Director: Siddharth Anand
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham
‘A Terrific Thriller’
Few actresses in Bollywood are as beloved as Deepika Padukone. Ever since her rise towards stardom in the 2000’s, Padukone has become one of the best actresses in the Indian industry. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, teenagers or women facing marriage disaster, Padukone has proven that she has the ability to portray many bold characters. Padukone’s finest strength as an actress is versatility. Through strong ability to portray characters in a variety of genres, Padukone has proven to be an iconic actress in India. She is one of those actresses that has the ability to command every scene through her strong presence. An actress with undeniable charisma, Padukone has become an icon in India. Throughout her career, Padukone has produced several unforgettable movies that are certainly worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Padukone and adore all the movies which she has created in her career. However, “Pathaan” definitely stands out as her most enjoyable film. Released in 2023, Siddharth Anand’s film offered a powerful portrait of spies. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and bold acting, it’s a spectacular spies blockbuster. At the centre of it is a fantastic performance by Deepika Padukone, who embodies a bold spy on a mission. Although “Pathaan” is a powerful blockbuster, it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to a formulaic conclusion without any satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment which would satisfy fans of Deepika Padukone.
“Pathaan” tells the story of a soldier that embarks upon a dangerous mission. Shah Rukh Khan portrays Pathaan, a dedicated agent with a strong devotion to his mission. Pathaan has always excelled at completing his missions without any problem. However, Pathaan’s life forever changes when he is given the opportunities to embark on a new adventure. Assisted by his newfound female companion (Rubina), Pathaan embarks on a dangerous expedition involving high risks in India. Introduced to a network of spies, he is soon forced to question his love for a career that he used to idolize. As all odds are soon stacked against his favour, Pathaan begins to wonder whether he is anymore possible for him to transform into a truly successful solider.
Siddharth Anand is fascinated with the tales of spies that are burdened. An extraordinary Indian filmmaker, Anand has often created engaging movies about spies which endure danger. His iconic film “War” offered a bold portrait of soldiers engaging in an epic war. With “Pathaan”, however, Anand created his first ever spy blockbuster. It’s the director’s first attempt to capture lives of spies facing adversity but he succeeded. Using stunning cinematography, Anand captures a spy on a journey to find his identity. Evoking Brian De Palma’s “Mission: Impossible”, Anand deftly uses handheld camerawork to capture spies on an impossible mission. For instance, the handheld camerawork elevates the mission scene. During this intense scene, Pathaan is engaging in a mission which involves a high degree of tension. Using handheld cameras, Anand creates a portrayal of spies which is engaging. Handheld camerawork is a tricky technique. As Farah Khan’s “Main Hoon Na” suggested, handheld camerawork elevates Bollywood films about army generals. That being said, it works immensely. Using strong visuals, Anand captures tensions that spies are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Pathaan” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive Bollywood action movies you will ever see. Emulating Mani Ratnam’s “Dil Se”, Anand expertly uses cross-cutting to stage music sequences capturing the price which terrorists must pay. For instance, the cross-cutting enhances the “Jhoome Jo Pathaan” song. During this memorable song, Pathaan expresses his strong views showcasing love for being a spy. Using cross-cutting, Anand creates music sequences that are engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Vishal-Shekhar’s music contributes towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the painful burden spies bear. Using strong production, Anand captures spies embarking on a tense mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Pathaan” is an action blockbuster which is engaging. Amidst thrilling action, the movie finds time for great character development. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses monologues to capture tensions spies on a mission experience. For instance, the monologues elevate the spies scene. During this memorable scene, Pathaan delivers an emotional monologue expressing his strong devotion to being a spy. Through engaging monologues, Anand creates a portrait of an agent audiences can relate to. Monologues are complex techniques to use in movies. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” suggested, monologues enhance Bollywood films about dysfunctional families. However, it works immensely in this movie. Through a fantastic screenplay, Anand captures spies facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Deepika Padukone delivers one of her best performances as Rubina. Padukone earned appreciation for playing romantic heroines in Bollywood. With “Pathaan”, however, the actress took on her most complex role. It’s not easy to embody a female spy enduring adversity but she succeeds tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and utterly emotional in her most iconic role. With bold expressions, she embodies courage, grief and resilience of a female spy on missions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the finest actresses in India.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Padukone, the supporting cast is stellar and worthy of appreciation. John Abraham is phenomenal, bringing charisma to a fierce villainous spy embarking upon a mission in India. Shah Rukh Khan is superb, capturing the dedication of a spy seeking to embark on missions which prove frightening. Lastly, Dimple Kapadia is worthy of recognition. As an elderly female spy, she is unforgettable.
Despite fantastic performances, however, “Pathaan” can’t quite capture the barriers spies fight. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s a formulaic conclusion that has become very common to see in Bollywood action movies. At worst, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about terrorism which aren’t true to reality. Shah Rukh Khan’s best movies thrive based on their strong endings, and in this regard “Pathaan” falls short.
Nevertheless, fans of Deepika Padukone will definitely love “Pathaan” and so will movie-goers seeking tense entertainment. A bold Bollywood action blockbuster, it celebrates a legendary Indian actress.
Nearly 3 years following the release of an iconic Bollywood blockbuster about a spy embarking on missions that terrify, it’s an exceptional reminder of a legendary Indian actress that has earned a big fan following through an ability to portray larger than life characters in memorable movies that have never lost abilities to satisfy.
4/5 stars
