Okay, Simran tells the story of its eponymous 'heroine', a young Indian immigrant in the US who becomes a serial bank robber to repay her debts following major losses in a gambling bout. Once she performs successfully her first robbery there's no looking back for her. Said to be based on the true story of Sandeep Kaur, a young Sikh immigrant in the US who made headlines following a number of successful robberies, this crime comedy is not just about the protagonist's crimes but also her life in general. It is with the robberies that the film picks up a little but sadly it is really poorly executed and there's some sort of amateur feel to it which is very present all along and is hard to shake off. Especially for those who watch American films of the sort, even the low-budget independent ones, the film's flaws and inept handling especially of the criminal activities and characters become more strongly evident. The American actors in the bit parts are also very poor. This is not to say the film is not good at all, it is watchable although it lacks this special something that would captivate. And it's a shame when you have a leading lady who is as strong as Kangana Ranaut. She is effortless in the part, playing it with a nice touch of self-deprecation and managing to evoke some empathy from the viewers in light of her impossible tribulations. Sadly, the material lets her down and the entire thing is not fully realised. Simran is not a terrible film, for sure. It is enjoyable in parts, it is funny in others, and Ranaut does make up for some of its flaws, which is enough for one watch but doesn't call for more.
