The
fight
between
good
and
bad
has
been
the
fodder
of
many
a
Hindi
film
of
1970s
and
1980s.
In
fact,
it
wouldn't
be
erroneous
to
state
that
these
films
dominated
the
cinema
of
yore
and
a
lot
of
us,
who
have
grown
up
on
masala
films/wholesome
entertainers,
will
vividly
recall
the
serpentine
queues
outside
cinema
halls
and
a
mad
scramble
to
book
the
tickets
of
those
films.
Hardcore
masala
films
were
relished
with
glee
by
the
audience
then.
However,
for
some
inexplicable
reason,
masala
films
became
extinct
or
should
I
say,
disappeared
from
the
face
of
Hindi
cinema
over
a
period
of
time.
Ghajini
and
Wanted
revived
this
genre,
bringing
back
memories
of
the
bygone
era.
Now
Dabangg
takes
this
genre
one
step
ahead.
Be
forewarned.
Dabangg
is
rustic,
has
loads
of
action,
harps
on
the
age-old
mother-son
and
varied
relationships
(half-brother,
step-father),
eventually
turns
into
a
vendetta
fare,
has
a
number
of
songs
placed
smartly
in
the
narrative
(including
an
item
number)...
but
the
packaging
is
slick
and
polished.
Sure,
it's
old
wine,
but
packed
in
a
brand
new
bottle,
with
a
new
brand
ambassador
(Salman
Khan)
endorsing
this
masalathon.
Most
importantly,
it
has
Salman
like
never
before.
Breathing
fire
and
venom,
Chulbul
Pandey
aka
Robinhood
Pandey
taps
Salman's
star
power
like
no
film
has
and
the
result
is
sheer
magic.
In
fact,
Dabangg
stands
on
three
pillars
-
Salman's
star
power,
smashing
stunts
and
super
music.
Final
word?
Salman
fans,
rejoice!
You
walk
in
Dabangg
with
100%
expectations
and
you
exit
with
200%
gratification.
Entertainment
guaranteed.
This
film
will
create
a
pandemonium
of
sorts,
a
mass
hysteria,
crushing
old
records
and
setting
new
benchmarks
at
the
box-office.
Set
in
Uttar
Pradesh,
Dabangg
is
a
story
of
Chulbul
Pandey
(Salman
Khan),
a
totally
fearless
but
corrupt
police
officer
with
unorthodox
working
methods.
But
even
the
most
fearless
at
times
face
a
tough
fight
with
their
innermost
demons.
Chulbul
has
had
a
bitter
childhood.
His
father
passed
away
when
he
was
very
young,
after
which
his
mother
(Dimple
Kapadia)
married
Prajapati
Pandey
(Vinod
Khanna).
Together,
they
had
a
son
Makhanchan
(Arbaaz
Khan).
Prajapati
favors
Makhanchan,
which
does
not
go
down
well
with
Chulbul.
He
decides
to
take
control
of
his
destiny
and
detaches
himself
from
his
step-father
and
half-brother.
His
sole
attachment
is
his
mother.
However,
after
his
mother's
demise
and
an
unsuccessful
attempt
to
mend
wounds,
Chulbul
snaps
all
ties
with
his
step-father
and
half-brother.
Rajo
(Sonakshi
Sinha),
with
her
unique
perspective
of
life,
enters
his
world
and
turns
life
upside
down.
Chulbul
starts
to
see
life
more
positively
and
also
gets
sensitized
to
the
value
of
a
family.
But
his
detractors,
especially
the
dubious
Cheddi
Singh
(Sonu
Sood),
have
their
own
vested
interests
and
emerge
as
spokes
in
the
wheels,
putting
one
brother
against
the
other.
Makhanchan
ends
up
carrying
out
an
act
oblivious
to
the
consequences.
When
Makhanchan
realizes
he
has
been
used,
he
turns
to
Chulbul.
Will
Chulbul
take
his
extended
hand?
Will
the
brothers
be
able
to
thwart
their
detractors?
The
job
of
a
promo
is
to
give
a
gist
of
the
film
and
prepare
the
audience
well
in
advance
about
what
to
expect
when
they
saunter
into
an
auditorium.
The
promos
of
Dabangg
have
sent
the
right
signals
to
the
audience
about
it
being
a
paisa
vasool
entertainer.
Let's
face
it,
Dabangg
has
nothing
ground-breaking
to
offer
as
far
as
its
plot
is
concerned.
We've
visited
similar
stories
in
the
past,
but
what
makes
Dabangg
shine,
and
shine
brightly,
is
Salman's
star
power,
which
camouflages
the
aberrations
wonderfully.
The
darling
of
the
masses
has
been
cast
in
a
role
that
his
fans
love
to
see
him
in,
which
explains
why
this
film
works
from
start
to
end.
Like
I
pointed
out
earlier,
Dabangg
is
special
for
two
more
reasons:
S.
Vijayan's
stunts
and
Sajid-Wajid's
music,
with
an
additional
song
by
Lalit
Pandit.
Talking
of
action
scenes,
Salman's
introduction
at
the
start
and
the
fight-to-finish
in
the
climax
will
send
the
masses
in
frenzy.
To
state
that
the
action
scenes
are
outstanding,
especially
the
fight
in
the
finale,
would
be
an
understatement.
In
the
finale
fight,
when
Salman's
shirt
tears
apart
and
the
rippling
muscles
and
the
bare-chest
fight
ensues,
mark
my
words,
it
will
lead
to
chaos
at
mass-dominated
centres,
especially
at
single
screens.
The
climax
will
be
one
of
the
prime
reasons
for
repeat
viewing,
for
sure.
It's
difficult
to
accommodate
music
in
an
action
film,
but
Sajid-Wajid
come
up
with
a
melodious
score.
The
title
track,
'Tere
Mast
Mast
Do
Nain'
and
'Munni'
(composed
by
Lalit
Pandit)
are
the
icing
on
the
cake.
Director
Abhinay
Singh
Kashyap
is
in
his
element.
He's
made
an
out
and
out
entertainer
with
an
eye
at
the
masses
and
he
succeeds
in
his
endeavour.
Doing
justice
to
vintage
formula
is
no
cakewalk,
let's
not
forget.
Besides,
the
director
stays
away
from
going
overdramatic
while
handling
the
dramatic
and
emotional
moments.
This
explains
why
you
don't
exit
the
theatre
with
a
spinning
head.
Mahesh
Limaye's
cinematography
is
perfect.
I'd
like
to
make
a
note
of
the
editing
(Pranav
V.
Dhiwar),
which
is
super-slick
in
action
scenes.
Dialogue,
especially
those
delivered
by
Salman,
will
be
greeted
with
claps
and
whistles.
Especially
the
one
'Itne
chhed
karunga'.
Salman
Khan
is
the
boss,
when
it
comes
to
playing
to
the
masses.
This
film
reaffirms
this
truth.
The
role
provides
him
ample
opportunity
to
prove
his
star
power
and
he
does
it
with
remarkable
ease.
Let
me
put
it
on
record.
Dabangg
is
yet
another
landmark
film
in
his
career,
besides
Maine
Pyaar
Kiya,
Hum
Aapke
Hain
Koun,
Judwaa
[tapping
the
funny
side),
Tere
Naam
(tapping
the
emotional
side)
and
Wanted.
Sonakshi
Sinha
looks
fresh,
acts
confidently
and
pairs
off
very
well
with
Salman.
Most
importantly,
she
delivers
the
right
expressions
and
is
not
overpowered
by
the
galaxy
of
stars
in
the
cast.
Arbaaz
Khan
is
efficient.
He
underplays
his
part
well.
Sonu
Sood
is
electrifying,
matching
up
to
Salman
at
every
step.
In
fact,
the
fight
in
the
finale
between
Salman
and
Sonu
is
awe-inspiring.
Vinod
Khanna
is
excellent
in
a
role
that
has
grey
shades.
Dimple
Kapadia
is
truly
wonderful.
Anupam
Kher
is,
as
always,
good.
Ditto
for
Om
Puri.
Mahesh
Manjrekar
doesn't
get
ample
scope.
Mahi
Gill
is
alright.
Tinnu
Anand
is
effective.
Murli
Sharma
is
nice.
Malaika
Arora
Khan
sizzles
in
the
'Munni'
track.
On
the
whole,
Dabangg
is
a
full
on
entertainer
with
three
aces
-
Salman
Khan
like
never
before,
stylish
action
and
super
music.
It's
a
foregone
conclusion
that
Dabangg
will
open
huge.
As
far
as
the
business
prospects
are
concerned,
the
film
will
set
new
benchmarks,
so
much
so
that
Dabangg
will
be
one
of
the
yardsticks
to
gauge
the
level
of
business
in
times
to
come.
Sure
to
fetch
an
earth-shattering
opening,
the
film
will
create
a
pandemonium
at
the
box-office,
cementing
the
status
of
Salman
Khan
as
the
darling
of
the
masses
and
making
the
distributors
laugh
all
the
way
to
the
bank.
It
has
Blockbuster
written
all
over
it!
Director:
Abhinav
Kashyap
Cast:
Salman
Khan,
Sonakshi
Sinha