Bachchhan Paandey (2022) Review!!

Synopsis – A budding director tries to research a merciless gangster for making a film on gangster-ism. But his secret attempts to conduct the research fail when he gets caught for snooping.

My Take – It is known fact that Akshay Kumar is currently the busiest mainstream leading actor in the Hindi film industry.

A filmography which over the past few years has been mainly dominated by patriotic themed features, only with the occasional blip here and there, where he chooses to star in a commercial entertainer, usually a remake of a successful South Indian film, aimed at the masses. An ever growing list which contains winners like Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Garam Masala, Rowdy Rathore, Holiday, and Gabbar is Back, and damp squibs like Khatta Meeth, Boss, and Laxmii.

Unfortunately, his latest, helmed by Farhad Samji, who previously directed Housefull 4 (2019), and co-directed Housefull 3 (2016) and Entertainment (2014), all Akshay Kumar starrers, belongs in the latter category.

A remake of the 2014 Tamil film Jigarthanda, which itself was inspired by the 2006 South Korean film A Dirty Carnival, director Samji‘s film contains all the grandiosity and star power to replicate his previous success, and even acts a perfectly okay homage to the masala films of yore, but backed by a limping plot and a staggering 149 minute run time, it only manages to entertain in very bits and pieces. Replete with caricatures, pointless gore and hit and miss humor, the film only has a few supposedly witty one-liners coming to its rescue.

Yes, I agree the film is designed to play to the galleries, and as always Akshay Kumar, with his swag and energy is highly watchable, but with an interesting plot at hand, a more streamlined screenplay, and better comedy, this drab experience could have been so much better. It should come as no surprise that the film is dying a quick death at the box office.

The story follows Myra Devekar (Kriti Sanon), a struggling filmmaker, who in order to prove her mettle with a known producer, decides to make a new gangster biopic which will appeal both to the masses and the critics.

Setting her eyes on Bachchan Pandey (Akshay Kumar), a self-proclaimed don who has unleashed a reign of terror, mercilessly killing those who dare to challenge him, Myra lands in Bhagwa with her friend Vishu Kant Mhatre (Arshad Warsi), a struggling actor, to make a full-fledged feature film on him. Unknown to them, the two have just entered a lawless land, placing them in a bloody roller coaster ride that is marked by death and destruction.

It’s an interesting plot, but sadly we have seen it all in the trailer that pretty much revealed the entire story and director Samji doesn’t do much to bring anything more than anyone would expect.

Honestly, the film actually starts off well, with the introduction of Bachchan Pandey’s character. By burning a journalist alive for publishing an article he deems unfavorable, Bachchan Pandey immediately comes off as an unapologetic, trigger-happy and remorseless gangster. He isn’t shown to have a softer side or even the weakest bone of mercy. All he wants is to instill fear in all eyes that look at him.

Unfortunately, that is until his relation to his mother (Seema Biswas) is brought into the equation, and his back story is revealed, justifying his actions to be bad man. All done to evoke sympathy for Pandey. An element which goes overboard in the final act which seems him turning over a new leaf in the most hurried and unconvincing way possible.

Making matters worse is that the supposed comedy rarely hits. And when it does it becomes too repetitive after a point. This despite a mix of talented character artists, who are known for their impeccable comic timing.

It is sad how director Samji seems too obsessed with delivering stylized sequences and has not gone beyond his comfort zone. Even with six writers, Sajid Nadiadwala, Farhad Samji, Tushar Hiranandani, Sparsh Khetarpal, Tasha Bhambra and Zeishan Quadri, on board the massive setup, the film is only marred with the filmiest clichés.

Performance wise, Akshay Kumar seems to be having fun playing a lunatic killer. With prosthetics, he looks menacing and sleepwalks through a role that is tailor made for him, and the film bestows him with abundant opportunities to flaunt himself.

Kriti Sanon does a fine job given the script and the stereotypical mold of the character. Sanon not only looks gorgeous on screen but also delivers a very convincing and confident performance, often stealing the limelight from Akshay. Jacqueline Fernandez hardly has any role, and comes and goes without creating any impact.

Arshad Warsi is a saving grace to an extent. He is goofy, quirky and gets a decent screen time, however isn’t allowed to make the most of it. Pankaj Tripathi is hilarious in a cameo, while Abhimanyu Singh and Saharsh Kumar Shukla are good in their supporting turns.

In smaller roles, Sanjay Mishra, Prateik Babbar, Mohan Agashe and Seema Biswas are wasted. On the whole, ‘Bachchhan Paandey‘ is a tedious typical out-and-out masala film that fails to entertain.