DON.... Dobara

Don ka intezar…. made me jump at the premier show passes.When I stepped into the world of Farhan Akhter styled Don, his hi-tech devices, pretty babes, leather jackets and sleek moves, I decided to completely keep aside the original classic from my mind. It worked! Guess what I mean to say, is that I am writing this with the view point that although I isn't a Sharukh fan, I liked the movie. Ok, I LOVED the movie (I watched it twice). The movie has an exciting opening with Sharukh beating up Chunky Pandey in spectacular Paris. But alas! That’s the last of Paris (sob sob), cuz after that we have Indian DCPs juggling between Bharat and Malaysia (awesome place, and cheap air tickets! Mera turn bhi aayega…).

Then of course the entire first half is a story telling session where you gotta listen to everybody’s sad stories- who wants to take revenge on whom, when, where and why (Don’t complain, improves your listening skills). Scene cuts to Kareena’s achievement in life: successfully brain washing her dude & convincing him that quitting the Don’s team is a brilliant idea (Jesus, Women!). Don doesn’t like it. Kills him. Badle ki bhavna drives Kareena to put on a sexy shade of Garnier Nutrisse, her style funda (Can anyone pls tell me whats the shade) and jiggle her tummy in order to trap the horny Don into DCP’s (Of course the inevitable Boman Irani) game plan.

Of course, Don ko pakedna mushkil hi nahi, Namumkin hai. Don kills Kareena too, which now leads to the ignition of the badle ki bhavne in Ms Priyanka Chopra. She decides to run her revenge plan independently without the DCP’s help, and joins the Don’s team, successfully escaping any ref- check. Don sees a wild cat in her. But I couldn’t help gasping at her skinny chicken legs. No no, she does look subtle & sexy (and guys, she can act reasonably too) but she looks even more chicken-leggy in front of the gorgeous full bodied Isha Koppikar! (Alright, I seriously think Priyanka should stop wearing micro minis).

Phew, these are the actresses we have in the Indian film industry as of today. Tch tch. We’re already over- exhausted watching Preity’s pretty dimple and Rani’s sexy sizzle, and after these two, we only have Priyankas, Bipashas & Kareenas left. I truly empathize with men.

But actors we have plenty. Arjun Rampal looks pretty hot as Jasjeet and brings a sorta sexiness to this character played by Pran in the yesteryears. Of course let’s not get into his revenge story of why he’s all set to teach the DCP a lesson or two. But what I didn’t like is that they showed just a pic of Sushma Reddy… coupla sizzling scenes between the two wouldn’t have been too much…. Er, I guess I’m digressing from the main review....

Farhan Akhter was smart enough to cut out Vijay’s part, as Sharukh was a disaster at it (why couldn’t he cut out the damn street song too). Just by the time we start getting frightful flashbacks of Sharukh's good ol over-the-top hamming days, we're brought back to his Don Avatar in a flash.

Amidst all the story telling of who wins & who loses, are the pretty impressive action sequences. The car chase in India was very Jason Borne, and the switch between Don & Vijay, very face-off. Although one scene which was pretty comic was where Ms chicken legs jumps into the scene on a bike and airlifts an ambulance away from the cops. Like a toon-flick, straight outta flintstones/ Johnny Bravo!! All throughout the movie the cameraman hovers around the Petronas towers like a hawk, & later does squeeze in a scene shot in it (over it?). Khaike paan is pretty lively & isn’t disappointing at all (and once again folks, it brings back the focus on Priyanka's chicken legs, c'mon I'm concerned, what if the delicate twosome break while doing the merry jiggle?)

There are a coupla twists Farhan Akhtar has brought to the original story, and the whole movie make more sense when all these twists finally unfold towards the end. Kudos to Boman Irani, who’s got a full length character role stretched from the good DCP to pure evil, with an “enhanced” badle ki bhavna. I do not know what the fuss about “remaking” is. What’s the harm in it? At least Farhan’s making it clear to all that it IS based on the original classic. At least it doesn’t annoy, like say a “Salaam Namaste”, wherein the second half is a scene to scene copy of Hugh Grant’s “Nine Months”, of which there’s no mention anywhere at all. Overall Farhan’s done a pretty decent job and in the end, did make me wanna watch it once again. And I did like it the second time too.

I liked Sharukh in this Bond version of Don. Once again keep my suggestion in mind that there’s no point comparing him with Amitabh (c’mon, AB can give any kal ka chokra a run for his money even in the present day). This movie is a Sharukh Khan Movie, and he’s done a pretty decent job. Although a thought did come to my mind later that perhaps Saif would’ve been better suited? What’s even more exasperating is- what about Helen’s part? Aint there any actress today who can make a simple song look as sizzling as she could?