Originally posted by: SaayaOfKaaya
Old poster here. Just wanted to share my thoughts on Bharat.
I watched Bharat a few days ago. From the trailers, I knew that Bharat wasn't the300-crore blockbuster type. I was just hoping that it's a good movie as opposed to the mockery that was Race 3 and the pathetic attempt at good cinema that Tubelight was.
One thing about Bharat for certain is that it's unlike any Salman Khan movie. I don't think even Aamir and Shahrukh have ever done a slice-of-life character-driven movie where the growth and struggles of a character are the plots and not some goal or external objective. You could point at Aamir's 3 Idiots and you wouldn't be wrong. Yet, that's what I liked most about Bharat.
It's a larger-than-life slice-of-life drama. Larger than life because Bharat features Salman Khan. Slice of life because it was about 6 episodes in the most happening life of Bharat Kumar. Kumar isn't his surname but it sounds apt as he remained a Kumar for all his kumar-hood and also because Bharat Kumar is, after all, Manoj Kumar's monicker.
Bharat isn't plot-driven, which is a staple in Hindi cinema. Movies like English Vinglish and Dear Zingadi are what we associate with character-driven movies. Even in the West, character-driven movies aren't usually your typical commercial movies. There are exceptions like Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump, but those are just that, exceptions.
Yet, Bharat is endearing, emotional, a tad too long, but ultimately, it's heart is at the right place. There are instances of absolute farce, but you can easily dismiss them as one (or a couple). What stays with you are the emotions. I found Bharat to be superior to Salman's last two Ali Abbas blockbusters, Sultan and Tiger. Sultan had one of Salman's best performances, which I believe Salman has matched in Bharat. Tiger, on the other hand, was a decent action entertainer that doesn't really stay with you once it's over. That's in contrast to the emotional roller-coaster that the original Tiger was.
Bharat isn't as well-crafted as Sultan, or as passionate as Bajrangi Bhaijaan. It doesn't have the machismo of a Dabbang or the rebellion of Ek Tha Tiger. What it gets right is the sentiment-ridden journey of a boy towards his manhood, towards his final years. Endearing is the word. It can be unabashed. It is. It is also sappy. But it's a call back to all those years of melodramatic Indian Cinema, and I bought every bit of it.
Whether it's Salman'sperformance, which is one of his most convincing; Katrina's performance, which is undeniably her best even if her diction slips at times, or Sunil Grover, who's the life of the movie, and every actor who has pretty much aced their roles, Bharat is rich in dramatics: in drama, in performances, in storytelling, and in getting the sentiments right.
But it's too long. The Navy sequence wasn't needed, and if Ali wanted to forge an action sequence, I think that was the sequence instead of the later John Wick reincarnation. Turpeya wasn't needed. Nora Fatehi is wasted. Disha Patani sizzles in Slow Motion and disappears.
Does any of it matter though?
Bharat is about Bharat and Kumud. Both who touch your heart and the actors reprising those roles land strong performances in a movie that is all heart, a movie that Salman Khan should be proud of because he doesn’t have that many gems in his gauntlet. It's definitely his best of the decade after the swashbuckling Dabbang and Ode to Manmohan Desai, Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
4 stars.
Aamir is going to do - his next movie
He is good actor. I trust him. What growth? Salman failed to show any growth to me.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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