You can trust this Bhaijaan…

Nonika Singh

From the beginning Kabir Khan, the director goes for your emotional chord, touches it, often holds it in a vice-like grip, rarely loses the emotional connect and has you teary- eyed almost all through. Of course, assisting him in this endeavour is not only the superstar Salman Khan, an avid Bajrang Bali bhakt with a name Pawan Chaturvedi, however, better known as Bajrangi, but more importantly this little adorable girl Harshaali Malhotra. No two-ways about it, in Harshaali Kabir has a casting coup on hands. She, playing a mute Pakistani girl, is so so cute that only a heart of stone would not melt looking at her. In fact, if all Pakistanis looked like her many a proud Indian would be willing to concede a lot. Not surprising our Bajrangi who by the way is all heart and very little brawn here is willing to put all at stake even cross border without a passport and visa to ensure the lost girl finds her parents.

And till she does Kabir, the captain of the ship, places the film on heightened emotional ground, marries it with entertainment and sustains the momentum even though the film is rather long. But it never weighs heavy even when he waves in pertinent points about syncretism. The subtexts rather main narrative about Indo-Pak friendship and communal harmony ring out loud and clear. Actually very little in the film is subtle. But then who goes to a Salman film for subtlety? Entertainment? Sure… only here it comes in a different package. For this is not your usual maar kutai Salman film. Romance (Kareena Kapoor Khan doesn’t have much to do) remains in the background for here it’s the mohabbat between the Indian Bajrangi and the six-year-old Pakistani that drives the film. Also, in the driving seat is the ever dependable, ever reliable Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Playing a well-meaning Pakistani journalist he is on the top of the game. Never mind that he comes into the film post interval. As you walk out from the film you take away not just Salman Khan’s earnest performance, Harshaali’s heart tugging innocence but Nawazuddin’s incredible talent to melt and become one with roles of many flavours, sizes and shapes.

Sure enough not all of the grist that the film offers is palatable. Much, especially the climax, is formulaic and high on drama. Melodrama comes easily and in abundance. But in times of religious intolerance, when tension between India and Pakistan is constantly being played out at various platforms, even a sugar syrupy requiem for peace and harmony is welcome. And far better than anything that would divide us more than we already have been. On this count alone Kabir deserves to be forgiven cinematic excesses and liberties he takes with reality as it exists.

For lest you forget it’s a film, a well-made one at that, packed with many a light-hearted moment and delightful dialogues. Our favourites goes this. In one of the scenes Nawaz asks Salman, “who will help you” and he replies, “Bajrang Bali.” Nawaz chuckles “Even in Pakistan.” As you watch (no reason not to) you can copy paste your own favourite lines for the film doesn’t fall short on rib-tickling offering. Tickling, tingling and feel good anyway is the tenor of the film that otherwise bites into a meaningful issue.