Baaghi 3: High on action, low on connection

Nonika Singh

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Yet another outing of a successful franchise and what we get is yet another meaningless mélange of action and emotion. Tiger is very much alive and here we are not referring to the Salman Khan-starrer Tiger series but the rising action hero on the block, Tiger Shroff. No one bends it like him we have known and seen right from this star kid’s first film (dad Jackie Shroff has a small cameo too). So, there is nothing new in that department either. Even in the most incredulous circumstances tanks gunning for him, choppers hovering over him, Tiger stands tall and executes action scenes with dexterity, even aplomb. As long as you don’t ask how he escapes the sprays of bullets or army of goons following him. But then, didn’t Shraddha Kapoor tell us in the beginning, “Joh filmon mein hota hai woh reality se bahut door hota hai.’

So, suspend disbelief, relax and laud ‘bhai ho toh aisa’. For this actioner is also do bhaiyon ki kahaani. Only difference here it’s the younger brother, who is in the saddle and protects the elder one. Thank god for that, at least some casting sense has prevailed, for passing off Riteish Deshmukh as the younger brother of Tiger would have been a tall order. Besides, only by making Deshmukh play the second fiddle can you get him to mouth a few comic one- liners. Of course, he sure has a meaty part, nearly parallel to the real hero, the Baaghi, and even if the prime time action belongs to Tiger, he occupies much screen time. Apart from these two male actors there is Jaideep Ahlawat, the bad guy IPL, who kidnaps families and ‘exports’ them to Syria. Yes, you read that right. In fact, in the second half the action shifts to ISIS-infested country where dreaded terrorist does what terrorists are best at doing; terrorise people. Jameel Khoury as the menacing Abu Jalal looks the part even if the part does not entail doing much. But the biggest disappointment here is Shraddha Kapoor. Over the top, if in the film she is in search of internet connection, she fails to connect and is more of an appendage if not a bone in the bhai bhai bonhomie. Surprisingly, despite the obvious cheesiness, some of the bhai ka pyaar rubs on. Riteish Deshmukh as Vikram forever screaming for his brother’s help manages to instil dignity in his ‘hapless’ act. Otherwise, the act here primarily is action, action and more action. Tiger  doesn’t even get to romance much, just a song or two, only flex his muscles and fight not only on his own behalf but also his somewhat coward brother, who is no less than a cop. Now, the play off between two brothers could have been a fine interplay of emotions and psychological inflections, but in another time, another film. Here whatever may change, the locale and the supporting cast, action hero remains at the centre of gravity and logic-defying stunts. Every successful franchise by now we know, and so do you viewers, has an equal and similar reaction. Even if we are tempted to say that Baaghi 3 is an improvement on the prequels in terms of scale, it’s not reason enough to get our vote. But Tiger as the action man certainly does. So, if relentless action alone is enough to make your movie worth its while, take a shot at this shot-proof one-man army aka Baaghi. Only don’t go looking for reason/logic or semblance of intelligence.

 nonikasingh@tribunemail.com