Writer/Director: Farhan Akhtar
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal
‘A Spectacular Thriller’
Few actors in Bollywood are as beloved as Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since his rise toward recognition in the 1990’s, Khan has become one of the greatest actors in the Indian film industry. Whether it is star-crossed lovers, gangsters or doomed superheroes, Khan has proven he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s finest strength as an actor has always been his charisma. He has often been of those rare actors with the abilities to use his charisma to attract audiences to the theatres. Through his abilities to play characters which prove to be compelling, Khan has created a legacy that’s lasting. Known as the Badshah of Bollywood, Khan has stood the test of time as a great icon in Indian Cinema. Despite reaching the ages of retirement, Khan hasn’t lost his passions for making engaging entertainment. An icon in India, Khan has become a bold actor whose movies commonly attract audiences to the Cinema. Throughout his long-lasting career, Khan has appeared in several unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Khan and adore all films he has made in his career. However, “Don” is his most underrated movie. Released back in 2006, Farhan Akhtar’s film offered a bold remake of a celebrated Bollywood classic. Packed with breathtaking production, bold storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best Bollywood remakes ever made. At the centre of it all is a bold performance by Shah Rukh Khan, who embodies a cruel gangster enduring tension. Ultimately, what makes “Don” a Bollywood classic is its bold appeal. Unlike most Bollywood movies, the film tackles strong themes which everyone will relate to. A captivating Bollywood crime classic, there are many strong reasons why “Don” is worth watching.
“Don” tells the story of a gangster don that engages in a life of crime causing tensions. Shah Rukh Khan portrays Don, a menacing gangster that seeks control over a business empire. Don has often gotten away with his crimes without facing a serious price to pay. However, Don’s life forever changes as he is hunted down by a strong police officer. DCP DeSilva (Boman Irani) is a bold police officer with a strong determination to take down a gangster. As all odds soon become stacked against his favour, Don questions whether it is possible to be a strong gangster. Facing a dilemma, Don wonders whether he can be a member of the mafia.
Farhan Akhtar is fascinated with themes of ambition. A brilliant Indian filmmaker, Akhtar has often made engaging movies about the lives of ambitious individuals. His iconic film “Lakshya” offered a powerful portrait of the lives of soldiers seeking to overcome trauma in India. With “Don”, however, Akhtar crafted his first ever crime film. It was the director’s first attempt to illustrate lives of gangsters facing adversity, but he succeeded. Using strong cinematography, Akhtar captures a gangster embarking on a journey. Evoking Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”, the filmmaker successfully uses montages to capture gangsters in danger. For instance, montages enhance the gangster meetings scene. During this memorable scene, Don has a tense meeting with gangsters in his organization. Using engrossing montages, Akhtar creates a portrait of gangsters that is compelling. Montages are tricky to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna” proved clearly, montages enhance Bollywood movies about broken marriages. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through stunning visuals, Akhtar captures tensions gangsters are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Don” that merits admiration is production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood films ever made. Evoking Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas”, Akhtar expertly uses costumes to capture gangsters that endure dilemmas. Throughout the film, Don’s costumes show his powerful transformation into a gangster. For instance, costumes enhance the “Yeh Mera Dil” musical number. During this tense scene, Don has a romantic encounter with a prostitute causing tension. Using costumes, Akhtar creates a portrait of gangsters that’s engaging. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Shankar Ehsaan Loy’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing heavy burden that gangsters bear. Using powerful production, Akhtar captures gangsters that face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Don” is a crime movie that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses dramatic monologues to capture the tension endured by gangsters. Throughout the movie, Don’s monologues showcase his strong transformations into a gangster. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the final scene. During this unforgettable scene, Don delivers a meaningful monologue that expresses his powerful views as a gangster. Through bold monologues, Akhtar creates a portrait of a gangster audiences can relate to. Dramatic monologues aren’t easy to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” proved, monologues elevate Bollywood moves about broken marriages. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through a spectacular screenplay, Akhtar captives gangsters that face a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Shah Rukh Khan delivers one of his finest performances as Don. Khan first earned appreciation for playing romantic heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Don”, however, he took on his most villainous role. It isn’t easy to portray a menacing gangster that faces adversity but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. With commemorated expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and grief of a gangster facing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors that’s working in Bollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Shah Rukh Khan, the supporting cast is amazing and merits recognition. Priyanka Chopra is captivating, bringing charisma towards a female agent embarking upon journeys to discover her persona. Boman Irani is brilliant, bringing authority toward a police officer seeking to apprehend a crime lord that causes adversity. Lastly, Kareena Kapoor merits appreciation. As a seductive prostitute, she is unforgettable
Finally, “Don” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing gangsters which face tension. Unlike most Bollywood films, the film tackles bold themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including ambition, mental health and grief which will resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Indian culture to appreciate it. Therefore, “Don” is one of those rare Bollywood movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Shah Rukh Khan will definitely enjoy “Don” and so would movie-goers seeking tense entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood crime drama, it honours a legendary actor with charisma.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about gangsters that face adversity, it’s a bold reminder of an actor that has established lasting legacy through his abilities to play powerful characters in memorable movies audiences love dearly.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 