Review : Laal Singh Chaddha advocates humanity over religion but is unable to collect empathy!

#LaalSinghChaddha which is an official remake of an #Oscar winning #TomHank starrer #ForrestGump has been #AamirKhan’s most awaited film. Though the adaptation is nicely done, it doesn’t compel you to give standing ovation. Also this remake has come after a lapse of around three decade after the original released, which bagged numerous awards, but the socio political scenario in the country has changed drastically, so has viewers’ taste in that span. Writer #AtulKulkarni has adapted it faithfully, the political and social references do not evoke sympathy for the lead character. The film does throw a message of being optimistic, always. One should flow freely in life wherever it takes you like a feather floating.

Forrest Gump showed the main flawed character entering US Army because around that time US Army was recruiting low IQ men to be sent to a long fought Vietnam war. Incidentally they were referred to as McNamara Morons. Indian Army never indulged in any such campaign so the low witted Laal Singh Chaddha entering army raises questions. Also the Indian Army is unable to identify a Pakistani soldier in a Military hospital is questionable.

The film starts with Laal Singh Chaddha (Aamir Khan) narrating his life’s story while travelling in a second class compartment of a train. Though uninterested many join him as he unfolds layers of his life. Laal Singh Chaddha, a handicapped young lad, starts gaining confidence with the help of his childhood friend Rupa D’Souza (Kareena Kapoor Khan) and even breaks away from the shackles to become a fastest runner in the country. As per the family tradition he enters Indian Army and saves lives of fellow soldiers during Kargil war which fetches his a President’s Medal for bravery. Though when his best friend from the army Bala (Naga Chaitanya) gets martyred, he fulfils his dream by starting a Chaddi-Baniyan business which he initially names after his friends’ name but as a marketing strategy changes it to Rupa at the suggestion of a Pakistani soldier whose life he had saved and who joins his business later as a marketing consultant.

While travelling from Pathankot to Chandigarh Laal Singh has Golgappas (pani puri) sitting on a train bench (original had Tom Hanks having chocolates sitting on a street bench) and strikes conversation in his inimitable style with a fellow passenger. The story covers many historic events viz. Operation Blue Star, 1983 Cricket World Cup victory, Indira Gandhi assassination, 1984 Delhi riots, Ayodhya yatra, Babri Masjid demolition, Sushmita Sen’s Miss Universe crowning, Mumbai serial bomb blasts, Kargil war etc which makes the narrative engaging. In the process the film moves from one corner of the country to the other including Kashmir, Ladakh, Kargil, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi etc. cinematography is top notch and so are production values. Pritam’s music mingles well with the narrative but the editor should have kept the film a little short as it’s 164 m runtime is too long, sometimes dragging the film. Aamir Khan confirms once again that he is a perfectionist and delivers a solid performance. But at times it looks like that he’s trying extra hard resulting in his performance looking contrived. At times he reminds viewers of his portrayal in PK. His ‘hmmm’ in between dialogues is sometimes bothersome. Kareena has done a swell job in her multi layered performance. She looks beautiful in all her looks in the film. Mona Singh impresses with an authentic portrayal and Ahmad Ibn Umar too delivers a good performance as a young Laal Singh. Shahrukh Khan’s cameo collects whistles and claps.

Laal Singh Chaddha advocates humanity over religion but is unable to collect empathy.

Rating : ***