Gabbar Is Back review: Lost in translation, fails to generate interest

Gabbar Is Back is based on the done-and-dusted idea of cashing in on the good-man-fighting-against-corruption technique.

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Akshay Kumar in a poster of Gabbar Is Back
Akshay Kumar in a poster of Gabbar Is Back

Ratings:

4 Star Rating: Recommended
(1.5/5)

Gabbar Is Back is based on the done-and-dusted idea of cashing in on the good-man-fighting-against-corruption technique. The film is a remake of AR Murugadoss' Ramanaa, and is not linked to the iconic Gabbar in any manner.

Akshay Kumar in a poster of Gabbar Is Back
Akshay Kumar in a poster of Gabbar Is Back

The plot is too simple for the audience to not understand and boring enough to make them fall asleep. Akshay Kumar plays Gabbar, and is on a continuous look out for corrupt government officials. He abducts ten officials and executes one of them in full public view. Policemen are on their toes and every corrupt official fears that the next target could be him. Amidst all the bloodshed, Radhakrishna Jagarlamudi, aka Krish, introduces the audience to Shruti Haasan, who fails miserably in bringing to life an already boring plot.

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The film's plot is as dull as the chemistry the filmmaker tries to draw between an aged Akshay Kumar and a young Shruti Haasan. Supporting actors Jaideep Ahlawat, Sunil Grover and Suman Talwar fail to make an impact and their performance can even be challenged by college theatre groups. Kareena Kapoor Khan makes a special appearance and fades out in a jiffy.

The film lives up to Bollywood's age-old custom of having at least one item song. Jagarlamudi carries forward the tradition with Chitrangda Singh, doing a lacklustre item number. The music of the film is not worth lending an ear to. Cinematography and editing are amateurish and fail miserably. Most of the visuals are average and don't excite the audience in the least.

Gabbar Is Back lacks vision, and the title is quite misleading. Cashing in merely on the popularity of the iconic character of Gabbar doesn't necessarily lend mileage to a film. It's high time Bollywood moved beyond remakes and developed originals.

PS: Gabbar is back is not worth your time, money or energy.