After two decades, Salman Khan might just have found his calling: playing the debonair Bond-style action hero. Ek Tha Tiger would suggest that he does. After years of watching Salman Khan’s slapstick comedy routines and mindless running around trees and girls– not necessarily in that order– it is a bit of a surprise to see him cast in a role that actually requires a little bit of concerted acting. But act he does, and actually does quite a good job of it.
Accompanied by Katrina Kaif as his nemesis at first, and partner eventually, Salman Khan doesn’t disappoint. Shot in the picturesque locales of Ireland, Istanbul and other such exotic locales, this is a reasonably thoughtful story that has just the right mix of espionage and romance that is sustained by some imaginative action sequences liberally sprinkled throughout. Good-looking people in good-looking places, looking for love, and wanting to beat the odds of a May-December liaison: what could be more entertaining than that?
If you ask me, this has all the makings of a Tiger franchise, not unlike the Bourne series. Is that stretching it a bit? Well, I don’t know, perhaps it is. Especially in light of the fact that Mr. Khan is in his late forties at present and might not have the luxury of time on his side to churn out too many sequels. As for Ms. Kaif, she’s looking lovely as ever, and for another Bollywood actress who’s more of a pretty face than anything else, I’ve got to admit her smile didn’t look quite as fake in this one.
Good going for the Yash Chopra films that keep us all entertained across the seven seas! Oh, and as for India-Pakistan relations, regardless of how chilly they might be, I’ll bet good money that the viewer will cheer for this Indo-Paki duo all the way!
Richard Wright 9/4/1908 – 11/28/1960 American novelist and short story writer.
