Pathaan — YRF’s Formulaic Approach Made it Passable Live-action Animated Film
SRK’s return to the Bollywood industry is a positive development. His undeniable charm and magnetic presence are sure to captivate audiences. However, his comeback film Pathaan, produced by Yash Raj Films, falls short of expectations. It is no secret that YRF has a formulaic approach to filmmaking, characterized by high budgets, star-studded casts, and excessive action sequences. While this formula may work for some, it can feel lacking in logic and originality. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that every filmmaker has a unique style, and if the film is entertaining and successful, that’s all that matters.
Pathaan follows a familiar formulaic approach, resulting in a film that is a hit-or-miss experience. The positive aspect of the film is the portrayal of the characters played by John Abraham and Deepika Padukone, which are convincing and well-executed. On the other hand, SRK’s portrayal of his character is notable for his impressive physical appearance at the age of 57. Despite the film’s shortcomings, it is clear that SRK put in a significant amount of effort to achieve his impressive physique, which adds to the overall appeal of his performance.
Pathaan can be considered a Bollywood version of the Bond-Bourne franchise. Many of the sequences in the movie are reminiscent of movies such as Mission Impossible and Nobody(2021), specifically, a building sequence in Russia that mirrors Tom Cruise’s sequence in Burj Khalifa and a train fight sequence that mirrors Nobody’s bus scene. The film does not prioritize a well-crafted script, and instead focuses on over-the-top action set pieces such as characters flying in jetpacks without face protection, and a villain pulling two planes with a rope. The Director, Siddharth Anand, seems to have taken inspiration from the legendary choreographer-turned-director Ahmed Khan, known for his work on movies like Heropanthi -2, and Baagi.
Pathaan” can be described as an action-packed celebration of the SRK brand, with a similar formulaic approach as seen in previous films directed by Siddharth Anand like “Bang Bang” and “War”. The film includes fan service, a touch of patriotism and a consistent flow of action sequences, however, it lacks novelty and originality. The VFX and background score also fail to deliver a cinematic experience that is up to par. Despite this, the film is specifically designed to be a comeback celebration for SRK, with the inclusion of popular actors like Deepika and John, and even a cameo from Salman Khan, which is sure to please fans of all three actors in the theater.
As the film progresses, predictability becomes more prevalent and the director tries to compensate with flashy visuals. However, the VFX quality is underwhelming and most of the action is composed of fast cuts, reminiscent of cheap imitations of Edgar Wright’s style. Additionally, the background score is not up to par, as it is not effectively layered with the scenes.
The film is primarily focused on celebrating SRK’s comeback, with the filmmakers going to great lengths to create hype — from showcasing Deepika Padukone in a seductive avatar to casting John Abraham as the villain, and even featuring Salman Khan. With fans of both SRK and Salman Khan in the theaters, it’s no surprise that the film is expected to perform well at the box office.
However, in the age of streaming platforms, this comeback falls short of expectations.
Verdict: Having Deepika Padukone with a gun is the perfect touch to your sexual fantasy. Watch it for that if you must.
Author: Hawrry Bhattarai
