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Pathaan Movie Review: It takes a Shah Rukh Khan to save Bollywood, India

Updated Jan 25, 2023, 15:43 IST

Pathaan movie review | Credit: Instagram

• Rating - 3.5/5
• Star cast - Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham
• Director - Siddharth Anand

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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

Chief Film Critic

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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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Movie Review: Pathan

• Publish Date: Jan 26 2023 3:43PM
• Updated Date: Jan 26 2023 3:43PM

Pathaan story: Expanding Yrf’s spy universe (previously led by Salman Khan’s Tiger & Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir), the film is an origin story of an ex-army man turned undercover agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan) and his arch nemesis, Jim (John Abraham).

Pathaan review: An event film of sorts, since it marks Shah Rukh Khan’s return to the big screen after four long years, Pathaan is an ambitious action thriller that plays to the gallery and lives up to the hype. Far-fetched in writing but high on star power and style, Pathaan initially seems like a filmy Mountain Dew commercial which slowly but steadily finds its footing.

The plot follows India’s revocation of article 370 (special status of Jammu and Kashmir) and its impact on a Pakistani officer, who wants India to pay for this ‘mistake’. He reaches out to the formidable Jim, an Ex-RAW agent wronged by his own people. He is joined by his ravishing accomplice Rubai an ex-ISI agent (Deepika Padukone) with ambiguous motives. Pathaan, Jim and Rubai lock eyes and horns, as they hop continents and indulge in a dangerous game of betrayal and revenge. The three race to destroy and protect the worlds they believe in.

Director Siddharth Anand gives an over-the-top treatment to his spy thriller. He presents it more like a superhero film that needs massive suspension of disbelief. His fascination and fanboy worship of mainstream Hollywood blockbusters like Marvel films or Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible series to name a few, is evident here. Expect Falcon like wingsuit, exaggerated action & chase sequences, death and gravity-defying stunts on cars, bikes, ice and helicopters, immortal heroes and villains mouthing punchy dialogues, a femme fatale and all of this seeped in the idea of patriotism.

Action overrides emotions for major part of the film and that’s new territory for SRK, who is most loved in romantic or conversational roles. It’s interesting how he lets his body do the talking along with those powerfully evocative eyes at 57, as a full-fledged action hero. It is his presence that salvages an average script and subpar VFX. While the background score doesn’t quite feel in sync with the scenarios, the film’s music by Vishal & Shekhar manages to reflect the heroism and bravado on display.

Pathaan’s highlight is also John Abraham’s solid portrayal of Jim. Be it his Bane like masked entry or stunt sequences, John is menacing and makes a classic case of the villain overshadowing the hero in portions.

Deepika Padukone can kick ass and is perfectly cast as the dutiful, double crossing, morally ambiguous leggy agent but her chemistry with SRK feels underdeveloped. It lacks the spark that John-SRK’s characters share. Dimple Kapadia does a Tenet once again and lends that much-needed gravitas and emotional heft to the proceedings. You wish other characters exuded the sincerity of her part.

The YRF spy universe reunites Karan and Arjun (wink wink) to give you an iconic whistle moment as Bhai meets the badshah. If you are willing to overlook the frivolity in dialogues like ‘You are pretty screwed’, 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. He’s still the undisputed King.

PS: Wait back for the post credit scene.

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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 release highlights: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Raveena Tandon praise film; Farah Khan calls it a 'blockbuster'

Pathaan movie release: Shah Rukh Khan's comeback vehicle Pathaan released in theatres on Wednesday. The film also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham with Ashutosh Rana and Dimple Kapadia in supporting roles. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand. Check out all highlights around the release. ...Read More

Samantha Ruth Prabhu hails Pathaan

Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared the Pathaan poster on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “Its Pathaan Day.”

Raveena Tandon shares her review of Pathaan

Sharing her review of Pathaan, Raveena Tandon wrote on Twitter Wednesday evening, “#Pathaan OMG! Blown away! Just fantastic! @iamsrk @deepikapadukone #johnabraham. Just fantastic! Thank you being the reason for the industry to celebrate again! @yrf #sidharthanand.”

Farah Khan calls Pathaan a blockbuster

Farah Khan shared a picture of the Pathaan poster she spotted in the city and wrote on her Instagram Stories, “BLOCKBUSTER! Pathaan is here”.

Pathaan has already collected ₹20.35 cr through 3 cinema chains

Pathaan may surpass the opening day collections of director Siddharth Anand's last blockbuster War. According to film trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Pathaan collected ₹ 20.35 crore till 3 pm through three national chains: INOX, PVR and Cinepolis. 

Deepika sends love to Katrina for her Pathaan post

As Katrina Kaif asked moviegoers not to share Pathaan spoilers, Deepika Padukone re-shared her Instagram Story with a 'kissing' emoji. 

Morning shows cancelled in few Indore theatres after protests

Morning shows of Pathaan were cancelled at some theatres in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Wednesday following protests by right-wing organisations, reported PTI. Bajrang Dal activists staged a protest against the film and shouted slogans against Shah Rukh Khan at Kastur cinema hall. Activists of the Hindu Jagran Manch showed saffron flags at Sapna-Sangeeta cinema hall.

Anil Kapoor says Pathaan is an emotion

Anil Kapoor also hailed Pathaan on the day of its release. He tweeted, “#Pathaan is not just a film, it’s an emotion!! @iamsrk @deepikapadukone Looking forward to seeing #SiddharthAnand create magic on the big screen!”

Anupama Chopra reviews Pathaan

Film critic Anupama Chopra tweeted, "It’s taken @iamsrk 32 years to become a full fledged action hero. It was worth the wait! #Pathaan."

Raj and DK wish King Khan

“Have always been huge fans of King Khan But this one, after his long hiatus, is uber-special. Go #Pathaan go! May you win more hearts and shatter more records@iamsrk,” read a tweet by Raj and DK.

Vishal Dadlani celebrates Pathaan release

Composer Vishal Dadlani tweeted, “Aaj tyohaar hai. #Pathaan #JaiHind No spoilers, no images, no videos please. Please support the battle against piracy and report any accounts that post any such thing.”

Siddharth Anand mobbed outside theatre

View this post on Instagram A post shared by yogen shah (@yogenshah_s)

A happy crowd surrounded Siddharth Anand and his wife as they visited a multiplex in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon.

Anurag Kashyap reviews Pathaan

“Shah Rukh Khan itna haseen, itna sundar pehle kabhi laga nahi. Toh hum toh usko dekhne aaye the aur dil khush ho gaya. Aur itna khatarnaka action hai, Shah Rukh ke liye pehli baar aisa role hai. Mujhe nahi lagta unhone is tarah ka action pehle kiya hai,” Anurag Kashyap said at the morning show of Pathaan.

HT Pathaan review out

Pathaan movie review: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone's actioner is worthy every penny even as it defies gravity and logic. Read full review here .

Trade analyst Sumit Kadel's review

"MOUNTAINOUS BLOCKBUSTER. STYLE - SUBSTANCE - PATRIOTISM #Pathaan has it all. SUPERB ACTION + TWISTS & THRILLS gives Wholesome Entertainment. #SRK BLOW UP THE SCREEN with his Intensity & Charm. LAST 20 Mins & SALMAN KHAN Cameo creates MASS HYSTERIA," tweeted trade analyst Sumit Kadel about Pathaan.

Opening Day BO predictions

As per a report in DNA, Pathaan is looking at a massive opening of ₹ 56 crore on day 1. This would mean that it might just become the biggest Hindi opener of all time.

Alia Bhatt shares message for the team

Alia Bhatt took to Instagram to share her support for Pathaan. 'To be honest, never been this excited for a film. Go Pathaan," she wrote.

Pathaan showing on 8000 screens worldwide

“UNPRECEDENTED: ‘PATHAAN’ SHOWS INCREASED, SCREEN COUNT ALL-TIME HIGHEST [HINDI]… #Pathaan has taken #BO by storm… 300 shows increased by exhibitors right after first show. Total screen count now is 8,000 screens *worldwide*… #India: 5,500 screens, #Overseas: 2,500 screens,” tweeted trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Shah Rukh Khan asks fans to watch Pathaan

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk)

Shah Rukh Khan took to Instagram to share that the film is now out. He also asked everyone to watch his film. “#Pathaan is finally here... milte hai bade parde par! Book your tickets now- https://m.paytm.me/pathaan | https://bookmy.show/Pathaan Celebrate #Pathaan with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.”

Pathaan posters torn and burnt

Posters of the film Pathaan was torn and burnt outside a cinema hall in Bihar's Bhagalpur on Tuesday, a day before its release. Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan movie is to be screened in Bhagalpur's Deepprabha cinema hall.

The youth of Hindu organizations tore the posters in the cinema hall and set it on fire, raising slogans of 'Film Chalega Hall Jalega'.

Fans cut cake amid film release

A video has surfaces on social media that show fans of Shah Rukh Khan cutting an enormous Pathaan-themed cake outside a theatre.

Taran Adarsh reviews Pathaan

“#OneWordReview... #Pathaan: BLOCKBUSTER. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ #Pathaan has it all: Star power, style, scale, songs, soul, substance and surprises… And, most importantly, #SRK, who’s back with a vengeance… Will be the first #Blockbuster of 2023,” wrote film trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Fans scream in theatre

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shah Rukh Khan Universe (@srkuniverse)

Visuals from Gaiety Cinema have surfaced that show fans screaming and shouting at Shah Rukh Khan's entry.

Vaibhavi Merchant on Besharam Rang

Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant reacted to the ongoing controversy surrounding her song Besharam Rang from Pathaan and said ‘nobody goes to a beach wearing full clothes', and it made ‘sense’ for Shah Rukh Khan to roam shirtless. Read full story here.

Praise for Pathaan action scenes 

Film critic Suchin Mehrotra tweeted, “SRK may be responsible for one of the modern Hindi cinema's greatest action set pieces with Ra One's local train sequence.. but he may well have just matched it with one in Pathaan (which just happens to also take place on a train).” He was also impressed by the end credit scene. “Throw in a gloriously cheeky end credits scene that got me more buzzing and gave me more joy than perhaps any Marvel post credits scene.” 

Fans praise ‘breathtaking’ action

“Breathtaking action sequences. Clash between Pathaan Vs Jim is extraordinary. Cinematography is at another level(Thank Lord Sid). Always high expectations for #SRK but had an average expectation for John & SRK’s wish to see him getting huge appreciation might be fulfilled #Pathaan,” wrote a fan on Twitter.

Twitter user is disappointed with Pathaan

“Was expecting the script way better, the movie is a 4/10. Feels like I'm watching a cheaper version of Mission Impossible. The same bomb disarm and saving the nation script Repeated with some better action. Feel free to skip this one,” read a tweet about Pathaan.

Inside pics from screening

View this post on Instagram A post shared by DiwaaahBhaiWaah ☀️🌙⭐️ (@shanoosharmarahihai)

Casting director Shanoo Sharma shared photos from the screening on Instagram. They featured Deepika Padukone as well.

Katrina Kaif gives a shoutout to Pathaan

Deepika Padukone reacted after Katrina Kaif gave a shoutout to her upcoming film Pathaan. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Katrina shared a picture of her character Zoya from her film franchise, Tiger. Sharing the picture, Katrina wrote, “My friend Pathaan is on a dangerous mission.” Check out full story here.

Salman Khan 'steals the show'

“Salman khan cameo in #Pathaan is a treat to watch out for. He stole the entire show and theaters turned into stadium within seconds #SalmanKhan,” wrote a fan.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kumaarofficial (@kumaarofficial)

Kumaar, who has written the lyrics for Pathaan, shared inside pictures from the Tuesday screening at YRF. “Pathan screening..! Blockbuster..! Jai ho,” he wrote.

VHP withdraws ‘Boycott Pathaan’

“Keeping our earlier objections in mind, changes made in the film are correct. After watching the film, if we find anything objectionable, then we'll reconsider opposing the film," Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesman Shriraj Nair said.

Shah Rukh Khan is called ‘saviour of Bollywood’

"Fast Paced, High Voltage ACTION DRAMA with convincing story. Sid Anand gives his best. Srk Intro is lit. #ShahRukhKhan performance is outstanding #JohnAbraham and #deepikapadukone also done well. Once again The Savior of Bollywood is Back," wrote a person on Twitter.

Fans react to Salman Khan's cameo

Fans of Salman Khan were eagerly waiting for his cameo in the film and have been sufficiently rewarded. A bunch of Twitter users have shared pictures and videos from the movie showing Salman's appearance in the film. One wrote, “Salman bhai entry in pathaan is (fire).” Film trade analyst Sumit Kadel wrote, “#Pathaan & #Tiger brings the HOUSE DOWN.. One of the BEST SEQUENCE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF INDIAN CINEMA.. Turns theater into STADIUM.. Baap re Baap kya action dikhaya hai ..”

Deepika Padukone gets good wishes for Pathaan

Deepika Padukone shared a picture of her dessert with ‘Good Luck for Pathaan’ written on it in icing.

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan teaser leaked

The teaser for Salman Khan's Kisika Bhai Kisiki Jaan, which was attached to Pathaan, has been leaked on social media. Read full story here.

Fans start posting reviews on Twitter

A fan took to social media to share his review of the film. “#Pathaan is HIGH VOLTAGE ACTION DRAMA with convincing story, Storytelling is brilliant as we want from #SiddharthAnand @iamsrk performance is outstanding @TheJohnAbraham and @deepikapadukone are also fine, Too many surprise and twist. Rating - 4/5,” the tweet read.

Rani Mukerji attends screening

Rani Mukerji made a rare appearance on Tuesday as she attended the screening. She was seen in a saree, sitting in her car as the paparazzi clicked away.

Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone attend screening

YRF hosted a screening for the film's crew and their friends and family on Tuesday evening in Mumbai. Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan also attended.

Fans flock to theatres for 7am shows

Fans all over the country flocked to theatres to catch the first day first shows for the film. Videos from outside Gaiety Cinema in Mumbai and PVR cinema halls in Delhi are surfacing on social media.

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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.

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'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.

Ambica Sachin

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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

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

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Pathaan Movie Review

Pathaan Devesh Sharma , Jan 25, 2023, 16:13 IST

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Pathaan Movie Review

Average Ratings: 3.44/5 Score: 100% Positive Reviews Counted:10 Positive: 10 Neutral:0 Negative:0

Ratings: 4.5/5 Review By:  Taran Adarsh  Site:Twitter

Pathaan has it all: Star power, style, scale, songs, soul, substance and surprises€¦ And, most importantly, SRK, whos back with a vengeance€¦ Will be the first Blockbuster of 2023.

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Ratings: —  Review By:  Komal Nahta Site:Filminformation

On the whole, Pathaan is a blockbuster, no questions asked. It will break plenty of records and create many new ones. It is destined to be one of the biggest Hindi hits.

Ratings: —  Review By:  Anupama Chopra Site:Youtube

With Pathaan, the emperor gets his groove back. From his electrifying introduction scene to the end sequence, in which co-writer and director Siddharth Anand tips his hat to three decades of stardom Shah Rukh commands the frame.where the film falters is the screenplay which is weighed down by convoluted chronology and in places the VFX wobbles.I was cheering and tearing up I exited the theater thinking about the sheer joy that Shahrukh has added to our lives it’s fitting that yrf the studio that consecrated him as Rahul and Raj has now reinvented him as a savior of the world with charm and smarts chivalry

Ratings: 3.5/5 Review By:  Abhimanyu Site:DNA

The characters are stereotypical and at times, the emotional scenes do not have the kind of weight they should. Shah Rukh is earnest and Deepika tries but the direction falters in some of the tender moments. But Pathaans target audience does not mind that. It is a formula that has seen War, Dabangg, Tiger, and Singham succeed. Pathaan takes that formula a notch higher. The film is paisa vasool in every way. A masala entertainer that Bollywood has perfected over decades and served just perfectly. Go watch it if you want to be entertained!

Ratings: 3.5/5 Review By:  Urmimala Site:Bollywood Life

Pathaan is one of the best action films made in India. It is a visual treat. Shah Rukh Khan proves yet again why he is king. His commitment to his craft and audience will make you Jhoom in the theatres and how.

Ratings: 3/5 Review By:  Amandeep Site:ABP

The story arch is also quite problematic in ‘Pathaan’. There are too many highs and lows in the pre-interval film and this penchant to stick to chronology is confusing. The post-interval film is a completely different ball game. For what it’s worth, ‘Pathaan’ is a one-time watch and a great way to begin 2023 with a major megastarrer. It has its moments and is sure to bring SRK fans back to theatres also perhaps giving a good box office start for Bollywood this year.

Ratings: 3/5 Review By:  Shubhra Gupta Site:Indian Express

it is Pathaan which has got the spy movie-laced-with-heavy-doses-of-patriotism bouncing off the screen, with Shah Rukh Khan acing the action avatar, flaunting the floppy-hair-glinting-aviators-eight packs (or is it twelve?) look.Thats because it has finally got whats needed in an action movie €” non-stop action, leavened by glamorous leads, topped by the guy who can save the world, a high-octane set piece, and an emo line at a time.

Ratings: 3.5/5 Review By:  Renuka Vyvahare Site:Times Of India

An event film of sorts, since it marks Shah Rukh Khans return to the big screen after four long years, Pathaan is an ambitious action thriller that plays to the gallery and lives up to the hype. Far fetched in writing but high on star power and style, Pathaan feels more like a filmy Mountain Dew commercial which slowly but steadily finds its footing.If you are willing to overlook the frivolity in dialogues like You are pretty screwed, 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.

Ratings: 3/5 Review By:  Umesh Panwani Site:Koimoi

Only if looks couldve killed, this film couldve 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 theyre enough to keep you intrigued for a while but no theyre not as smart as youd 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. If War is the benchmark, this touches that safely

Ratings: 3.5/5 Review By:  Tushar Joshi Site:India Today

Director Siddharth Anand, whos 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.Pathaan is unapologetically fun. It isnt trying to send a public service message or pass a 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.

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Pathaan Story:

Pathaan, an exiled RAW field operative is assigned to take down “Outfit X”, a private terrorist organization that is planning a nuclear attack on India.

Pathaan Release Date:

25 January 2023 straight to Theaters

Pathaan Cast:

Shah Rukh Khan as Pathaan, a RAW field agent John Abraham as Jim, the leader of ‘Outfit X’ Deepika Padukone Ashutosh Rana as Colonel Sunil Luthra Dimple Kapadia

Pathaan Director: 

Siddharth Anand

Pathaan Producer: 

Aditya Chopra

Pathaan Production Companies:

Yash Raj Films

Pathaan Distribution Companies:

Pathaan run time: .

2 Hour 26 Minutes (146 minutes)

Read More About Celebs: Salman Khan  |  Shahrukh Khan  | Aamir Khan  |  Ranbir Kapoor     Hrithik Roshan  |  Akshay Kumar

Rajeev Masand , Taran Adarsh, Komal Nahta , Anupama Chopra Reviews are awaited for this movie

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