Movie Review: Baaghi – A Rebel for Love

Movie Review: ‘Baaghi’

Rating: 3/5

Director: Sabir Khan

Cast:  Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Sudheer Babu Posani

See the Official Baaghi Trailer

‘Baaghi’ as a movie is not a classic by any standards, and there are some obvious flaws staring at your face. It also seems to be inspired by a lot of action-packed films that starred Bruce Lee and the ilk. But, even then, the credit goes to the director Sabbir Khan for getting the milieu right and making it a thrilling watch. Also, looks like he’s given full freedom to the action director, the grandmaster Shifuji Shaurya Bhardwaj, who also plays a significant role in the film, to turn most action scenes into a work of art.

It is rare opportunity that you get to say beauty and action in the same sentence in a Hindi film. ‘Baaghi’ and more importantly Tiger Shroff show us that there can be a tremendous amount of beauty and grace in the way one kicks and punches assorted goons.  In a pleasantly surprising transformation from his awkward debut in ‘Heropanti’, Tiger’s handwork in honing himself is more than evident in his second outing. It is a pure delight to watch this young actor move his hard earned body with such fluidity and ease.

The process of transformation– from aimless ‘baaghi’ to a rebel with a cause– is familiar from many similar films, but there’s enough to keep us engaged through the interactions with a ramrod straight `guru’, who puts the young fellow through his paces.

Sia (Shraddha Kapoor) is the girl who stops on her tracks every time it rains and even holds conversation with the clouds. Sia has caught the fancy of two men, Raghav Shetty (Sudheer Babu) and Ronny (Tiger Shroff). Raghav kidnaps Sia and Ronny is on his trail to bring her back. It’s not an easy task for Ronny as Raghav is a mafia “kingpin” in Bangkok and is also a champion fighter, who’s trained under his father Guruswami, a Kalaripayattu champion.

Post interval, there’s a sharp slide. The action moves from picturesque Kerala to seamy Bangkok, where the film’s borrowings (apparently it is based on an Indonesian actioner, as well as a Telugu film) starts weighing heavily upon it. The bad guy, played by Telugu star Sudheer Babu, is also a martial arts champion, and has an eye on Sia (Shradhha), the girl that Ronny likes. He has an army of goons, all of whom are pointed at Ronny, and let loose.

All stabs at a stale plot are abandoned, as staler formula takes over: the good guy clashes with the bad guy over the ‘bubbly’ girl who dances, wetly, in the rain ( she loves ‘baarish’, see?), is saddled with a father who is more joker than responsible dad (played by TV comic Sunil Grover), and a mum and grandma who hover uselessly in the background. A couple of comedians show up and bumble around annoyingly, slowing the pace.

The cinematography is breathtaking. The locations used in the movie make it stunning to see. The backwaters of Kerala have been beautifully captured, something our cinema usually misses. Forget the rest, watch this film for Tiger Shroff. There is no one who fights like Tiger Shroff and looks like we have finally found a genuine martial arts star. Hope he gets more such roles to do justice to his dedication.