Much later in 2006, Farhan Akhtar and Shah Rukh Khan recreated the character of Don, and the audiences loved him. [break]
It took the makers 5 years to come up and release the sequel, Don 2, a unique franchise of the Indian film industry, one which would contend with international crime fiction movies.
Don 2 sadly lacks in story, performance and plot creativity.
The plot of the film picks up 5 years after the last film. Don now wears a rugged look with long curly hair and flaunting a “D” tattoo on his right forearm.
A cigarette smoking persona, who delivers cocky dialogs, Don (Shah Rukh Khan) this is time has more style, is fuming and deals with the worst of enemies. European drug lords have united to exterminate Don for fear of him taking over their business.
Don as expected escapes their plotted assassination but surprisingly gives himself up to the Interpol and Roma (Priyanka Chopra).
The self submission later we learn is one of the many plans of his that fall perfectly in place. He, in prison, convinces Vardaan (Boman Irani) his mortal enemy from the last film to accompany him in his plan.
The plan is to escape prison follow another of Don’s plans and be billionaires for life. Don puts up a team for the heist that includes two of his enemies and a seemingly vulnerable computer hacker with some good in his heart, Sameer (Kunal Kapoor). Amidst all of this, Roma and Interpol are inching closer to Don.
If Bollywood is to challenge its western counterpart in the sequel business, the stakes ought to be higher starting with proper story lines.
Only a receiving a Carte blanche from the producers won’t do. At times the film gives you hints of Ocean’s Eleven and the Mission Impossible movies but Don 2 has nothing of their edge of the seat thrill, the captivating storyline or the comic effects.
During the 2 hours and 26 minutes Don takes you around the world. He journeys from Thailand to Malaysia to Zurich and Kuala Lumpur and finally to Berlin all the while against a fantastic backdrop for the audiences to savor.
The canvas of the film is huge and Jason West’s cinematography is without a doubt the best part of the film.
Technically the film is superb. There is a scene where Don jumps off a skyscraper and glides down although reminding you of Tom Cruise in the last Mission: Impossible.
The screenplay disappoints. Frahan Akhtar, Ameet Mehta and Ambrish Shah fail to deliver.
Also as the director Frahan Akhtar, the promising young actor-director of Dil Chata Hain has challenged himself to tackle the new adventures of Don which would establish the franchise and make room for newer installments. Direction wise Akthar has managed to maintain an overall brisk pace for the film.
Anand Subaya’s editing is in some places gives room for complains as a few seem extended and lethargic. Take for instance the extended special appearance scene of Hritik Roshan, it seems as though Roshan’s superstar stature dominates the overall flow of the film.
Other short scenes in the prison, the bank, and different outdoor locations are praiseworthy.
Don 2 is the first sequel in Shah Rukh Khan’s two decade long film career. Acting wise he is the life of the movie. Although a super-villain Khan does the role with so much ease and fervor that’s its impossible to hate this goon.
We must mention, however, that there are moments in the film where the melodramatic Shah Rukh overpowers the Don.
Other actors are only to hover around the mighty Don. Boman Irani has the meatiest of roles considering others have nothing to do.
The CBI officer Vishal Malik (Om Puri) although, ranked among the finest actors of Indian Cinema has been offered very less screen space.
Priyanka as the tough cop looks pathetic as she does almost nothing apart from one fight sequence. The ‘junglee billi’ as the Don refers to her has a love-hate relationship with the Don which is left unexplored.
Lara Dutta as the Don’s muse is a cameo but adds glamour to the scene each time she appears.
Looks wise Don is unbeatably stylish. He wears tailored suits, jackets and scarves, his wardrobe designed by New York-based designer Jaimal Odedra.
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s made up the music department. There are no great numbers like the first film, but the 1970s original background score mixed with modern sound gives it all the background support it requires.
Overall, Don 2 rides on the star power of Shah Rukh Khan. The film is ok for a one time watch owing to the fantastic technical treatment.
Screening at QFX Cinemas
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