Don -2 – Movie review

PRODUCER – Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Shahruk Khan
DIRECTOR – Farhan Akhtar
WRITER – Farhan Akhtar, Ameet Mehta and Amrish Shah
CAST – Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Boman Irani, Kunal Kapoor
MUSIC – Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy

It seems the more Don evades the barah mulkon ki police the more narcissistic he becomes. In Farhan Akhtar’s second outing of Don, what used to be a suave, sophisticated and enigmatic protagonist on the wrong side of the law has become a self-obsessed, egomaniacal, bombastic crook with a penchant for creating euphemisms as (in)famous as Siddhuisms.

The film revolves around a crime caper involving stealing of the money printing plates from the Deutsche Zentral Bank of Switzerland. Don comes up with a convoluted plot that involves blackmailing the VP of the bank and getting himself arrested and jailed in the same jail as Vardhan to rescue him to use him for the robbery. The robbery, of course goes wrong in between but then Don always has aces up his sleeve.

The film has a lot of razzmatazz that goes with its genre and appeal. As a thriller, it is stylish and fast-paced but the slickness gets a blow with consistent emphasis on dialogue and explanation of the plot. The experience, which lacks a powerful visceral quality, is more of first hearing the story and then watching it. Which begins to feel pointless after a while.

Music is woven in and item numbers do not distract, simply add the spice. But, an over-wrought background score underlining every movement, dialogue and moment dulls impact more than adding to it. Frames are shiny and squeaky clean but the mayhem of a confused plot, too much explanation and weak characterisation lose the film even before it settles upon you.

With the second outing the prime motive of the franchise seems to have become to prove the un-catchability of Don. And of course his shining brilliance. So the entire police force, opponents and even the formidable-in-the-last-film Vardhan (a cheated Boman Irani with so little to do) become puppets and even fools to accommodate the mightiness of the Don.

Heroism, even of malafide intent, is exalted by the strength of the opponent. In a scenario where every rival is reduced to a mumbling fool, Don has no option but to end up looking like a wayward delinquent and nothing more. Which becomes disappointing because Shahrukh Khan unleashes the entire baggage of his dark side without pretense and his absorbing presence is delectable. Only to be let down by the world he is caught in, a world director Farhan Akhtar fleshes out with clichés of dialogue, lack of character motivation and extremely lazy writing.

In a film where the leading lady Priyanka Chopra as Roma gets little to do except pout and act helpless what stands out more is the statuesque presence of Lara Dutta and another gentleman, a superb actor with a superb presence. His identity better remain a secret because his presence adds the rare pizzaz to the film it sorely lacks otherwise.

The film ends like Race, with its plot turned on its head but not before befuddling the audience about what really goes on in Don’s mind and heart. Unfortunately, what could have become enigma remains paltry and confused characterisation. Amitabh Bachchan and Chandra Barot (and the audience) may as well bemoan the complete massacre of what was once a cherished brand.