Veer

One of the curious things about watching a Hindi film here, is how you get to see the censor certificate before the show begins, with signatories of approval as well as something which I like to spot – the physical length of the film measured in feet, over X number of projected reels. For Veer, this marks the first time I see the censors being quite upfront about the amount of snips down to the movie, which amounted to some 10 ft worth of film. At least you'd come to expect that the film was cut, and here it's for the gratuitous violence which unfortunately had the more gory bits left on the cutting room floor.

Salman Khan follows up on the disappointment of last year's London Dreams with this effort directed by Anil Sharma, responsible for what's arguably India's largest film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Unfortunately for what Veer had promised to be one heck of an epic set in a time of tumultuous India with factions battling it out for land, and the invasion of the British by virtue of alliances with Indian kings craving that upper hand in military logistics, not knowing that they're being nothing but slowly colonized by their British masters.

As the story goes, Salman Khan plays Veer, a Pindari general's child whose clansman were massacred through a betrayal by Madhavgarh King Gyanendra (Jackie Shroff). Fearsome in battle and men of their word, the warrior clan Pindaris are not taking this lying down, and have scattered with a vow to one day exact their vengeance against King Gyanendra. The first child born during their exile, Veer gets taught the ways of the warrior kind, before being sent to London with his brother Punya (Sohail Khan) in order to learn the ways of the Britishers (yeah) and especially their cunning minds, one small step toward their goal of overthrowing the Madhavgarh king through the exploiting of his backer's weaknesses and to circumvent their strategy of divide and conquer over India.

Alas Veer has to fall in love in typical Bollywood fashion, and what more in true Romeo and Juliet style. In fact, most of the film adopts this epic love story, which becomes centerstage for Veer's romance, and plot against his father's and people's common enemy. Like the fabled line from Shakespeare's tragedy "too early seen unknown, and known too late", he and Princess Yashod (Zarine Khan, a fleshier dead ringer for Katrina Kaif) realize the enormous obstacles lying in front of them, and have to choose whether to fulfill personal desires, that of their father's (in crushing the other side), while shouldering the weight of their people's welfare as well whether to fight another bloody war, or to kowtow to the British who are pompously throwing their weight around.

While I didn't appreciate much of the token battle and action sequence in the first half, and even Veer's attack of a train for treasure and the love at first sight encounter with Yashod, the narrative was kept tight in the setting of the premise until you realize it's a love story after all, with Veer being a rather smart Romeo in trying to kill multiple birds with a single stone. The scenes in London where both Veer and Punya enrol in a college, and reconnect with Yashod again, was something out of a high school romance with plenty of song and dance to go around so much that it actually gets boring no thanks to the repetitive romantic theme played until ad nausem , until two tragic turn of events set the stage for a cliffhanger just before the interval. It is in this section that Sohail Khan shines as Punya, used mostly for comic relief and then fading away as an underdeveloped character despite some glimpses of a fearsome warrior in the making.

The second half after the interval somehow imploded through its lost sense of direction, and the muddled development of plotting for revenge, fulfillment of promises, and the battling for the hand of Yashod all seemed too scattered. For all the sweeping motion of battle horses and foot soldiers clashing in battle, there was a distinct lack of big battle sequences which are obligatory for a sword and sandals film, and in its place you got a hokey joust with a muscular Caucasian, as well as an emotionally empty father versus son tirade. You cannot deny that Salman Khan tried hard, but it came across as trying too hard yet again, made worst by his display of only two emotions in the entire film – lovelorn and rage, which for some inexplicable reason the latter facial display comes with complete with some cheesy lion-roar effect to accentuate his angry mood.

India has its fair share of contemporary epics set in its period days, and two excellent films which I have watched come to mind in Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar (incidentally both directed by Ashutosh Gowariker). Unfortunately Veer doesn't even come close to matching the standards set by those two in terms of story, action and songs even. You can see glimpses of what Veer had tried to do, but it lacked focus and was poor in delivery, and the final, cheesy and needless scene just drove the final nail into the film's coffin. I'm also sad to say that of the 3 Khans of Bollywood, Salman has yet to impress me with this choice of projects to star in.

I really liked the Salman Khan film "Veer", and actually was convinced the plot was quite original, until I learned as usual, it's yet another Bollywood version of an older English movie.

The 1962 "Taras Bulba", starring Yul Brynner and Tony Curtis, tells the same story (with less typical Hindi family drama of course) between the Cossacks and the Poles, taking place in the 16th century: "The Cossacks of Eastern Europe join the Poles to rid the Turks from the Steps of Europe. In return for their aid, the Poles agree to give control of the Steps to the Cossacks. After the battle, however, the Poles back out of their agreement and force the Cossacks into the hills. Taras Bulba, a Cossack Colonel, raises his son, Andrei Bulba to learn the ways of the Poles so he can one day defeat them in battle. In his learning process, however, Andrei falls in love with the daughter of a Polish Nobleman. This twist causes Andrei Bulba to choose between the love of the Cossacks, and the love of a woman, and causes Taras Bulba to choose between the love of his son, and the love of the Cossacks."

There were mixed reactions about "Veer" before its release, since it was a period drama dealing with the same old Rajput Kings, Britishers and their revolts. The subject had its own limitations, holding a restricted appeal for the viewers. But there was Salman Khan, on Veer's side, with a gigantic fan following, who were all eager to see their favourite star in a new avatar of a revolutionary fighter.

So, the stage was all set for Salman to once again win over the box office with his majestic project which also had few melodious songs to its credit. But after watching more than 160 minutes of this fictional period epic, sadly Salman Khan himself, Mithun Da and the few well composed songs, remain the only worth mentioning features of this costly affair called "Veer".

Where to start? I was going to watch a Salman Khan starrer, so naturally all my expectations were low. VERY low.

I've learned not to expect anything great from him. And, not to forget, I was going to watch a photocopy of my favourite actress, Katrina Kaif (favourite, mind you, for all reasons other than her acting!), which is really frustrating. This is the second time Salman is doing something like getting a carbon copy.

So, anyways, in one word, this movie is average. Very average. For more than one reason. It's a good entertainer, but all the super-bollywoody factors make me hate it, like flying (means a LOOOOOOONG jump), like breaking a sword with a bloody fist, etc, etc. Thank god for what happens in the end, though.

The direction is OK, doesn't feel stretched, but isn't that smooth either. The editing is flawed, but I'd give the cinematography a solid 8/10. Scenes are beautifully captured, no doubt. The 300-type CGI makes one want to puke, at times. The soundtrack... except the one song that I know people will like, it sucks.

And for the performances... Salman Khan's acting was... let's say... what it was supposed to be. Satisfying, nothing great. For others, it was fine. The newcomer Katrina Kaif-ish girl, though didn't have too many dialogues, was pretty OK.

And for the movie... I just LIKED one thing, which is the small twist in the end. As for the rest, it was OK. It is, after all, a love story, and nothing more. And when it comes to love, India has invented so many stories and I've seen so many that honestly, I'm bored. I mean, come on, what are they gonna do next, make films on capturing a terrorist, or a common cold? 6/10. Don't really go on my rating, I'm too critical. But go for it - it's a one-time-watch, and a sure-to-be-hit.

Veer is Salman Khans most ambitious project to date. No doubt about that, he has scripted the film, but that is exactly what the film suffers from, don't get me wrong, it isn't half bad for a man whos career lies is in acting. But its quite obvious that Salman viewed the Hollywood Epic "Troy" beforehand, most of the storyline is a rip off from it. 2 warring tribes? the heroine belonging to the enemy tribe? A fight between Veer and the heroines brother in which Veer wins? A tearful yet acceptable climax? All seems a bit too familiar to me.

Salman is very good in the film but he is looking his age, for the most part he does not have a six pack but more of a flab pack. Sohail Khan is ludicrous (in the bad sense), he tries hard to bring a sense of humour but fails miserably. Mithun pleasantly surprises, the fight between him and Salman is the highlight of the film. Jackie Shroff is bearable as is his on-screen daughter, the heroine and debutant, Zarine Khan.

However the film is in all honesty, too long, while being an adaptation of troy, it also has its own stroyline, but 2 and half hours is pushing it, the story could have been told in 2 hours max given the brief interlude from the songs (which are picturised very well).

The love story is a run-of-the-mill one, hero and heroine falls in love, then some melodrama (and in this case fighting and action), before a reunion, then an expected twist.

Action scenes, war scenes etc etc are underdone, the film is definitely an epic, but more in the bollywood "44 crore budget" sense, Veer lacks the granduer but Salman more than makes up for it.

Music is well used in the film, depicts the more grand style of times back then, but the party song, the name of which i cant remember is brilliant on screen. Cinematography is all in all very good.

Final Verdict: See it for Salman, but don't go expecting a huge bollywood epic, you'll be disappointed.