Movie Review-BOSS

Tagline: Don’t Fear…..The BOSS is here!

Preview: Boss Akshay Kumar is back with a film that's made for the single-screen audience. It is apparently a remake of Malayalam movie Pokkiri Raja starring Mammotty, Prithviraj and Shriya Saran. The rural setting, the hero's rustic personality, the action sequences wherein the hero alone, unbelievably, fights a bunch of gundas, shouts out loud claiming nobody should angry him, cars flying & blasting in the sky – Presenting you a Masalathon for the masses.…….!

Box Office Expectations: Does BOSS have the potential to hit the pot of gold & boss over the BO? Will BOSS bring respite for an industry that's awaiting glorious results this festive season? In fact, post Besharam blues are so high amongst the audience that something really big has to happen in theatres to bring the B-Town out of depression. Hence, if BOSS turns out to be even reasonably entertaining, it is all set to be grabbed by the audience. The promos of BOSS are emitting positive vibes & thanks to the soundtrack finding flavour, happy days could be back again. Given the kind of ‘masala’ that the film carries, one expects a fun filled film by Anthony D’Souza. The critics are least likely to tag this one as a quality film, but then, going by the past records, the single-screen audience that loves to whistle at the hero's entry, applaud endlessly at all his action sequences & almost jump out of their seats when he's dancing –  they might just become Akshay's saviour.

Release Strategy: Boss is released today (October 16) worldwide & is the first Indian movie released in Latin America & Panama market. It will be released in Panama, Peru, Denmark and France in addition to the 400 screens already announced across Europe, North America, South East Asia and Australia. The film has been hyped well, the buzz is good, the promos promise a ‘desi’ entertainer & the release is going to be massive. Of course, it would ultimately all boil down to the content, which has always been the case. Like Besharam, BOSS too doesn't have a competitor to contend with, has a mid-week release making it a 5 day weekend. A massive release in India & also in the international markets coupled with a 5-day weekend, besides holidays (Wed.16th Oct., Fri.18thOct.), should ensure an impressive weekend for the film.

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Aditi Rao Hydari, Shiv Pandit, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa, Johny Lever, Parikshit Sahani, Ronit Roy, Harry Josh, Sonakshi Sinha (Item Number), Prabhu Dheva (Cameo)

Director: Anthony D’Souza……This is his 2nd outing, he debuted with a bomb (disaster) ‘BLUE’…..overhyped & low on content…..Let’s see what he delivers this time.

Duration: 144 Minutes

Movie Review: Satyakant Shastri (Mithun Chakraborty) unknowingly kills a teenager & his eldest son, Surya later known as Boss (Akshay Kumar), takes the blame on himself & goes to jail (without Satyakant knowing about the truth) After serving his term, Satykant banishes him from his life who then moves to another city where he is taken under his wings by Big Boss (Danny Denzongpa). Time flies & after 15 years, Satyakant's younger son, Shiv (Shiv Pandit), bashes up the Home Minister's (Govind Namdeo’s) son Vishal (Aakash Dabhade), who's harassing Ankita (Aditi Rao Hydari), the sister of ACP Ayushmaan Thakur (Ronit Roy). ACP entagles Shiv in the false charge & tries to kill him as well, but stops after being told by the Home Minister. Ankita’s fiancé Vishal hires Boss to kill his own brother Shiv. Hereafter, Boss is a story which balances family reunion, Father-son relationship & love. How Boss overcomes the evil in form of the ACP & Home Minister & still manages to reunite with his forlorn family forms the crux of the climax.

Half Analysis: The start to first half is slow & the story takes 30 minutes to build before the BOSS makes the entry & thereafter, the film really takes off. The 2nd half is more entertaining & longish & is a showcase reel for Akshay’s talent. He is the solid magnetizing factor & entertains you wholesomely.

Story, Screenplay & Dialogues: There is usually nothing called script in Masala Entertainers, but this one has. The most surprising thing in this masala entertainer is the presence of a cohesive screenplay without a dull moment. There was right amount of emotional chords present in the movie on Father-son bonding. There are lots many pleasurable moments which manage to make sure that you never get bored. The dialogues are different & cater to the masses in the Haryanvi dialect with some one-liners being too good.

Performances: Akshay Kumar is the soul & lifeline of Boss. I personally like Akshay playing different kinds of characters this season (Oh My God, Special 26, OUATIMD & now BOSS), of course, OUATIMD didn't work, but what is praiseworthy is that Akshay is really pushing the envelope. Also, there was a constant smile on my face after Akshay's entry & it occasionally changed into a wide grin but never changed into a guffaw. This one didn't seem buffoonery on part of Akshay from any angle, the trailers had given vibes of Khiladi 786, another Akshay entertainer but with heights of Fukrapanti, but thankfully, it spares u the part. The surprise package of the film is the Villain Ronit Roy, who leaves you yearning for more in a role which could have been longer. He is the worthy nemesis to Akshay, who does the menacing act with flourish making it absolutely loathsome. Mithun Chakraborty appears idealistic & sincere. Danny Denzongpa is as always reliable. Parikshat Sahni, Shiv Pandit, Aditi Rao Hydari, Govind Namdeo, Aakash Dabhade  all are decent, since the film belongs to Boss, rest all others are sidelined mostly.   

Music: The music is already a hit with many songs becoming the flavour of the season especially Party All Night. This soundtrack with multiple composers & lyricists at the helm of affairs is largely an entertaining affair with the songs being effortlessly sprightly. Most songs are high on powerful entertaining zing. They aren’t a masterpiece but the songs will ensure you have a good time.

DOP & other Technical Aspects: The film has a very colourful & vibrant look throughout & is soothing to the eyes. The locales have been good. A few scenes worth mentioning are the Akshay’s entry scene, the Temple Chase sequence, the Dargah Sequence & the Climax of course. In one line, Faadu Scenes……

Editing & Direction: The editing is crisp & sharp. There is hardly any dull sequence after Boss’s Entry leaving you entertained fully. The Direction is good & Anthony D’souza bounces back after his debacle BLUE.

Conclusion: The expectations are not so huge, but nevertheless Akshay is a Superstar. BOSS is a full-on masala entertainer, a perfect example of a fast food flick having made its intentions clear in the trailers only. It is intended to bring in hordes of commercial cinema lovers & thereby wooing the Box Office. Its appeal lies in making Akshay Kumar play to the gallery. Akshay’s approach to the character in BOSS is way different from what he enacted in his earlier masalathons.  It's his style that makes you smile, no matter how corny the one-liners. He climbs the walls at a lightning speed like a Spiderman, jumps over rooftops, trucks & makes his way in a crowded place by walking over the heads of his enemies. He makes gravity-defying stunts look believable. Clearly, he's the mainstay of the enterprise. Also, he looks much more different than his previous fares.  Watch this one -- it's a paisa vasool entertainer!

Final Say: Summing it up, All in all, Boss works & the strong magnetizing factor is Akshay Kumar…..Go for it, if u love masala entertainers….3*.......The Boss is Always Right.

Statutory Warning: The lovers of good cinema can pleasingly stay away from this Masalathon rather than bashing it up, morally & metamorphically. There is no movie for you guys in this festive season from now leading up to the New Year…So, see you in New Year 2014.

Box Office Opening: Boss received a great response across the country. The film recorded an overwhelming Day 1 Occupancy at the box office. The morning shows in select single screens were almost completely occupied; the advance booking has ensured nearly 85-90% occupancy in most single screens & multiplexes across India. Releasing on a semi holiday, because of Bakr-Eid, the film is expected to open well overseas as well. Laden with star value, the film witnesses the return of actor Akshay Kumar’s star power on screen which had been rather low this year. A typical masala flick of an entertainer, the film will easily have an impactful opening at the domestic box office! The footfalls are expected to increase in the evening and night shows!