By Akshay Acharya Film: Raksha Bandhan (Released in theaters).The duration is 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Director: Aanand L.Rai.The cast includes Akshay Kumar, Bhumi Pednekar, and Seema Pahwa IANS Rating IANS Rating: **
Every time Akshay Kumar appears to Chandni Chowk on-screen, the audience is able to replay in their minds precisely what Paresh Rawal stated in “Phir Hera Pheri”: “Mereko toh aisa dhak horela hai horela hai (I can feel my heart beating in anxiety).”
Thirteen years on from the disaster of “Chandni Chowk to China”, Akshay returns with another one of his flops called ‘Raksha Bandhan The film’s location is in the crowded and complex avenues of Chandni Chowk.
Akshay is back with director Aanand L.Rai with this film following their last collaboration that was successful in “Atrangi Re,” in which he was seen with Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush.The film, however it was a OTT release.This time the theaters will test the chemistry between the director and the actor because it will clash with the Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor-starrer ‘Laal Chaddha’.
Rai left his small-town locales that he is famous for and has set his film in Delhi.The film tells the story of one brother who will do everything in his power to get married to his four sisters regardless of the dowry is and only to realize later that the ceremony has serious consequences on the lives of women.
Akshay’s character, who at first raises money to marry the sisters but then realizes the issue and invests the funds in their education following an incident that was not pleasant and a subsequent 60s-style Bollywood melodrama hits the family.The actor who is able to come up with approximately one film in each quarter, puts in minimal effort even though he is the lead.
The audience has seen Akshay Kumar in the film ‘Bachchhan Paandey’ in Samrat Prithviraj, and in the film ‘Raksha Bandhan’.It’s not a character that Akshay plays one; it’s only Akshay Kumar.There’s a limit on what the audience can tolerate and Akshay’s sluggish attitude of late makes those on the other end to declare, “Bacche ki jaan lega kya?” (Enough is enough).
Bhumi Pednekar who plays Akshay’s love attraction in the movie, is no new ideas in regards of her acting, however, in order to be credited where it’s due, she does manage to salvage some scenes with her performance.
The supporting castis also average with one notable absence of Seema Pahwa.
The screenplay, script and direction seem to be completely out of the sync with the vision of the film intended to achieve in the mind of director.
What is working well is the design of the production and the art direction.The earthy palette of colours adds the frames a sense of depth and enhances their aesthetic value.
Himesh Reshammiya’s songs are a complete disappointment.Any instances where he is behind the mic just add insult to damage.
The music and scenes around them seem made up and added to entice the attention of the audience.They are of no use to the film’s story.
Overall, ‘Raksha bandhan is a disappointment.It will be fascinating to know if the public enjoys the film.Or, will they give Akshay Kumar the chance to make it a triple-whammy of films that failed after ‘Bachchhan Pandey and ‘Samrat Prithviraj’.
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