A still from ‘Bade Mian Chhote Mian’
In a rare Eid week without a Salman Khan starrer, director Ali Abbas Zafar has kept the inclusive spirit of Bollywood alive with a fast-paced action vehicle that runs on the easy chemistry between its two drivers – style and substance. .
Made for the masses, the film has a warm heart and some purpose under the armor of special effects. It follows the time-tested friend-to-enemy formula of Bollywood that was forcefully reinvented by Siddharth Anand in Pathan and takes it further into the realm of artificial intelligence. In times of deep forgery, Zafar digs into the diminishing human element in technology.
An old hat Feroze alias Freddy (Akshay Kumar) and a Rakesh Rakesh alias Rocky (Tiger Shroff) are the trusted soldiers of Commander Azad (Roneet Roy). Their helplessness forces them out of uniform but when an enemy friend Kabir (Prithviraj Sukumaran) returns from the dead to seek revenge, they join hands to face the challenge of the clones.
Of course, Big brother, little brother is larger than life. Of course, it makes sense that someone used an AI app to develop an interesting idea. It’s a road we’ve taken many times before – but the way it pans out, it’s fun in the first half and fascinating in the second. Equating the perfection of robots with Devoted By populating all faiths, it sends a strong message to those who want to rule with brainwashed soldiers. Highlighting the Indian tradition of putting conscience ahead of talent, the film offers some respite from the propaganda fare. Expanding the India-Pakistan conflict on screen, Zafar, for a change, brings China into the picture and shows how selfishness, personal ego and grudges turn humans into monsters. He makes simple fictional gestures for eklaviya and karna to give the audience something to chew on between relentless punchlines.
Big Mian Small Mian (Hindi)
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
The cast: Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manushi Chhillar, Alaya F, Sonakshi Sinha, Roneeth Roy
Run time: 158 minutes
The story line: Two soldiers, played by Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, rejoin the fray against a masked adversary.
Set to a pulsating background score by Julius Peckham, BMCM begins as a collection of action set pieces to demonstrate what vfx company DNEG can achieve in a country setting. The digital bonding of foreground and background is not always seamless but the narrative soon finds the unwavering tone of the original actors Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda. Early in the film, a hilarious throwback scene pays homage to the duo’s comedic time with the great Satish Kaushik and joins the raga between 1998 and the present.
While Akshay plays the OG with his time-tested straight-faced humor, Tiger Shroff flexes his acting muscles and laughs at himself. Peppered with some memorable inside jokes, the references to nepotism in terrorism and the commentary on the actors’ lowbrow image work well. In the battle between biceps and brains, Manushi Chhillar and Alia F deliver some sensual energy and goofy banter as the writers don’t treat them just as good-looking objects. However, Sonakshi Sinha, in an extended cameo, doesn’t have much to add.
The problem is that every emotion is capitalized like an action choreography and Zafar takes a while to get to the point. But before you realize that this is another heavy dose of adrenaline, Zafar brings a twist in the story that makes you log in again.
Having led the frail life of a goat, Prithviraj Sukumaran emerges as a bloated, masked antagonist who devours digital scenery with style. The dialogue delivery needs some more work in tone but his expression of the grief of a scientist whose hard work is rejected due to its potential misuse hits the right notes.
Aimed at the galleries, the film follows what the independent film says: intention is more important than talent. A tip for Akshay, though. Now it’s time to start growing real mustaches for fictional characters. It engages!
Big Mian Chhote Mian is currently playing in cinemas.