Bholaa, this week’s only major Hindi release, is a well-executed actioner that hits the right notes because of Ajay Devgn’s intense performance and grand vision.
The movie, a remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Tamil blockbuster Kaithi, revolves around an ex-convict who is roped by IPS Diana Joseph (Tabu) to carry out a task for cops during a major crisis. He reluctantly agrees to assist them after she promises to help him meet his daughter, who is in an orphanage.
The protagonist soon finds himself in the middle of a war between the police and a drug trafficking mafia. The rest of the narrative revolves around his attempts at fighting off menacing foes to unite with his child.
Bholaa stays faithful to Kaithi as far as the core storyline is concerned. The difference between these films, however, lies in the execution. Lokesh Kanagaraj took his time to build Kaithi’s world. Moreover, its action scenes felt realistic.
Ajay Devgn, by contrast, treats Bholaa as a star vehicle. Each scene builds an aura around the lead character. This sets the stage for several whistle-worthy moments. Moreover, the action scenes feel grand and stylish. The decision to cast Tabu in the role originally played by Narain too proves to be a smart one as it changes the dynamics at play.
Bholaa begins with an intense chase sequence, which introduces us to Diana. The action-packed scene establishes her as a braveheart, who refuses to back down from her duty despite being injured. The focus soon shifts to Ajay Devgn’s character. A series of unnerving dialogues establish him as someone who knows no fear. Devgn’s silence does the talking in these scenes.
Tabu’s sequences with the Shivaay actor too are a highlight of Bholaa. The ace performers complement each other quite well. In a touching scene, they talk about their sad pasts.
The track involving Devgn and his reel daughter adds a touch of tenderness to the inherently violent and dark film.
A crucial sequence set in a police station too works reasonably well and gives us a proper look at the menacing Nithari (Vineet Kumar)
The action scenes are Bholaa’s backbone. They do a good job of taking the narrative forward. The Paan Dukaniya number too has been integrated into the plot quite intelligently.
On the flip side, the flashback portions fail to add much to Bholaa. They feel rushed and predictable. This is quite unfortunate as they had the potential to add another layer to the film. Similarly, a few characters feel half-baked as they don’t get enough scope. The makers could also have tried to examine Tabu’s tragic backstory.
Ajay Devgn’s performance is the heart and soul of Bholaa. He excels in the action scenes, the way he had in the Singham series. The actor is equally good in the emotional scenes as he uses his eyes to express the character’s anguish. Watch out for his heartwrenching expression in a scene where he hears his daughter’s voice for the first time.
Tabu is good in a role that requires her to be tough and vulnerable in equal measure. She also makes a decent impact in a couple of action scenes.
Deepak Dobriyal shines in some of Bholaa’s most unnerving scenes. He, however, deserved a meatier role.
Vineet is at his wildest best in a disturbing scene where threatens to eliminate a policeman. He too deserved more screen time.
Sanjay Mishra proves to be the surprise package of Bholaa. The actor, who has often been burdened with one-dimensional comedy roles, received praise for his work in Vadh. This too is a fine outing for him. The actor delivers a natural and subdued performance. This makes it easier for one to relate to his character,
The rest of the cast serves its purpose.
Bholaa features dialogues such as ‘pandav bhi paanch the’ and ‘shakal dekh kar chargsheet banane lagi hai police’, which cater to the masses. The music, sadly, is not up to the mark. None of the songs, barring the soulful Nazar Lag Jayegi, make any impact. This is quite surprising given the fact that the tunes are composed by Ravi Basur, who rose to fame with his work in KGF.
To conclude, Bholaa is a treat for Ajay Devgn’s fans. It has everything, right from action scenes to punch dialogues, that one would expect from a big-screen spectacle meant for the mass audience.
