Writer/Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya
Starring: Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Katrina Kaif
‘A Spectacular Sequel’
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated today as Aamir Khan. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Khan has proven to be one of the greatest actors in Bollywood. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, terrorists in danger or professional wrestlers, Khan has suggested he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s strength as an actor is his bravery. Khan has never been afraid to take risks in his career through tackling subjects that prove controversial. Through abilities to play characters which are compelling, Khan has established a legacy which has proven to be compelling. Despite reaching the age of retirement, Khan has never lost his strong passion for producing iconic entertainment. An iconic legend in India, Khan has become a celebrated legend in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a groundbreaking career, Khan has created several strong movies that are worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all movies which he has made in his career. However, “Dhoom 3” is definitely his most underrated work. Released back in 2013, Vijay Krishna Acharya’s movie offered a powerful portrait of magicians. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and engrossing acting, it’s one of the best Bollywood sequels made. At a centre of it all is a terrific performance by Aamir Khan, who embodies a thief that’s committing crimes. Although “Dhoom 3” is a spectacular sequel, it isn’t a flawless movie. It suffers from an unoriginal story borrowing ideas from famous Hollywood movies. That being said, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of Aamir Khan.
“Dhoom 3” tells the story of a magician that commits crimes in a doomed city that cause adversity. Aamir Khan portrays Sahir, a bold circus performer with talents for committing crimes causing tension. Sahir has often got away with committing crimes without facing a price to pay. However, Sahir’s life changes when he is traced down by cops in pressure. A.C.P. Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) and his partner Ali (Uday Chopra) are a pair of cops determined to resolve crime. As all odds are stacked against his favour, Sahir questions if it is possible for him to commit crimes in a town facing disaster.
Vijay Krishna Acharya is fascinated with the action genre. A brilliant Bollywood director, Acharya has often made engaging movies about action heroes facing a dilemma. With “Dhoom 3”, however, Acharya directed his first ever sequel. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the hardships faced by cops in a doomed city but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Acharya captures a magician on journeys to commit crimes in a doomed city. Emulating Christopher Nolan’s “The Prestige”, Acharya successfully employs point of view shots to demonstrate magicians that have prestige. For instance, POV shots elevate the bank robbery scene. During this terrifying scene, Sahir commits crimes robbing a bank in the pursuit of a police officer. Through stunning POV shots, Acharya creates a portrait of a magician that’s compelling. POV shots are tricky techniques. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” suggested, POV shots elevate movies about friendships. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using captivating visuals, Acharya captures tensions that magicians are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Dhoom 3” that deserves appreciations is the production. From a technical perspective, it stands out as one of the best action moves ever made in India. Emulating Michael Mann’s “Heat”, Acharya effectively uses practical stunts to capture action sequences that involve heat. For instance, practical effects enhance the thief’s scene. During this memorable scene, Sahir engages in theft of precious jewels in pressure. Using stunning practical effects, Acharya creates a portrait of thieves that’s compelling. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the film an engrossing atmosphere capturing the painful burdens police officers bear. Through extraordinary production, Acharya captures police facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Dhoom 3” is a sequel that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses plot twists to capture tensions clever magicians are experiencing. Evoking Bryan Singer’s “The Usual Suspects”, Acharya deftly uses plot twists to capture tensions endured by murder suspects. For instance, the plot twists enhance the brother scene. During this surprising scene, Sahir reveals his secret of having a brother that commits crimes. Through plot twists, Acharya crafts a portrait of magicians that audiences can relate to. Plot twists are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Kunal Kohli’s “Fanaa” did suggest clearly, plot twists enhance movies about terrorism. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through a strong screenplay, Acharya captures thieves that experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Aamir Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Samir. Khan first earned praise playing heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Dhoom 3”, however, Khan took upon his most villainous role. It isn’t easy to play a magician that commits crimes in a doomed city, but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: intense, charismatic and utterly emotional in his most villainous role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and intelligence of a clever magician on missions. It’s an extraordinary performance from one of the most beloved actors in India today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Aamir Khan, the supporting cast is superb and also worthy of recognition. Abhishek Bachchan is brilliant, capturing the tension faced by a police officer seeking to resolve crimes in a city that faces destruction. Uday Chopra is captivating, bringing charisma to a cop that falls in love on a mission causing a dilemma. Lastly, Katrina Kaif merits praise. As an exuberant female dancer, she brings sexual tension to the movie.
Although “Dhoom 3” is a riveting Bollywood sequel, it isn’t a flawless film. At nearly 3 hours, it suffers from a lengthy running time that tests viewers’ patience. Subplots that focus on the lives of police aren’t as always engaging as the main journey. Moreover, the film lacks originality. Keeping with tradition of most Bollywood movies, the film steals a lot of its ideas from Hollywood. For instance, subplot about magicians seems taken from Christoper Nolan’s “The Prestige”. For these reasons, “Dhoom 3” can’t quite honour the most celebrated action franchise in Indian history.
Nevertheless, fans of Aamir Khan will enjoy “Dhoom 3” and so would movie-goers that seek engaging entertainment. A captivating sequel, it honours an actor that has built a legacy that’s special.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a clever thief committing crimes through the use of music, it’s a fantastic reminder of a truly iconic Indian actor that has created a heroic legacy through his abilities to play compelling characters in movies that have never lost their capability to captivate the public.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 