Movie Review - Raees by Suhel Johar

Raees Fails To Deliver The Goods
 

 

The film tells a fictitious story of a cruel and clever bootlegger, Raees, played by Shah Rukh Khan whose business is highly challenged by a tough cop Majumdar played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Although inspired by the real life story of the notorious Gujarat bootlegger Abdul Latif, the makers of Raees have had to deny that it was a film based on a true story after the son of  Abdul Latif, Mushtak, sent them a legal notice, asking how or why a film on his father's life was being made. He even demanded ₹101 crore as compensation.

Set in early 1970's to 1990's Gujarat, Raees is about a boy with humble beginnings, who sets up an empire by smuggling contraband. All he has going for him are his wits and insatiable ambition. He has a loyal sidekick Sadiq (played by Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) who has been with him right from the time they were kids. The story explores how Raees' relationships and meteoric rise helped him build an entire empire from scratch, to make him the single most powerful man in the state. He is portrayed as less of a gangster but more of a Robin Hood, Raees gains popularity, a cult following and most importantly the public's trust by demonstrating entrepreneurial flair, imaginative determination to achieving his goals and ironically a heart of gold. His layered character traits summarize an inimitable blend of personas, making him revered, loved and feared. He is overtly touchy about being called “Battery”, slang for someone who wears spectacles. Always thinking ahead of the curve and using revolutionary ideas of management which were unheard of during his time. He bribes, kills, goes to jail, turns benevolent towards locals, and decides to run for elections to ensure his release and escape a possible encounter while in the jail. Raees eliminates every opposition that comes his way. In between his business Raees gets time to romance Razia (Mahira Khan).. He continues to grow in his business and his growth invites more enemies than friends. However, his downfall is caused by a no-nonsense police officer Majumdar, whose sole reason for existence is the elimination of crime. What ensues next is a tumultuous battle between the two, which forms a key defining element of the film's narrative.

But what kills the film are its sluggish pace and an incoherent predictable script. Plots and characters are often left without rhyme or reason. The second half is more introspective and broody as Raees falls into hard times thanks to his big ambitions and scheming politicians who manipulate him. He is angry but lost. The movie starts sagging under the weight of his do-gooder persona. To say that the writing is poor and unoriginal would be an understatement. By the time it wades into certain true events, it is left with too little time and meaning. As a result Raees Alam fails in getting the emotional connect and the sympathy of the audience, the underprivileged.

Majumdar and Raees do indulge in some interesting hide and seek games from time to time making you feel that all is not lost but the banal script keeps letting it sink deeper and deeper. All said and seen Raees ends up as a routine crime drama.

The magic of Shah Rukh Khan can be felt in bits and pieces. But all his efforts turn waste because his character Raees fails to get the sympathy of the audience especially during the final reels. Despite being a SRK showcase it is Nawazuddin Siddiqui who takes the top honours. He is a delight to watch and makes things livelier whenever he is on the screen. Mahira Khan just about passes muster. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, quietly intense as Raees’ friend and second-in-command, Sadiq has put in a commendable performance. Narendra Jha and Atul Kulkarni are good.

Rahul has captured Gujarat well and that is all that can be said about his directorial skills in the movie. Rahul Dholakia, Harit Mehta, Niraj Shukla and Ashish Vashi share the uninspired writing credits. The background score and the action sequence are effective. But the same cannot be said about Ram Sampath's songs. Deepa Bhatia's editing could have been more crisper.

Raees, unarguably is one of the most controversial film to release in recent times but all that may not help its cause much to garner extra footfalls into the movie halls. It may work for you if you’re a SRK fan and treat yourself to a few glimpse of SRK’s magic and Nawazudin’s Inspector Majmudar act.