Veer - Notepad

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Warning: this section has some details that could distort your experience while watching the movie. I strongly recommend reading this only after you have seen the movie or if you have decided not to see it.

Plot Summary

The Pindharis (a tribe in the interiors of Rajputana), during the British Raj, are betrayed by the Prince of Madhavgadh (Jackie Shroff). The former vow to avenge the deaths of their brethren and one of the lead Pindharis (Mithun Chakroborty) train their young to fight the Rajas and the British.

What Worked

• The cinematography in the first war sequence.
• A full house of 600 cheering the newborn baby they know is going to grow up to be Salman Khan.
• A possible tribute to the train sequence in Sholay, the train sequence here was well shot too, only it needed to be a little longer for a better impact.
• some of the action scenes seem so effortless. Example: the scene where Sohail Khan hangs from Salman's leg during the taali song
• The first shot of London. Gray, bleak marking industrial revolution as opposed to the rugged deserts of Rajputana.

What did not

• Ok, if Mithun was the young war in 1862 and present day is in 1920, Mithun is close to 75 assuming that he was 17 in the first war sequence which is a stretch in itself. So agile at 75. Which also means by the end of the film he is close to 100, that is also assuming a lot! Does not add-up!!
• Over-glamorizing the lead character. It’s a pain to watch hero entering or making grand moves in slo-mo.
• Was such open display of affection between a husband and wife acceptable in those times?
• The animal sacrifice scene was completely out of place. Almost as if they wanted to keep the animal rights wing happy.
• The entire India vs. England dialogue - again pretentious and a crowd-pleaser put in for the sake of having one in.
• Whatever happened to Veer-Punya learning about how the Brit brain works?!
• The Bollywoody dances displayed in 1920s in England.
• "University college of England!!" what kind of a name is that for a college!?
• The entire college environment being one huge dance party.
• Salman Khan from the interiors of India knows how to play the piano?!
• Salman's flairing nostrils when his character is supposed to be angry
• Why doesn't Yashodhara's aide give Yahodhara's letter to her father?
• some of the scenes between Salman and Mithun are particularly loud.
• The Rajput boy uses Urdu words randomly in songs and dialogue.

Nitty-Gritty

• Why is everyone in the hostel wearing a white pyjama-kurta? These are people from different countries!
• Make-up of people who have just been killed or have killed someone - too symmetrical and unreal