Right from the introduction block of SRK to the fight scene in Spain, the pre-interval block in Russia, the chase sequence on the ice, and the climax – it’s all a delight to watch on the big screen. YRF ensures that the production values are top notch with no compromises made in any aspect to mount the film at a certain level.

Talking of Salman Khan’s cameo as Tiger, every minute he is on the screen warrants a hooting from the audience. The camaraderie shared by the two mighty Khans through the prolonged action sequence just tells us why they are two of the greatest superstars of Indian Cinema. The union of Pathaan and Tiger is worth all the hype. The easter egg to Karan Arjun is a masterstroke and sure to get the loudest cheer. The introductory scene of every key character – SRK, Deepika, John, and Salman – has been done with perfection. The music, especially Besharam Rang, is a chartbuster with spectacular choreography.

What doesn’t work?

Pathaan is a typical Siddharth Anand film and hence, follows the template of a typical spy film. Instead of focusing on a singular mission, the conflict keeps shifting at regular intervals without a proper closure in some cases, which is a minor drawback. The sequences that indicate an underlying element of romance between SRK and Deepika lead to a dip in the pace and divert from the core plot. The dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala could have been slightly better, and the same can be said for the VFX too, which is a little dodgy at some instances, especially the aerial sequences. But yet, full marks to the direction team for their ambition and dreaming big to put out an action film that can actually compete with the ones made in the West.

Performances:

Pathaan belongs to a man named Shah Rukh Khan. It took him 32 years to do an out-and-out action film of this scale and he aces the character from the word go. The way he laughs the way he beats up the antagonists, to his own charismatic way of winning over the people around – it’s SRK show all the way. John Abraham is the surprise package of the film and his character arc gives him the opportunity to display varied shades of emotions.  He is fantastic as Jim and this performance is among the most memorable, taking us back to the days of Dhoom. Deepika Padukone as Rubina gets a character that shifts gears at regular intervals to build intrigue in the plot. Seldom has a female protagonist got the chance to do so much action in a feature film, and Deepika is here to make a statement that if given the opportunity, she can pull off some serious kicks and punches. The future of the spy universe with female protagonists is in safe hands with Deepika and of course, Katrina Kaif (Zoya).

Dimple Kapadia leave an impact with her character of JOCR chief whereas Ashutosh Rana takes from where it all ended in War. Salman Khan is outstanding in his cameo as Tiger, and the appearance raises anticipation for Tiger 3. The rest of the ensemble do well in their respective roles.

Final Verdict

Pathaan has all the ingredients that are needed in a Hindi Film to emerge as a BLOCKBUSTER. It has action, scale, emotion, and music alongside the presence of Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who is presented as a larger-than-life Superstar in a feature film after a while. Pathaan is ready to set the box office on fire and is also on a mission to create new records not just on the opening front but also in the long run. It’s a BONDAFIDE BLOCKBUSTER in the making and also sets up the YRF Spy Universe in a big way with Tiger, Kabir, and Pathaan!

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'Pathaan' Movie Review: SRK is the spectacle

Updated on: 25 January,2023 08:01 PM IST  |  Mumbai Mayank Shekhar | [email protected]

• Text  

It’s SRK's return to the big screen, in a lead role in 'Pathaan', in four years—having delivered a bunch of duds before that. You can tell how hard he’s worked for this comeback

(Pic coutresy: Twitter)

Film: Pathaan  Director: Siddharth Anand Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone Rating: 3/5

If you must know, the ISI ( Deepika Padukone ) and RAW ( Shah Rukh Khan ) seem to be working together in Pathaan! On what mission, exactly, at the point we meet them, first? That I won’t tell you. Not because it’d be a spoiler. But because I couldn’t tell/figure! What we do know is that unlike Ek Tha Tiger (Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan), this isn’t an Indo-Pak, inter-agency romance. Sure, sparks fly here and there—love/sex is not the action you stepped into the theatre for!

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Barring the beautifully shot/composed bikini song ‘Besharam rang’, there really is no space in this picture for anything, but a series of stunt and chase sequences, starring the super-hero the film is named after. That is, Pathaan, making grand entries on every conceivable vehicle: helicopter, plane, train, truck, motor-bikes, skis, down to a wing-span attached to shoulders, so you can see, he can fly! 

Also, these superhero-heroine-villain fly to every corner of the world to bring you this action, live, from Afghanistan, Russia, Syria, Spain, France, UAE…  Basically, if it’s the big-screen scale you were looking for? Eat this. Which is also a reason the film becomes hard to swallow, sometimes. It’s so frickin’ cut-to-cut.

The filmmakers appear so inherently insecure about somehow securing the audience’s attention—the eyes gallop from one shot of the hero, buried under a car, to him jumping on to a chopper, right in the next, unrelated scene, and so on, and so forth. Surely the climaxes— ‘ta-da-da tan ta-da-da’ continuously for background score—loses meaning, if an entire movie is a climax? 

Let’s just say, by the end of it, I forgot where we’d started from. But you’re okay, so long as you stick to Shah Rukh Khan in long locks, muscles ripped, setting freakish fitness goals. This is possibly the best he’s looked onscreen, in his entire career. And he’s frickin’ 57. SRK is the spectacle! Even if he stars among many, including set-pieces, starting with the Dhoom-boy antagonist, John Abraham.

It's as if someone—and that’d be the producer, Aditya Chopra, who else—sat down with pen, paper, listing how many assets to add to SRK in the pic. Reasons to watch Pathaan: action, locations, plot twists, upping stakes, crazy weapons, chemical warfare, SFX (cheque, cheque, cheque).

In all of this, it’s almost a miracle that the movie eventually comes together at least somewhat coherently enough (most don’t). And for that you’ve gotta credit the basic writing, isn’t it: full-on hands-on director Sidharth Anand (for story), Sridhar Raghavan (screenplay), Abbas Tyrewala (dialogues). It’s the same lot that scripted Yash Raj’s last soldier-spy blast-fest, the equally stunning War (2019).  

That said, what’s the movie about, really? Hah, let’s see: a gent of an agent, named Pathaan, of course. He’s from the Indian Army, but serves RAW—lining up a team of retired-hurt soldiers, only we don’t get to see them thereafter. Is Pathaan, Muslim, the ISI agent asks. He doesn’t know.  He was left behind by his parents at a theatre. Therefore, born in a cinema. As is this movie. And that’s where it belongs. Don’t fret then, even when motivations of the mercenary villain is a shifting goalpost.

All the more, you can’t possibly read heavily into the picture’s politics either, if there is much at all. There’s the usual patriotic sentiment of giving your life up for the nation. Expected from a Republic Day release. There is the mention of Article 370 repealed in Kashmir, that has got “extremist” elements within ISI thoroughly charged up to destroy India altogether. For once, though, a Pakistani could also be a sane person; and, indeed, an Indian can be a complete rogue.

Also Read: 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' teaser unveiled during SRK's 'Pathaan' screening, WATCH!

It’s merely a comment on the times that even watching a simplistic mass-entertainer such as 'Pathaan' has seemed like a political act, leading up to its theatrical opening. A lot of it has probably to do with SRK, the super-star at the centre. Also, the actor with the largest female fan-base in India—who you hope (for him, for once) will show up for a mad-actioner as well!

It’s his return to the big screen, in a lead role, in four years—having delivered a bunch of duds before that. You can tell how hard he’s worked for this comeback.  What one did not account for, in the interim, is how important this picture would become—to get Hindi film audiences itself to return to theatres, post-pandemic. Pathaan has felt like a massive event, alright. On my IMAX screen, it lived up to it.

That explains Salman Khan as Tiger, from Yash Raj’s ‘spy universe’, jumping in with Pathaan to kick some Russian asses! Kabir (Hrithik Roshan, from War), it seems, couldn’t make it. What next: James Bond, Jason Bourne joining in?

Seetis simply don’t stop, at my 7.30 am, first day, first show. Movie-magic’s all there. Reviews/ratings mustn’t matter. On my way back, my cabbie wants to know: “Majboot hain? Mast?” Haan. 

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