The Internet is inundated with memes around Radhe, Salman “Bhai” Khan’s latest Eid offering. One cartoon shows people who violate lockdown being forced to watch the film as punishment; the Vigil Idiot has done its famous sticky figure-takedown/ review; and at least one Twitter thread offers snarky commentary on the film’s forgettable scenes. So, what is it about Khan’s film that has everyone appalled?
The dim-witted heroine
As if it wasn’t bad enough that the film has a 55-year-old hero romancing a 28-year-old heroine (Disha Patani), the makers took it a step lower and made her memorable solely for her daftness. Diya’s obliviousness to Radhe’s true identity and overtly enthusiastic ways tests the audience’s patience. Patani’s job entails spending a chunk of the film calling Salman’s Radhe “Bholu” and “Cute boy”.
The humiliation of Jackie Shroff
If there’s one actor to feel sorry for in this hour-and 50-minute-long action un-entertainer, it is Jackie Shroff, who has been given some of the most unintentionally hilarious scenes. In one of them, he replaces his sister, Patani, to dance in a short dress with Salman Khan. It’s truly the stuff of nightmares.
Salman Khan in an all-too-familiar avatar
Old habits die hard. With Khan, the tricks which once enamoured a legion of fans, now feel dated and lack the power punch. They include a bare-chested Bhai; some dialogue-baazi in first person; at least two songs with questionable choreography and action sequences where stunt men drop like flies without putting up a fight. Bhai, though, appears to be getting a tad wiser with age. In one scene, instead of running to chase down a baddie, he opts for a bicycle which, of course, is from his Being Human brand.
Mockery of Mumbai Police
“Department ko tumhari zaroorat hai (the department needs you),” says a senior police officer to Radhe, the encounter specialist, while revoking his suspension. What follows is Radhe stepping up to help Mumbai Police handle the drug epidemic destroying the city’s youth. Given this is a Salman Khan film, the force soon becomes a Radhe-worshipping club, with subordinates taking selfies with him and chanting “Party! Party!” after he leads a successful operation.
That ’80s show
Watching Radhe often feels like watching a trite 1980s flick, especially when you have characters spouting lines like “Tumhara kaam ho jaayega [your will be done]”. The plotline has a chor-police feel with Bhai chasing drug lord Rana (Randeep Hooda) who, when all else fails, in an entirely unimaginative move, kidnaps Radhe’s ladylove. The Radhe vs Rana battle is dragged on with one action set piece after another until the makers run out of ideas on how to keep Bhai’s fans sated. The best thing about the ending is that, unlike other Salman films—Race, Dabangg and Ek Tha Tiger—the chances of Radhe becoming a franchise are minimal.
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