Match fixing and betting is not new to cricket lovers and film audience. Even in some of our Hindi films, we have seen the script based on such malpractices. But, in latest released Hindi film ‘Dishoom’ they have gone one step forward to show the kidnapping of one top Indian cricketer, by a bookie, after the so called semi finals in a tournament, happening somewhere in Dubai or Sharjah . His intention is clear, to allow Pakistan to win the finals, to recover his previous losses.
But, cricket being the religion of India and the top cricketers being very popular among Indian cricket fans, the external affairs ministry of India takes a stand to trace the abducted cricketer within 36 hours, before the finals. So, a well built intelligent cop Kabir Shergil ( John Abraham) is selected and deputed to trace him. With the help of local police of that country and selecting a junior Indian origin Police officer Junaid Ansari ( Varun Dhavan) , Kabir goes as per his intelligence plans, to trace the culprit and spoils his plans.
Directed by Rohit Dhavan , brother of Varun Dhavan, the film has obviously given more scope to Varun Dhavan to perform his comedy, in this otherwise action packed thriller. His character is somewhat similar to that of Uday Chopra in Dhoom 2, to entertain the audience, besides assisting Kabir Shergil in his mission. The film does present a lead actress in the form of Ishika(Jacqueline Fernandez) , but there is no typical love story happening between her and these two heroes. The director has instead focussed more on predictable action drama, which has been noticed in many Hindi films released in the past. So, you find a typical villain in the form of Akshaye Khanna, who has returned to Hindi cinema after a long time. Akshay Kumar and Pariniti Chpora surprise with their cameo appearance in the film. John Abraham suits in the role of dashing kabir, while Varun Dhavan has done his job well, as a comedian, to offer light entertainment.
The film does have many such sequences, which are beyond logic. The two sequences about dislocation of cricketer’s shoulder and his recovery method is beyond convincing. These should even surprise our Physiotherapists and Orthopaedics surgeons. Similarly, kabir and Junaid entering the hide out of the captor and escaping from there along with Ishika is very unrealistic. Music is on the style of 90s films of Bollywood. But, Cinematography by Ayananka Bose is good. But, still the film offers ordinary and predictable form of entertainment besides action.
Rating (**1/2)