Battle of the blockbusters: 'Kaabil' versus 'Raees'
Mumbai
24 Jan , 2017
It's a box office clash that has been widely spoken about -- but there are high
chances that 'Kaabil' and 'Raees' will do exceedingly well as they are both
eminently watchable films.Both films are releasing on Wednesday.
This time, the level of engagingness in both the films is high.
Both are love stories. Intense love stories.
In 'Kaabil', Hrithik Roshan loves his wife to death, whose
death you will know soon enough, and HE is ready to go to any lengths to avenge
the wrong done to her. The last 20 minutes of 'Kaabil' are so heart-in-the-mouth,
you would be advised to hold your bursting bladders until the last drop of blood
is shed and avenged on screen.
'Kaabil' is by far Sanjay Gupta's best work, more emotional
and dramatic than any of the violent sagas he has narrated in the past. Hrithik
gives his finest, most searing and passionate performance since 'Kaho Naa...
Pyaar Hai' and 'Guzaarish'. His intensity of emotional expression is disturbing,
haunting.
'Raees' is also a love story. And it's got nothing to do with
Mahira Khan. Shah Rukh Khan's character of a man of ill-gotten power and wealth
from Gujarat in the 1980s, is in love. With himself. Since I believe Shah Rukh
in real life truly loves himself, the merger of the actor and the character
is so brutally complete, it's like watching mirror images of two identical souls
-- one off camera, the other on it -- dressed in very different clothes.
'Raees' is also about how two heterosexual men can be bonded
spiritually even while being on separate sides of the firing line. This is perhaps
the first time in his entire career as a leading man that Shah Rukh has found
a co-star who is compelling in his own right.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, when pitched against Shah Rukh. truly
defines what 'The Clash Of The Titans' means. He does with Shah Rukh what a
Rishi Kapoor or Vinod Khanna could never do with Amitabh Bachchan.
Tit for tat.
The two actors keep us ruthlessly riveted to the screen. The
movement of the plot is almost maniacal, to match the manic energy and mutinous
passion of the two men at each other's throats.
More than anything else, the two films this week prove what
Hindi cinema has known all along. Nothing can replace the cult of superstardom.
The mysticism, magic and magnetism that Khan and Roshan bring to the screen,
have to be seen to be believed.
Don't pick one between 'Raees' and 'Kaabil'. Go see both.
Mumbai
24 Jan , 2017
It's a box office clash that has been widely spoken about -- but there are high
chances that 'Kaabil' and 'Raees' will do exceedingly well as they are both
eminently watchable films.Both films are releasing on Wednesday.
This time, the level of engagingness in both the films is high.
Both are love stories. Intense love stories.
In 'Kaabil', Hrithik Roshan loves his wife to death, whose
death you will know soon enough, and HE is ready to go to any lengths to avenge
the wrong done to her. The last 20 minutes of 'Kaabil' are so heart-in-the-mouth,
you would be advised to hold your bursting bladders until the last drop of blood
is shed and avenged on screen.
'Kaabil' is by far Sanjay Gupta's best work, more emotional
and dramatic than any of the violent sagas he has narrated in the past. Hrithik
gives his finest, most searing and passionate performance since 'Kaho Naa...
Pyaar Hai' and 'Guzaarish'. His intensity of emotional expression is disturbing,
haunting.
'Raees' is also a love story. And it's got nothing to do with
Mahira Khan. Shah Rukh Khan's character of a man of ill-gotten power and wealth
from Gujarat in the 1980s, is in love. With himself. Since I believe Shah Rukh
in real life truly loves himself, the merger of the actor and the character
is so brutally complete, it's like watching mirror images of two identical souls
-- one off camera, the other on it -- dressed in very different clothes.
'Raees' is also about how two heterosexual men can be bonded
spiritually even while being on separate sides of the firing line. This is perhaps
the first time in his entire career as a leading man that Shah Rukh has found
a co-star who is compelling in his own right.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, when pitched against Shah Rukh. truly
defines what 'The Clash Of The Titans' means. He does with Shah Rukh what a
Rishi Kapoor or Vinod Khanna could never do with Amitabh Bachchan.
Tit for tat.
The two actors keep us ruthlessly riveted to the screen. The
movement of the plot is almost maniacal, to match the manic energy and mutinous
passion of the two men at each other's throats.
More than anything else, the two films this week prove what
Hindi cinema has known all along. Nothing can replace the cult of superstardom.
The mysticism, magic and magnetism that Khan and Roshan bring to the screen,
have to be seen to be believed.
Don't pick one between 'Raees' and 'Kaabil'. Go see both.
Tags: Shahrukh KhanHrithik RoshanMahira KhanYami GautamKaabilRaees