Dabangg
2010 · Directed by Abhinav Kashyap
Original language: Hindi
- action
- comedy
- crime
The story
A troubled relationship with his younger half-brother and stepfather compels Chulbul Pandey to become a corrupt but fearless cop whose life changes when he locks horns with a corrupt political leader.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated small-town India in the middle of the day: dusty lanes glowing under hard sun, mustard fields, bright kurtas and gaudy police jeeps, all shot with a glossy digital sheen that keeps every colour loud. The camera moves with brisk zooms and quick cuts, and the action is staged for big, cheerful spectacle, with slow-motion punches and tongue-in-cheek sound cues in place of anything grim. Sound is pure Bollywood pop: brassy dance numbers, thudding beats, and sudden comic stings. The vibe is swaggering, playful and larkish, a big-screen wink more than a brooding crime drama. Violence is frequent and stylised, all fistfights, chases and gunfire with no real gore, though some villains meet rough ends and romance and family rows are played with melodrama. Pacing is brisk, with song breaks breaking up the action at regular intervals. It suits a loud Saturday night with friends, or a light, escapist watch when you want charisma and spectacle rather than subtlety. It is for viewers who enjoy masala entertainment: a larger-than-life hero, comic bravado and colourful, unapologetic excess.
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