Where's the zing, Mr King?

Singh is Kinng
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Om Puri, Sonu Soon
Director: Anees Bazmee
Rating: **

Singh Is Kinng' (SIK) has about five very funny scenes, one good action sequence and two good songs. If watching a two-hour plus film with these few entertaining scenes spread far between is your idea of a fun time, then SIK is the film for you.

Of course, there's the King himself – Akshay 'the Midas touch' Kumar. In the seventies and eighties there were films that had not-too-great storylines, but the towering presence of Amitabh Bachchan. He posed, spouted clap-worthy dialogues, danced, fought and audiences came back smiling.

Without exaggerating a little too much, Akshay Kumar is slowly and steadily attaining a similar iconic status - a 'safe' proposal for producers who are assured of getting their investments back by banking on Akshay's star power and histrionics.

'Singh Is Kinng' is one of those films. Akshay is pretty much the life, providing relief with his lately unmatchable comic timing, breathtaking stunts and prancing around with the sexy Katrina Kaif. And he does it all with aplomb.

If only the script had given Akshay half as much assistance, especially in the second half, this film would have worked big time! Instead, it meanders towards the usual Anees Bazmee climax (seen in his last two super-hits 'No Entry' and 'Welcome') where chaos reigns. However, forget laughing in your aisles, you hardly manage a smile while watching the proceedings.   

The story is interesting. Happy (Akshay) is the village smartass every one is fed up of. The villagers therefore hatch a plan to send him away to Australia so that he can bring back village boy Lakhan aka Lucky (Sonu Sood) who is now a big gang-lord in Australia, and referred to as King.

Once in Australia, Happy tries convincing Lucky and his associates (all Sardars from the same village) to return home. However, Lucky gets semi-paralysed during a shootout and Happy is made King instead. Happy goes about transforming the gang members from ruthless criminals to soft-hearted social workers, who then join forces to help Happy win over Sonia (Katrina Kaif), who Happy loves but is about to get married to Ranvir Shorey.

The film is extremely fast paced initially and the sharp editing and picturesque cinematography keep you entertained. The songs 'Bhootni Ke', 'Jee Karda' and the title track, which all appear in the first half, are all foot-tapping.

Once Happy is made King, the film promises to be a laughathon. Sadly, the film manages to draw guffaws only at certain places. Akshay's facial hair oscillates between a beard to a stubble to a goatee and the continuity jerks are hard to miss. The film also suffers due to weak characterizations.

Javed Jaffrey, who plays Lucky's brother Mika, talks in an accent that's hardly decipherable, Jaffrey portrays a partially deaf and blind character and most of his histrionics fail to evoke any laughter whatsoever.

Another flawed character is that of Shorey who goes from being a nice guy to a comedian to a villain to the nice guy in the end. Two very good actors have thus been wasted. Kirron Kher, although good, is getting repetitive with her loud Punjabi mother act.

The rest of the cast does a good job. Om Puri especially is a treat and takes away the applause in most scenes. Sonu Sood, Neha Dhupia, Sudhanshu Pandey, Manoj Pahwa and Yashpal Sharma are all extremely competent.

Katrina Kaif has had a good run since she stepped into the industry and is considered a lucky mascot by many. However, here she shows that she's not just a PYT who can dance and look good. I mean, yeah she can do that! Looking gorgeous, she is a treat to the eyes in both western and Indian outfits. Her dancing is extremely eye-filling too.

But where Katrina springs a pleasant surprise is in the acting department. The company of Akki in most of her films is clearly rubbing off, and very similar to him, she is getting better with every film. 

Akshay Kumar, of course, is what the film is all about in the end. He's competent in emotional scenes, lovable in the romantic ones, entertaining in the funny ones, and as usual a pro while performing stunts. Any Akshay fan will love SIK.

If only the film had any zing, 'Singh Is Kinng' could have been the blockbuster of the year.

 

g_aniruddha@dnaindia.net