This
is
for
fans
and
foes
of
Salman
Khan...Fans,
rejoice,
Salman
is
back
with
a
vengeance
with
Wanted.
This
is
his
deadliest
performance
to
date.
Yes,
you
read
it
right!
Foes,
sorry,
you
won't
be
able
to
lash
out
at
him
or
pick
on
him
or
launch
a
vicious
tirade
this
time.
The
spate
of
flops
should
come
to
a
grinding
halt
with
Wanted.
Let's
get
this
straight.
Wanted
rides
on
Salman
Khan's
star
power.
He
may
not
be
the
best
actor
in
town,
but
in
a
film
like
Wanted,
in
a
role
that
seems
like
an
extension
of
his
personality,
you
can't
think
of
anyone
else
enacting
this
role
with
flourish.
A
remake
of
Pokiri
[made
in
Telugu
and
Tamil
versions],
Wanted
is
a
full
on
masala
film.
Recall
the
successful
potboilers
of
yore.
Recall
how
the
good
guy
would
reduce
10
hoodlums
to
pulp
in
a
fraction
of
seconds.
Recall
how
heroism
prevailed
in
the
end,
no
matter
how
adverse
the
circumstances
were
or
how
powerful
the
villains
would
be.
Recall
those
movies
in
which
logic
took
a
backseat
since
the
focus
was
on
entertainment...
You
relive
those
moments
as
reel
after
reel
of
Wanted
unfolds.
A
departure
from
candyfloss
movies
and
diabetic-sweet
characters
that
most
Hindi
movies
boast
of,
Wanted
takes
you
back
to
those
days
when
popular
cinema
reigned
supreme,
when
the
sole
motive
of
the
film-maker
was
to
entertain.
The
daring
hero
and
his
herogiri,
the
naive
girlfriend,
the
corrupt
cop,
the
dreaded
don,
the
don's
moll,
the
fist-clinching
henchmen...
Wanted
is
for
those
who
seek
unabashed
entertainment
and
relish
masala
films.
Damn
the
indomitable
critics,
pseudo
intellectuals
and
connoisseurs
of
parallel
cinema,
this
one's
not
for
them.
Wanted
is
for
the
aam
junta.
Radhe
[Salman
Khan]
is
a
hardcore
gangster.
A
sharpshooter
with
a
sharp
brain,
he
works
for
Gani
Bhai
[Prakash
Raj],
the
dreaded
Mafioso,
but
on
his
own
terms.
Totally
fearless,
Radhe
single-handedly
eliminates
Gani
Bhai's
enemies
one
by
one;
making
more
enemies
in
the
process.
He's
astounded
when
the
young
and
pretty
Jahnvi
[Ayesha
Takia
Azmi]
professes
her
liking
for
him.
Inspector
Talpade's
[Mahesh
Manjrekar]
lustful
eyes
fall
on
Jahnvi.
He
doesn't
know
that
Jahnvi
has
developed
a
soft
corner
for
Radhe.
Whether
it's
the
Golden
Gang
or
Data
Pawle's
Gang,
everybody
wants
the
biggest
piece
of
the
lucrative
cake
that
is
Mumbai
and
the
only
way
to
get
it
is
to
eliminate
whoever
gets
in
the
way.
As
Mumbai
reels
under
bloody
gang
wars,
Commissioner
Ashraf
Khan
[Govind
Namdeo]
vows
to
make
the
city
crime
free.
Director
Prabhu
Dheva
serves
a
hardcore
masala
fare
that's
not
inventive
or
path-breaking
by
any
standard,
but
the
execution
of
several
scenes
as
also
of
stunts
takes
the
graph
of
the
film
Northward.
In
fact,
if
at
all
there's
any
film
that
competes
with
Ghajini
as
far
as
raw
appeal
goes,
it's
Wanted.
Every
action/stunt/chase
here
is
choreographed
with
aplomb.
Watch
out
for
the
action
sequence
at
the
interval
point
or
the
penultimate
half-an-hour.
The
climax
is
sure
to
send
scores
of
action
lovers
in
frenzy,
as
Salman
bashes
the
evil
forces
black
and
blue.
It
wouldn't
be
erroneous
to
state
that
the
climax
is
worth
the
price
of
the
ticket,
samosa,
sandwich,
popcorn,
nachos
and
cola
put
together.
Not
that
this
18
reeler
abounds
in
mindless
action.
As
mentioned
earlier,
this
one's
a
hardcore
masala
film
and
the
narrative
has
its
share
of
light
moments
and
romantic
sequences.
Even
the
bad
man
here
makes
you
laugh
intermittently
[when
he's
not
spewing
venom],
especially
in
the
sequence
when
the
Commissioner
of
Police
holds
him
captive
in
the
middle
of
the
sea.
Even
the
romance
between
Salman
and
Ayesha
charms
its
way
into
your
heart.
It's
very
likable.
But
Wanted
is
not
without
its
share
of
flaws.
The
film
stands
on
a
thin
storyline
and
the
viewer
can
guess
what's
in
store
next,
which
means
that
there's
not
much
novelty
in
the
plot.
Besides,
Wanted
could've
done
without
a
song
or
two,
thereby
keeping
its
length
in
check.
Director
Prabhu
Dheva
has
presented
Salman
like
never
before.
Most
actors
have
drifted
away
from
roles
that
hold
tremendous
mass
appeal,
that
cater
to
the
desi
audience,
like
they
did
in
the
1980s.
SRK
did
it
in
Om
Shanti
Om,
Aamir
Khan
did
it
in
Ghajini
and
Salman
does
it
so
effortlessly
in
Wanted.
The
screenplay
[Shiraz
Ahmed]
may
not
be
foolproof,
but
it
has
its
share
of
shining
moments.
Dialogues
are
clapworthy,
especially
those
delivered
by
Salman.
Sajid-Wajid's
music
is
of
a
mixed
variety.
'Jalwa'
is
the
best
of
the
lot
and
the
star
presence
of
Anil
Kapoor,
Govinda
and
also
Prabhu
Dheva
in
this
track
will
send
the
viewers
into
raptures.
The
remaining
tracks
oscillate
between
good
and
strictly
okay.
This
review
would
be
incomplete
without
the
invaluable
contribution
by
the
action
director.
It
deserves
brownie
points.
Cinematography
too
is
top
notch.
Salman
is
like
a
ferocious
lion
who
roars
with
all
his
might.
The
show
belongs
to
the
actor,
who
scorches
the
screen
every
time
he
displays
the
manic
anger.
Without
doubt,
Salman
gives
the
power
to
Wanted.
It's
his
best
work
to
date.
Ayesha
Takia
Azmi
is
very
good
and
the
pairing
with
Salman
looks
wonderful.
Vinod
Khanna
is
sidelined.
He
deserved
more
footage.
Mahesh
Manjrekar
is
excellent.
He's
only
getting
better
with
every
film.
Prakash
Raj
is
first-rate.
The
accomplished
actor
adds
yet
another
feather
to
his
cap.
Govind
Namdeo
is
perfect.
Mahek
Chahal
radiates
oomph.
Aseem
Merchant
is
alright.
Raju
Mavani
is
effective.
Inder
Kumar
and
Sajid
are
okay.
Manoj
Pahwa
tries
hard
to
make
you
laugh.
Prateeksha
Lonkar
is
as
usual.
On
the
whole,
Wanted
rides
on
Salman,
Salman
and
only
Salman
Khan's
star
power.
A
masala
film
that's
aimed
at
the
masses,
Wanted
is
backed
by
tremendous
hype
and
hoopla,
which
will
result
in
the
film
taking
an
earth-shattering
start
at
the
ticket
window.
The
Idd
celebrations
in
the
coming
days
will
only
enhance
the
business
of
the
film,
which
means
that
the
film
will
have
a
solid
Week
1.
The
holidays
in
Week
2
should
also
be
bountiful,
thereby
ensuring
a
strong
place
in
the
'Hit'
category.