Simmba Movie Review: A roaring testament of Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty’s blockbuster prowess
Updated on: 12 September, 2021 11:47 PM IST |
If ever asked about one of my many guilty pleasures, I’ll have to admit, it’s the no-brainer entertainers by Rohit Shetty. Yes, the only director I make an exception for, to leave my intellect behind while stepping inside the cinemas. ‘Simmba’ is an unapologetic ‘80s styled entertainer that’s bound to tear single screens across the country, this week.
Borrowing straight from the Vakkantham Vamsi-penned Telugu blockbuster ‘Temper’ starring N.T Rama Rao Jr. from 2015, ‘Simmba’ is the story of Sangram Bhalerao aka Simmba (Ranveer Singh), an orphan born and raised in Shivgarh, who grows up to believe that nothing is bigger than the clout of wealth. He grows up to become an unscrupulous and corrupt police officer, who is transferred to head the Miramar Police Station in Goa. His corrupt ways are detested and admired in equal measure by his respective colleagues, head constable Nityanand Mohile (Ashutosh Rana) and sub-inspector Santosh Tawde (Siddharth Jadhav). Yet, our hero is all heart and he fosters a brotherly relationship with aspiring medical student Aakruti Dave (Vaidehi Parshurami), who teaches orphaned kids, at night. When Aakruti falls into the clutches of the feared Durva Ranade (Sonu Sood), Simmba locks horns to seek justice.
Clearly, the story is nothing new to write about. But the Hindi adaptation is nicely peppered with dialogues by Farhad Samji that will send the audience on a rib-tickling ride in the first half. Infact, the first half is the back-bone of the film with plenty laugh aloud moments between Simmba and his peers. As is the case with most Rohit Shetty films, the aesthetics are a riot of colours. Hence, production designers Swapnil Bhalerao and Madhur Madhavan deliver complete justice in this regard. That does not mean that one must overlook the shortcomings. The tone of the film entirely shifts focus in the second half. Agreed, the subject of the second half does require seriousness but then why stage unnecessary portions of drama that invoke unintentional laughter. An initial courtroom scene where a prosecution lawyer is hamming beyond control and a confrontational moment where a female supporting character laughably questions women’s safety were just not required. At two hours and forty minutes, one is bound to question the editing credentials of Bunty Negi. When you’ve already disclosed in the trailer that Ajay Devgn will appear in the end as Singham and save our hero, you should get to the point sooner.
All said and done, ‘Simmba’ is a roaring testament of Ranveer and Rohit’s box-office prowess. Singh owns every frame of the film and is a delight of a performer. His comic timing and eventual machismo will leave you rooting for him. Sood makes up for a great, menacing villain though slightly under-utilised. Rana and Jadhav bring respectability and earnestness to their respective parts. Devgn’s extended cameo will draw whistles and claps, all throughout.
Despite faltering in between over women representation, ‘Simmba’ is an entertaining cop drama that will conclude 2018 on a high.
