SAM BAHADUR – Cinematic Pooper!!! PK Verdict: Tin⭐⭐

SAM BAHADUR – Cinematic Pooper!!!

SAM Bahadur what looked terrific from the trailer turns out to be a big pooper. It is not Vicky Kaushal to be blamed here, he is in the skin of the character speaking about his looks, but the adaptation of mannerisms, his dialogue delivery that left a huge impact from the trailers becomes the norm, making the film look totally flat, mimicry at its worst. The film also fails due its sloppy writing and screenplay apart from over the board drama that makes Sam Bahadur a tedious watch. Vicky Kaushal brings in his best, it is the director Meghna Gulzar who misses an opportunity to let SAM Shine again.

Meghana Gulzar disappoints big time; it is the captain of the ship indeed who didn’t set the compass right; not knowing where the film is heading. Check boxing the events, bringing a film on the biopic template but forgetting the essence of cinema is to engage and entertain. All she does is makes you aware of the journey of the titular role bringing Sam’s cockiness alive too, but it does more harm than good to the plot. She could have discerned better to what goes into the plot to make sit people upright on their seats.

Sam Bahadur as a film fails to impress and it is indeed a big opportunity loss for the actor who gives everything to deliver surrendering to the Director and what we get is a Sing-Song delivery of his lines throughout the film in the same pitch. It lacks authenticity and it disheartens as this  happens to a Vicky Kaushal film. Also, it is Vicky Kaushal because of whom you sail through this tedious watch. Writing this with lot of pain, SAM Bahadur Film is a disappointment. From frame one, it keeps hopping from one event to another with poor edit without bringing in any gravitas to any event. They wasted Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. Sanya Malhotra ages gracefully playing Sillu Sam’s spouse. They couldn’t showcase or add any value to bring a shine in her role. Fatima Sana Sheikh as Indira Gandhi is a disappointment too, couldn’t bring in the command the position holds. Besides giving her lines like “Mere saath karna” to create humor was a complete let down. What could have been a nail biting, over the edge journey made me sulk deep into my chair.

Film showcases jingoism at its worst in the song “Badhte Chalo” coming from Gulzar saab. The song comes twice in the film and all it does is creates a noise. Bolo Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai, Badri Vishal Laal Ki Jai, Birsa Munda Ki Jai,Bajrangbali Ki Jai, Raja Ram Chadra Ki Jai, Bolo Hindustan Ki Jai, Kalika Mata Ki Jai, Jwala Mata Ki Jai, Durga Mata Ki Jai, Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Alas, film don’t run on Jai Jai Kaaras.

PK Verdict: Tin**

P.S. Some of the Pakistanis in the film are shown with eyebrows similar to what we had seen on Akshay Kumar’s make-up in Robot 2.0. Reference Image below for your perusal.