Heropanti Review: Tiger Shroff shows promise in a
shoddy launch vehicle
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Last updated on: May 23, 2014 20:10 IST
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Tiger Shroff could not have asked for a shoddier launch with Heropanti. Yet, somehow
beneath the pin-up torso, the soulful eyes and an awkward smile -- a genuine, graceful,
likeable boy comes through, writes Sukanya Verma.
Amazing how Bollywood beats science when it comes to experiencing time travel.
Watching Heropanti transported me to an era when the leading man would fall in love with the girl after
one fleeting glimpse, when her earring/anklet/scarf would invariably fall off and land in the heros
possession, when rescuing the lady from five omnipresent molesters after a prolonged fight sequence
would cut to a romantic duet against a mountainous landscape, when a star sons launch vehicle meant a
show reel to flaunt his expertise in stunts, dance and superficiality.
Unfortunately, director Sabbir Khans out-dated filmmaking has no room for nostalgic wonderment even
if thats just what it means to cash on.
Heropanti, which marks the debut of Jackie Shroffs son, Tiger shamelessly guilt trips the emotional
viewer into summoning memories of his father with its strategic title and steady supply of the iconic flute
play, here modified into a catchy whistle theme.
Certainly Tiger is not the first star son to receive such privileged treatment but Jackie or Jaggu Dada, as
fans lovingly address him, is not like every other Bollywood celebrity we know. His stardom is built
around an everyman aura -- the eternal Biddu after Subhash Ghais Hero captured that raw, relatable
intensity to memorable results more than three decades back.
What the makers -- producer Sajid Nadiadwala, director Sabbir Khan -- probably dont realise is that
Tiger is different. Despite a physique thats ready to dwarf the screen, he doesnt have Jackies innate,
effortless machismo. This comparison wouldnt even arise if Heropanti wasnt so hell bent on making
Tiger pose, walk or talk like his daddy. That its also an irredeemably scatterbrained movie doesnt help
his case either.
One rarely sees anyone work in the movies but in this dim-witted remake of Telugu flick, Paragu, nobody
even pretends to have anything close to a job.
Somewhere in aimless Jattland where jeeps bear a sign that reads Jatt Do It (says a lot about Heropantis
humour) a family of brawny, bearded men and their growling patriarch (Prakash Raj) go hysterical in the
mad pursuit of the latters absconding daughter and her beau. Households social standing is at stake if
they dont break the pair, insist the bickering hooligans in their fake Haryanvi accents.
As part of this hunt, the extended family cum henchmen holds the runaway dudes friends hostages in
their house. One of them happens to be Babloo (Tiger Shroff) who keeps harping the same bunkum all
through the movie -- Sabko aati nahi. Meri jaati nahi. Was Sanjay Kapoor the inspiration behind such
awful lines?
Babloos in love with Dimpy (Kriti Sanon), the still upset Prakash Rajs younger daughter who seems
clueless about what shes supposed to do or why shes in the movie given how Tiger upstages her in the so-
called heroine territory as well -- song and dance.
Kriti is pretty and says her lines exactly like Twinkle Khanna but even her earring collection shows more
range than her limited number of expressions.
Her chemistry with Tiger is so bland; it makes coconut water look sexy. Babloo is besotted by a girl he
barely even knows yet one minute hes getting whipped for her, another shes not into him, Friday, I am in
love? Really, even Prem Qaidi packed more conviction than that.
Scripts with pea-sized intelligence are often victims of their own laziness. And so when theres not more to
showcase of Tigers parkour proficiency and fabulous flexibility, Khan turns his attention to Prakash Raj.
From threatening to chop off his daughters head to pleading I am a dog to daughter no 1 and doing a
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenges Amrish Puri to daughter no 2, the actor starring in yet another South-to-
North remake, exhibits a laughable change of heart.
Neither of it matters eventually.
Heropantis sole purpose is to let us know theres a new actor on the entertainment scene. Nothing about
Heropanti is fresh or clever. Saddled with a pedestrian setup, ghastly writing, old-fashioned treatment,
tacky styling and uninspiring co-stars, Tiger has little going in his favour.
And the way I see it, he could not have asked for a shoddier launch. Yet somehow beneath the pin-up
torso, the soulful eyes and an awkward smile -- a genuine, graceful, likeable boy comes through.
In his fathers skin, he stifles.
In his own, he sparks of unique promise.
May the best hero win.
Rediff Rating:
