Two things are synonymous with Eid celebrations in India—scrumptious food and the release of a Salman Khan movie. Khan has delivered blockbusters such as Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Kick (2014), and Sultan (2016) during Eid weekend. They are known for his star power, rather than logic or plot. Even so, this year’s offering — Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan — creates a new benchmark with its logic-defying plot.
Directed by Fahad Samji, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is a film for the fans. It begs you to keep your brains at home and come ready to wolf whistle at the action and dance. Samji’s previous work, Bachhan Pandey and Housefull 4, should’ve served as a clue. He clearly was aiming for a hattrick of torture with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
Bhaijaan (Salman Khan) is a single man (true to his real life) in his forties who lives in a film set version of Old Delhi. He has three adopted brothers Moh (Jassie Gill), Ishq (Raghav Juyal), and Luv (Siddharth Nigam) who vow to stay single like Bhaijaan. But enter Sukoon (Shehnaaz Gill), Muskaan (Palak Tiwari) and Chahat (Vinali Bhatnagar).
His brothers try to reunite him with his first love, Bhagya, played by Bhagyashree. She’s moved on But this pursuit gives us an adorable and nostalgic Maine Pyar Kiya montage. This was the film’s only high point.
They chance upon another girl named Bhagya (Pooja Hegde) and try to fix her up with their Bhaijaan.
There are two villains, a Haryanvi businessman Mahaveer (Vijender Singh) and a Hyderabadi villain, Nageshwar (Jagapathi Babu). Post the interval, the film switches locations to Hyderabad, where Bhagya’s anna (Daggubatti Venkatesh) and the rest of her family live.
Love unfurls, as does villainy. Multiple physics-defying action sequences later, the ending is happy, on screen. For the viewer, it’s migraine-inducing.
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Not memorable
Salman’s styling is reminiscent of his iconic hairstyle in Tere Naam, which went viral before being viral was a concept. But his long tresses in this film are mostly unsightly.
From the now viral ‘lunges’ dance in Naiyo Lagda to a veshti-clad Khan almost flashing the audience during Yentamma, the sequences will be etched in your mind, but it doesn’t come close to being really memorable. Even Ram Charan’s cameo in the latter falls flat.
There is neither acting nor any wholehearted attempt to feign acting. Salman Khan is playing Salman Khan He wears Being Human T-shirts, drinks Pepsi, and walks like there are rods between his arms. Hegde is so over-the-top that she can redefine the term. The chemistry between the two is forced at best.
Jassie Gill, Siddharth Nigam, Raghav Juyal, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari, and Vinali Bhatnagar play unquestioning cheerleaders. Venkatesh tries his best but does not have much to do. Surprisingly, it’s Vijender Singh, who last appeared in Fukrey (2014) who puts in the most effort.
The fight sequences have Bhai and his brothers killing men by the dozen. The action redeems the film to some extent. But the best sequence is the last one because it means one can walk out of the hall.