Review of Raees (2017) by Drron P — 27 Jan 2017

Rating - 3 / 5.

Raees directed by Rahul dholakia is a commendable comeback into Shahrukh khan's post My name is khan filmography. Here in Raees Shahrukh plays a gujrati bootlegger in the 1980s whose life may have been inspired by gangster Abdul latif. As a kid he is a mule for the illicit liquor mafia and then he grows on to become a robust gangster who controls the booze trade. He is short tempered and begrudged when someone calls him battery. He bootlegs alcohol in and out of the state where alcohol is prohibited. The sheer reason of him withholding this business is because of what he was taught as kid "koi bhi dhanda chota nai hota....". The first half is enticing and keeps you invested but rahul dholakia lets it slip completely in the second half with a shoddy screenplay. Post interval Shahrukh's character Raees suddenly becomes a likeable character and seems like a messiah for the people who is ready to help everybody in pain and thus more likely sending us a message that he is not a villain but someone standing up in the corrupt system with his corrupt ways. Then there is a corrupt minister who sends Raees behind bars assuring him he will get him out once situation cools down making it all too predictable and boring. However with Nawazuddin siddiqui who plays cop mazmudar has some terrific one-liners leaves you stunned with his brilliance. His character is such that its pretty difficult to even imagine someone else doing it. The best part altogether are the scenes between majmudar and raees which keeps you invested and root for both. The supporting cast is let down by underwritten roles of both Atul kulkarni and zeeshan ayub. Mahira khan's role is also a easy meat and does not tell much about her acting prowess. But its Shahrukh khan who gives his career's best performance since My name is Khan and is the star power of the movie. He fails to miss a beat throughout the film be it the shootout scenes or the breakdown scene of his in the climax. Although the film is overlong and the screenplay is bits and pieces joined together ,nevertheless it is still a great watch and a treat for Shahrukh khan's Fans. Kind of a film which the fans of the superstar had been waiting for way too long but finally it is there.