Veer
wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?) - Salman Khan Fans - go for it!
I don't know about bravery and courage, but I recognize the attempt in making an epic entertainer and I see partial success. Unfortunately, only partial. And yet, Salmaniacs can rejoice!
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Ancestral feud. Mutual hatred. Boy meets girl. And if that ain't enough, you have rom-com, song-dance sequences and comic relief. Those, as we all know, are the ingredients of the masala cocktail. They seem to be in almost the right proportion too. How much each element is allowed to marinate is where things go wrong. So, while it’s a go right ahead for "Salmaniacs", for others it's not a complete loss either.
That could be because some masalaparameters are kept void, like a love triangle, a spy in the tribe, etc. But, if we really wanted to get into what could have been, there is a lot more that could've been straightened out for it to make a better mark with the audiences. For example, the comic element in the romantic thread distracted from the story big time. The sincerity of the lovers didn't reach us mainly due to the laughs the makers seek to generate.
Then, there's the almost 3-hour length and the pace at which every elements of the story unfolds. While the introduction to various Rajahs and Sardars and their black, white and guess what…some gray characters takes up the first half, it isn't boring. For one the way the camera moves, pans and zooms, make you marvel at the terrain. Then the songs, especially Taali, is composed, sung, picturized (in a smallish tribal den), and choreographed to draw and keep your attention. At this point you are wondering about the story that is still waiting to be told and you see potential too.
Welcome the second half. While the good things of the first half are nowhere to be seen, the plot leads you to some extremely involving conflicts and dilemmas. The politics between the British, the Rajputs and the commoners is intriguing. So, you don't really miss the enjoyable music, because there's something that keeps you hooked. Unfortunately, the pace at which it needs to be told now (in the hour that's left) is a challenge. And everything has to be resolved in a hurry, leaving way too many important questions unanswered. And it ends in the most disappointing fashion ever!
At the end, it is like almost every Salman-starrer. More about him, the actor, than about his character. He plays the cool-dude only wearing Pindhari outfits (I've serious doubts any of the costumes were researched or authentic). His dad played by Mithun does his bit of being happy, full of valor and emotional in turns. The beautiful-but-plaster-of-Paris look of debutant Zarine Khan is interesting only because of the meat her character could potentially hold. Yes, a woman in an epic drama actually had a valuable role, but in the end it all collapses into the humdrum. How I wish, her actions were explained a little better and she was shown to have a brain of her own. Her dilemma between love and duty was worthy of some more detail.
Because my time in the theater was spent smiling and waiting for interesting things to happen, it kept me interested. But once out, when I think about each element in the story that caught my fancy, I realized it wasn't developed further. They didn't take it to a conclusion, logical or otherwise. I'd still not trash it; it's a fair attempt to entertain, and manages to do that intermittently.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Susan Jose, India-Forums : ... the aftermath of a massacre on a battlefield doesn't exactly leave the corpses in equally spaced positions... full review
Thumbs up, Indicine : ...The problem with Veer is, when its good its very good. But when bad, its very bad!... full review
Thumbs up, by Samir Dave, Planet Bollywood : ...Though the idea for the story/plot is intriguing the leaden pacing and dialogue hamper what could otherwise have been a gripping story... full review
Thumbs up, real bollywoood : ...Salman towers around the film with his amazing screen presence and his efforts taken on his character are visible... full review
So-So, by Noyon Jyoti Parasara, AOL INDIA : ...The music works but there are far too many songs.... full review
So-So, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...The look of Veer is easy on the eye – all earth colours and lambent lighting – and the director (or at least his stunt coordinator) appears to have learnt from Ashutosh Gowariker’s missteps in Jodhaa-Akbar.... full review
So-So, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ...“Taali” the first song of the movie, also makes an impression, as its well shot and choreographed, with more than 100 people dancing on the screen in their own styles.... full review
So-So, by Daliya Ghose, Bollywood Mantra : ... Battlefield, war and bloodshed are also showcased in a pleasing way.... full review
So-So, by Jaya Biswas, Buzz18 : ...Salman seemed to be back in form. He has lost more weight this time and looked better than in Wanted. ... full review
So-So, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...Salman Khan as Veer is dashing and dynamic. He takes off from where he left in WANTED and LONDON DREAMS... full review
So-So, by Gaurav Malani, indiatimes : ... Sadly Salman can’t solely substitute for the abundant ambiguities in the film. ... full review
So-So, by Sarita Tanwar, MiD DAY : ...an out-and-out Anil Sharma film and there are no pretenses when it comes to that. The canvas is larger-than-life and some of the scenes have been shot spectacularly.... full review
So-So, Movie Talkies : ...The opening sequences, the desert, the vast army of the Pindaris covering the expanse, the fort, all are quite exquisite.... full review
So-So, by Anupama Chopra, NDTV : ... a Manmohan Desai-meets-Gladiator epic... full review
So-So, by Jahan Bakshi, Now Running.com : ...even for the more incredulous viewer, Veer remains a reasonably entertaining masala period saga, ... full review
So-So, by Hanumant Bhansali, Radio Sargam : ...Unexpectedly the ace director leaves many gaps, without which the movie could have been a blockbuster and breathtaking.... full review
So-So, by K K Rai, STARDUST : ...His star power makes the character larger than life but lack of a solid script shows on his performance. ... full review
So-So, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...ou can savour the larger-than-life canvas, for some time at least. Periodically, you can enjoy the lavish expanse of this epic which boasts of some fine cinematography... full review
Thumbs down, by Naresh Kumar Deoshi, Apun Ka Choice : ...After much bloodshed and pointless fights (even a joust), the story eventually winds to an end that will leave many viewers squirming in their seats with embarrassment.... full review
Thumbs down, by Prathna Tiwari, Bolly Spice : ...Thankfully the middle portion when Salman and Sohail travel to London becomes a bit more engaging. However, that doesn't last long because the screenplay takes yet another dive towards the end.... full review
Thumbs down, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...You have to be a veer to sit through VEER. Colossal disappointment! ... full review
Thumbs down, by Deepa Gahlot, cinemaah : ...all pretence to authenticity was thrown out, though credit is given to a researcher.... full review
Thumbs down, by Deepa Garimella, fullhyd.com : ...Nothing of substance really happens in the flick. And when you blend emptiness with cheesiness, you end up with quite a few tomatoes and rotten eggs at the box office.... full review
Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...The film's action is visceral with several blood-splattered slaughter scenes, but often runs the risk of coming off as ridiculous.... full review
Thumbs down, by Kaveree Bamzai, india today : ...Anyway I have a theory about Jackie Shroff and any film that stars him. My theory is that any film that has him in a central role is doomed... full review
Thumbs down, by Mihir Fadnavis, india.com : ...I've never seen so many perfectly made up, eyeliner-wearing warriors (let alone a hero with L'oreal-dyed hair and a poncho) in a time of brutes and hand-to-hand brutality.... full review
Thumbs down, by Amrita, Indiequill : ...The results of Anil Sharma’s raid of an Ashutosh Gowarikar set.... full review
Thumbs down, by Minty Tejpal, Mumbai Mirror : ...After interval, the movie becomes absolutely atrocious, and not worth writing about. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Ashok Nayak, Now Running.com : ...The post interval portions drag on, with the audience fed with nothing more than expensive sets, plenty of song and dance numbers and a couple of comic relief scenes featuring the unintentionally irritating Sohail Khan.... full review
Thumbs down, by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com : ...How do the makers know if the clothes and props suggesting periodicity are going to work? In this case, they just don't!... full review
Thumbs down, by Namrata Joshi, Outlook India : ...Zarine, has little to do other than smile and fold her hands in a placatory namaste, Sohail is asinine, Jackie deadpan and Mithun his usual self.... full review
Thumbs down, by Khaled Mohammed, Passion for Cinema : ...By comparison, Anil Sharma’s earlier work seem masterpieces... full review
Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...Veer, mounted on lush production values, shows you everything in hyperbole: the costumes and jewellery, the battlefield, the body count, the unattainably beautiful princess, and the comic-book style hero.... full review
Thumbs down, by K N Gupta, SmasHits.com : ...While the writers fail to connect the first half with the latter half and don't lend it real life credibility, the director fails in his job of editing it tightly.... full review
Thumbs down, StarBoxOffice : ...it is a tediously long and boring movie that could put you to sleep... full review
Thumbs down, by flyingrodent, Upper Stall : ...The performances are good enough, Mithunda (aaayyyeee!) is great as Dadda, brother Sohail is doing his bit of monkeying around as the younger bro, even the new girl Zarine Khan has her moments of looking pretty... full review
Thumbs down, by SpiceZee Bureau, Zee News : ...The movie vainly tries to rebuild the old world charm with numerous scenes of jousting, Gladiator style hand-to-hand combat and a ‘swayamwar’.... full review
Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.
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
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: Loads and loads of it. Head and hands chopped off like they were vegetables.
- Language: Clean
- Nudity & Sexual content: None
- Concept: That of revenge and fighting over property rights.
- General Look and Feel: Bright and peppy but marked throughout with violence.
![[Facebook page of Veer]](/static/images/icons/facebook_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Wikipedia page of Veer]](/static/images/icons/wiki_small.png){kind=icon}
![[IMDB Page of Veer]](/static/images/icons/imdb_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Salman Khan twitter account]](/static/images/icons/twitter_small.png){kind=icon}
Comments (6)
By far the worst film of the year. It stank. Salman's acting is anyways pathetic and the script is so bad, that i don't knw why he wasted so many years writing this bull crap.
Wow.. what a comprehensive review! First time here, got to know you through indiblogger. Nice review. Thanks for the detailed review :)
wow...thats an awesome review... so elaborate and every minute detail covered..
not a salman fan.. but loved the songs so mite jus watch the movie ;)
@Kabir ouch...that must hurt...
@Mohan, @megz thank you!
@Anoop and @Rahul - No, people. There were some bits that I liked and I gotta say it if I liked it. You haven't a clue how difficult it is for me to admit that I partially enjoyed a Salman film
What we see behind the veil are always lessons of Dharma, the way things are, which in recent times have been exposed by the upheaval in global economies.kauf ed hardy
ed hardy
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