Salman Khan seems to have found his niche. Call it brainless or paisa vasool cinema, he has nailed the formula to draw in the crowds and get the cash registers ringing. ‘Bodyguard’ follows the formula, gets a combination of guffaws, action, sensitive moments and a gasps out of you, but most importantly gives you what this kind of cinema promises to give you: an escape, albeit not a complete one.
Not in the same league as ‘Wanted’ and ‘Dabangg’, but more in the league of ‘Ready’, the film profiles Lovely Singh, a bodyguard and a chip off the old block. He owes his life to Sartaj Rana, an important man in Jaisinghpur, who saves Lovely’s pregnant and injured mother from the accident that claims his father. Lovely is assigned to protect Rana’s daughter Divya, who is under threat of being killed.
Divya, in order to get Lovely off her back starts a series of crank calls to his mobile pretending to be a girl called Chaya. She succeeds in melting his heart, but realizes that she is falling for him. If she reveals her true identity to him, she fears both his and her father’s refusal. How she manages this is what the story reveals.
Comedy is an important element of this genre and it makes up for the lack of logic. Sadly, barring a few moments, the comedy in the film disappoints. A crass comic performance by Rajat Rawail fails to evoke even a smile at times. The script is thin, but that is to be expected, although the film picks up in the 2nd half, with an interesting twist in the end, which makes you feel that justice has been done. Siddique’s direction is very South cinema, with its quicksilver action, vigorous dancing and a peppy soundtrack to boot. Himesh Reshamiyya, a find of the Salman Khan family gives us a good song in Aya re Aya Bodyguard and is backed up by Pritam with I Love You.
The film is Salman Khan’s by design and it doesn’t disappoint if you like machismo. From bulging his biceps in rhythm, to breaking bones, wooing his woman in a deep baritone and getting you going with his deadpan humor, he is the complete entertainment package. He is unfortunately not supported by good writing. Kareena Kapoor looks lovely in simple Indian clothes and surprisingly has matching screen time with the Khan, which she uses to good effect and holds her own.
‘Bodyguard’ huffs and puffs its way to give some spicy moments, but it isn't gourmet masala.