Ratings – 3.5/5
The Bade Miyan Chote Miyan by Ali Abbas Zafar is exactly that. It has some predictable twists and is run-of-the-mill. The makers deserve praise for presenting some top-notch, slick, gravity-defying, jaw-dropping and never-before-seen action sequences, and credit should be given where credit is due. But the brownie point goes to renowned Hollywood action director Craig Macrae, who has choreographed stunts in some of the biggest productions including Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Mad Max: Fury Road. Shah Rukh Khan was the next action star after blazing the trail with Pathaan and Jawan last year. This time, Craig gets more credit for trying to save Bade Miyan Chote Miyan on his own.
Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan has no connection with the Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda starrer of 1998. There is a justification as to why this new film is a namesake, and you can see the comic playing in the background in a couple of sequences. You won’t feel nostalgic when the title track from the old film turns into a soundtrack as Akshay and Tiger battle it out against a terrorist outfit in Afghanistan, which makes us appreciate Ali for finding some authentic, picturesque spots to set the action scenes.Captain Freddy and Captain Rocky are the two soldiers in the new Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. They are known for being the bravest officers in the Indian army, never batting an eyelid before slaying their foes. Chote, in particular, is also known for his sense of humour, which he displays especially in stressful situations. A calamity leads to their arrest, trial, and suspension. Eight years later, they are brought back to action by Major Azad to capture the most dreadful enemy whose power can destroy India. The film is largely the story of Kabir, whose father’s company used to provide weapons to the Indian armed forces. Things start going downhill after Kabir comes up with a new program called Soldier X to make clones of soldiers as fully controlled robots. At present, Bade and Chote are tasked with crushing him and protecting Karan Kawach, India’s invisible shield against Pakistani and Chinese invaders and missiles.Captain Misha, an able officer known for packing some solid punches, and Dr Parminder aka Pam, a researcher at Oxford University, are thrown into this mission. Another effective soldier, Priya, is in charge of Karan Kawach.
Action
It’s done with a lot of novelty, but it makes up for nearly the entire film. There are far too many elaborate stunt sequences that test your patience because the makers took the genre too seriously. Constant fires and cars blowing up become too repetitive. However, the screenplay remains true to its core and the lack of unnecessary sub-plots, like a romance slant between the protagonists, save the film from digressing. And, honestly, it is a refreshing change.
Bade and Chote are joined by Captain Misha and Pam in their mission to save India. Both of the characters get to display impressive physical prowess on screen, but the writing doesn’t do them justice. It’s a classic case of indulgence. The plot doesn’t get any value from them. Women should be given the chance to headline actioners like their male counterparts. It’s disheartening to see them marginalized. That’s the reason why Ali’s Super Soldier with Katrina, where she’s supposed to play a female superhero, is so eagerly anticipated.
Performance
Akshay and Tiger play the roles of Captain Freddy and Captain Rocky, respectively. Their banter, where they try to one-up each other, provides a much needed respite amid all the combat scenes. Tiger gets most of the funniest one-liners and quips (‘yeh aadmi hai ya dandruff, jaata hi nahi’, for instance) and he plays a character that’s just right for him. Chote is a cool, swashbuckling guy who loves to get his groove on while kicking and walking on air. Some of their scenes together are pure gold, as is Akshay.
The character of Kabir is portrayed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. He keeps you on the edge in the first half by dishing out some ultra-cool vibes in a black mask. Bade Miyan Chote Miyan is a performance that he pitches higher than what we usually see him do. His histrionics don’t always work, and his deep, dubbed voice doesn’t add to his sinister motives. He does a great job at walking the thin line between being an ambitious dreamer and a revengeful psychopath. Many a times, this anti-hero ends up stealing the thunder from the protagonists because Prithviraj seems to be reveling in his villain era and he seems to be reveling in his villain era.
A meaty role for Ronit B Roy as Major Azad makes him stand out. However, these men appear to be meta-humans who come out unscathed.
There are kinds of violence and catastrophes.
Manushi Chhillar gets to try her hands at action, but she doesn’t get enough opportunities to put her acting chops on display. The writing eventually leads her to fizzle out, even though her Captain Misha starts off promising. Alaya F plays the ‘nerdy’ and high-on-dopamine Pam, and she holds her own among some seasoned actors and stars. She deserves credit for making the character endearing, even though her effervescence and garrulousness may come off as extra. Alaya’s faffs with Tiger’s Rocky are extremely entertaining, and Pam is not only bright, but also a smooth flirter. Sonakshi Sinha, on the other hand, appears in an unworthy guest appearance.
Verdict
The makers have spent a lot of money on the stunts, scale and locations, as well as blowing up BMWs, in order to go big on Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. The script gets lost somewhere in the flashiness. Akshay and Tiger have an easy camaraderie and that may manage to hold your attention together for a while. At the end, it simply becomes another addition to the long list of actioners laced with patriotic fervour. A genre like this has become extremely repetitive and redundant and it’s time filmmakers start thinking outside the box. Times have changed, so has the audiences’ preferences and so needs to Bollywood. Occasionally, a little glass of champagne between bottles of red wine, white wine and rosé shouldn’t hurt anyone.
Movie Starring
Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff,Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manushi Chillar,Alay F, Sonakshi Sinha,Ronit Ro
Review By
Dharmit Shah
Ultimate Mediaz
