Don
2006 · Directed by Farhan Akhtar
Original language: Hindi
- action
- drama
- thriller
The story
DCP DeSilva sees a way to bring to justice the feared head of a criminal empire by recruiting a man named Vijay, who looks exactly like the crime boss. The ruse works too well, and soon Vijay finds his life in danger when DeSilva, the only one who knows his true identity, dies.
What it’s like
Glossy, stylised Bollywood crime with saturated night-time palettes: Mumbai streets smeared in sodium-orange and neon blue, hard shadows in dim warehouses and smoky clubs, and bright, slick costume-driven frames that shift into moody, low-lit interiors when the danger tightens. Camera work is kinetic, with swooping tracking shots, rapid cuts and punchy zooms, while the score runs on pulsing synth beats, heavy percussion and a few tender songs that slow everything down. The mood is brash and playful at the surface with a shadowy undertow of paranoia. It suits a late-night watch with friends or a loud, indulgent Friday, and it works as a lively comfort rewatch. Pacing is brisk and musical, with dance numbers breaking up tense sequences. A charming small-timer is pulled into a dangerous double life, and his swagger slowly curdles into wariness. Violence is frequent: gunfights, fistfights and chase scenes, with blood shown but not lingered on, and some drug-trade menace throughout. Suited to fans of stylish, star-driven crime capers.
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