Film Bodyguard Review

'Bodyguard';

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Raj Babbar;

Director: Siddiqu;

Another Salman’s starrer film is on the verge of blockbuster. It is another Salman type film. He is using his available physical resources in mining gold at box office.

After Wanted and Dabangg, Salman Khan has become the favourite of the masses, unleash yet another entertainer this Eid is Bodyguard. After having set such high standards for himself, will Salman surpass his earlier attainments? Yes, film bodyguard is gaining reputation at box office without any competition.

As an action hero in bodyguard Lovely Singh who is a bit less bombastic than Chulbul Pandey in 'Dabangg'. What the movie does have going for it, and this is the biggest factor in making the movie a sure shot success, is the absolute screen presence that Salman brings along, as willing to beat up goons as he is to poke fun at himself. As the ultra professional Lovely Singh, whose only demand is that you don't do him any favors ('mujh pe ek ehsaan karna, ki mujh pe koi ehsaan mat karna'), Salman is at his endearing best, as much a comedian as he is brawny, and an utter darling for the audiences.

Malayalam script writer and director, Siddique Lal, who also directed the 2010 original Southern version of the film, has penned and helms this affair too. The tale revolves around the heroic Lovely Singh (Salman Khan), who practically worships a village 'rana' called Sartaj Singh (Raj Babbar) for saving his mother in an accident years ago. When Sartaj's enemies (Mahesh Manjrekar and co.) threaten the life of his daughter Divya (Kareena Kapoor), he calls upon Lovely Singh to be her titular bodyguard, even having him follow her to college to guard her. Divya, along with her friend, played by Hazel Keech, find the arrangement unbearable, and proceed to distract him from duty by calling him up from a 'private number' and pose as a girl named Chhaya, madly in love with him. While initially, Lovely is irritated by it, he soon finds himself falling in love with the voice on the phone, and when Lovely saves Divya from a bunch of villainous goons, she too gives in to true love, though Lovely still doesn't know that she is the one posing as Chhaya. However, soon, a new foe (Aditya Pancholi), enters the scene and muddies things up, only to have Lovely kick his behind right and proper. Things still aren't fine though, as Sartaj now believes that Lovely is going to elope with Divya, and goes to stop him. Cue a 'kuch kuch hota hai' twist, and Lovely and Divya get the joyful ending they deserve.

However, the film's saving grace is the central pairing between Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. While their last outing together, in 'Main Aur Mrs.Khanna' was roundly discarded by audiences, here, it works wonders, and their chemistry together is clear on screen. While Salman is clearly in his comfort zone as Lovely Singh, Kareena too is in fine form, channelling her 'Jab We Met' charm as Divya, and looking ravishing while at it.

Raj Babbar is consistently superb in all scenes, while Hazel Keech is content to hang around in the background in most of her scenes with Kareena. Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Panscholi and others get just enough screen time here to be practically invisible. Instead, the rotund Rajat Rawail accurately hogs the screen in unfunny 'comedy' scenes that could have... no, should have been avoided.

In the technical department, the film's strength comes from its action director and Salman regular, FEFSI Vijayan, who has previously picked up two Filmfare awards for his action direction in 'Wanted' and 'Dabangg'. With some super-slick action sequences, moving through slow-motion, bullet time and more, woven around the indomitable Khan, Vijayan scores big here, and is in line for a third award, perhaps.

Musically too, the movie is an achievement; a successful return for Himesh Reshammiya in to the Salman camp. While the melodious 'teri meri' could get stuck in your head, 'desi beat' and 'Bodyguard', also capture an fundamentally Salman sound to great effect.

Overall, BODYGUARD is working well because it has a simple, but appealing story with a dramatic twist in the tale, the chemistry between the lead actors is perfect and the music is well jelled in the story. But its main USP is, without any qualm, Salman Khan.

It is worthy to watch without any hesitations.