FILM & REVIEW Always been a fan of world cinema with the exception of Bollywood films. Always find the romance is over-ripe, the action scenes fairly ludicrous and the song and dance routines get in the way. But this got rave reviews so thought I’d give a it a go and glad i did as it’s astounding. Based on 2 real life Indian revolutionary’s in the 1920’s British Raj who for the purposes of this meet for the ultimate manly bromance. They are Bheem (Rama Rao) and Raju (Charan) - Bheem is searching for a local tribal girl who has been kidnapped by the British Governor (Stephenson) and Raju who is working as a Policeman for the British and is ranked with hunting down Bheem. The two meet and become firm friends without knowing at first who the other is but circumstances soon reveal this and set them on an a collision course of loyalties. Bheem sets out to rescue the girl from the clutches of the British while Raju sets out to stop him…..while it’s revealed he is pursuing his own hidden agenda. That may be the plot but its the way it’s brought to the screen that elevates it into something extraordinary. Director Rajamoli throws everything at it……huge insane set action pieces, bone crunching violence and sadism, epic song and dance routines that would give Gene Kelly a run for his money and at its heart the undying love between the two leads. There is a jaw dropping sequence at the mid-point which is about as insane as I ever seen topped only by the finale which has you watching in sheer disbelief as it’s just never lets up. It’s 187 minutes long but there is so much going in it never drags grounded in the two solid leads with Stephenson chewing everything in sight…..on Netflix and well worth the investment- 5/5
Set in pre-independence India, the 2 main protagonists are basically superheroes, and is essentially a revenge/uprising movie, against the big bad British Empire (not often projected as such in the movies).
Overall, it's an above average action movie, with heart, and you certainly root for the good guys. For the elaborate but ridiculous action set pieces, the CGI is adequate to pretty good. There's the odd song & dance routine in it as well, which is curious in an action/fantasy movie, and I didn't find too objectionable.. but hey ho, that seems be a staple of Indian cinema...
Note: I have seen this film referred to as Bollywood, but actually it's Tollywood (Telugu-language film industry).