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Review - Yuvvraaj: Majestic canvas coated with saccharine and sprinkled with flimsy plot

Yuvvraaj

quick review: Preachy lines about family bonding and brotherly love are doze-worthy especially considering you have almost 3-hours of time to squeeze a snooze in.
[Poster for Yuvvraaj]

When you hear Salman Khan saying, "Ram jaisa bhai" (a brother like Lord Ram) your reflex action is to rub your eyes and check if you entered a Rajshri Productions' film by mistake. But then all this while the eyes were witnessing a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set-up. So, a Hindi film enthusiast should be all set to get dazed and dazzled. The advantage to this though is that in contrast the story and characters are as simple as can be.

You know what simple means, right? Black and white. And eventually black turns white. Sure there are a couple characters like the lawyer (Mithun Chakravorty) and the maternal uncle (Anjan Srivastav) that make you wonder if they are black or white for a bit. But then you lose interest. The writers clearly want me to take sides, but don't give me enough details to be bothered.

Neither can I be made to really care about the main characters. 2 out of the 4 (Salman Khan and Zayed Khan) are losers - and sore ones at that. One is eye candy trying out her emoting skills - that would obviously be Katrina Kaif. That lady is certainly at her elegant best, though. And the only one who was worth watching, for his supposedly autistic behavior, Anil Kapoor has very little screen time.

Now, a simple wiki search tells you that autism is "is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication". But our man is social enough to lecture his beloved uncle on family values. And he has befriended children and adults who have bothered to interact with him. Not to mention he has grown appropriately in his flirting capabilities. Ok, we shall not hold story-writers responsible for the big words they off-handishly throw our way. Please, can we have them write a decent, engrossing story? The Archie-Veronica angle and her rich dad spouting exaggerated insults at him is *yawnnnn*. It's a musical extravaganza madam, you expect the wrong things all the time.

Now that is one thing Yuvvraaj cannot be accused of - lacking in the song and dance department. I actually enjoyed listening to the songs, barring "aaja main hawaon mein". And for being distracted during that one, I can actually blame the phobia I have for animated petals after Drona. The way the other songs were picturised did have a broadway musical feel to them, and this was ratified by an all out replication of the makeup from the CATS musical. BUT, stick to that. Please don't have Salman Khan talk to Beethoven.

Anyway, we could have done with a lot less of familial blah-blah. That would also help in reducing the length that is stretched to almost 3 hours.

- meetu, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: None.
  • Nudity & Sexual content: Not much other than the skimpy dancers in the songs' background.
  • Concept: Family bonds and brotherly love delivered with extra saccharine.
  • General Look and Feel: Bright, peppy, full of grand visuals.

Yuvvraaj - Movie Details

Yuvvraaj - Trailer

Yuvvraaj - All reviews summary

External Reviews

36 reviewers have given Yuvvraaj an average rating of 1.7/5.0. 7 yays, 18 nays, 11 so-so. See all external reviews »

Comments (52)

Raj:

We better not expect much. Salman would overact in each and every scene, after all!

Jay:

I had great expectations from Yuvraaj but I'm sorry the promos stink. The music IS in fact good and a couple of the songs had the potential to be timeless classics if promoted well. I saw a dialogue trailer the other day - Salman is speaking in his usual anglisized accent (but in vain) and Katrina is speaking with some other foreign twang. Beautful she may be but sorry she cant act for hoots. Ditto Zayed Khan. It will again be left to Anil Kapoor to deliver the acting honours but then how much he will salvage this sinking disaster remains to be seen.

Shantanu:

Man! I was waiting for this.. lady.. you just saved me pain worth 130 bucks..!

chavanni:

shantanu you can spend money,its not as bad as meetu has written.yes,there are problems in script and excution,but its a watchable film.is family value a boring thing?this is indian film and you can find brothers going to jail for there brothers.india has changed for the worst in metros only.where everyone thinks about himself only.
read this review...
http://chavannichap.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post_21.html
or this....
http://www.rajshri.com/moviepromos/yuvvraaj.asp

prabhat:

a veeeeeeeeeryyyyyyyyy good movie.kat is looking very cute in the movie.salman is best in the movie.

Yuvvraaj - Review | hindi movie review:

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chavanni:

http://chavannichap.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post_21.html

Ved:

You are right. It sucks !

meetu:

chavanni, that's the exact kind of stereotype that I have a problem with. My family and I have been a city people throughout and I know many relatives who live in the interiors who aren't be as hospitable and as well-knit as our family.

Brother going to jail for another brother - yes it bores me, because it is so predictable, so cliched, so...blah!

To me if family values have to be preached to you through movies, there's something fundamentally wrong. Family values come from your family not from the Barjatyas and Ghais!

meetu:

And that's what happens, Raj.

Jay, you hit the nail on its head!

Ashwini:

Thanks for the review. Seriously, this whole family melodrama is getting too stereotyped and sluggishly boring. I gotta say, ur reviews are pretty unbiased and accurate..keep uo the good work.

meetu:

Thanks, Ashwini! I surely will!

prashant:

what else u can expect from subhash ghai.., how far could music save a movie? salman khan has proved again,,he is worst actor and most over rated star,,,and Zayed khan ask your dad what are u doing in film industry?
i guess what subhash ji,, mite be teaching in his "whistling woods"...where students get inspiration from disasters like trimurti,taal,yaadein,kissna,black and white, and now ,,,yuvvraj..ohh yess .he is the SHOWMAN .of bollywood,

Pintu:

I just watched this disaster.

Jay, please hit me on my head!

meetu:

lol, Pintu, lol!

JM:

Great thanks for that I just saved me 9 bucks! :o)

meetu:

Good for you, JM!

riya:

well said prashant, movies like dostana ,yuvvraj are shear waste of resources.wake up bollywood

kanika:

common guys, its a nice film! salman and katrina share a great onscreen chemistry.......rahman's music is cool....what else you need yaar

Rishi:

yuvvraaj is brilliant in every way and kats really wowed me with her improved acting

meetu:

uh...kanika, a story would be good.

Shekher:

It is nice film. The characters are very touching. Anil Kapoor and salman khan rocks. Katrina kaif has done a fabulous job as an actress. Zayed khan is not so good. Music of the film is fantastic. i am sure, it will do better at the box-office.

kelly:

Anil kapoor has a done a good work

Noopur:

grt movie….must watch….superb chemistry between sal and kats…in all a grt entertainer…

Nizam:

yuvvraaj is brilliant in every way and kats really wowed me with her improved acting

amit:

I also liked the movie. Music is good apart from one song. before watching the movie, i had got really bad reviews about the movie but i enjoyed the movie overall.

Brajesh:

Yuvvraaj is a good movie......but in terms of overall quality, ghai cud hav done better

Brajesh:

Common dear, its a nice film! salman and katrina share a great onscreen chemistry………....anil has done a great job…......rahman's music is cool....what else you need yaar

meetu:

uh Brajesh dear, a tight story would be nice...

Joylynford:

Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan has done good in this film. This seems to be very hit in the comping time.

shivam:

it is verrrrrrrrrrrryyy bbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddd film

Mridul:

Yuvvraaj is the best movie on 2008. Salman is rocked.....and has done a brilliant job. Ofcourse he is the best actor in this whole world... MRIDUL

silvan:

salman and katz look like father n daughter

Shantanu:

Man! I was waiting for this.. lady.. you just saved me pain worth 130 bucks..!

Chavanni:

shantanu you can spend money,its not as bad as meetu has written.yes,there are problems in script and excution,but its a watchable film.is family value a boring thing?this is indian film and you can find brothers going to jail for there brothers.india has changed for the worst in metros only.where everyone thinks about himself only. read this review…

Prabhat:

a veeeeeeeeeryyyyyyyyy good movie.kat is looking very cute in the movie.salman is best in the movie.

Ved:

You are right. It sucks !

Meetu:

chavanni, that’s the exact kind of stereotype that I have a problem with. My family and I have been a city people throughout and I know many relatives who live in the interiors who aren’t be as hospitable and as well-knit as our family. Brother going to jail for another brother - yes it bores me, because it is so predictable, so cliched, so…blah! To me if family values have to be preached to you through movies, there’s something fundamentally wrong. Family values come from your family not from the Barjatyas and Ghais!

Ashwini:

Thanks for the review. Seriously, this whole family melodrama is getting too stereotyped and sluggishly boring. I gotta say, ur reviews are pretty unbiased and accurate..keep uo the good work.

Meetu:

Thanks, Ashwini! I surely will!

Prashant:

what else u can expect from subhash ghai.., how far could music save a movie? salman khan has proved again,,he is worst actor and most over rated star,,,and Zayed khan ask your dad what are u doing in film industry? i guess what subhash ji,, mite be teaching in his “whistling woods”…where students get inspiration from disasters like trimurti,taal,yaadein,kissna,black and white, and now ,,,yuvvraj..ohh yess .he is the SHOWMAN .of bollywood,

Riya:

well said prashant, movies like dostana ,yuvvraj are shear waste of resources.wake up bollywood

Kanika:

common guys, its a nice film! salman and katrina share a great onscreen chemistry…….rahman’s music is cool….what else you need yaar

Meetu:

uh…kanika, a story would be good.

Shekher:

It is nice film. The characters are very touching. Anil Kapoor and salman khan rocks. Katrina kaif has done a fabulous job as an actress. Zayed khan is not so good. Music of the film is fantastic. i am sure, it will do better at the box-office.

Noopur:

grt movie….must watch….superb chemistry between sal and kats…in all a grt entertainer…

Nizam:

yuvvraaj is brilliant in every way and kats really wowed me with her improved acting

Amit:

I also liked the movie. Music is good apart from one song. before watching the movie, i had got really bad reviews about the movie but i enjoyed the movie overall.

Brajesh:

Yuvvraaj is a good movie……but in terms of overall quality, ghai cud hav done better

Mribul:

Yuvvraaj is the best movie on 2008. Salman is rocked…..and has done a brilliant job. Ofcourse he is the best actor in this whole world… MRIDUL

Silvan:

salman and katz look like father n daughter

silvan:

salman and katz look like father n daughter

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