Bachchhan Paandey: A Mess of a Film

Plot

Bachchhan Paandey is a scattershot action comedy about a psychopathic gangster in the badlands of north India and a budding filmmaker who decides to attempt a biopic on the dreaded killer at great risk to her life and limb.

Direction

The film is helmed by Farhad Samji, whose directorial credits include Housefull 4, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, also credited as a contributor to the story. The film fails to deliver the goods consistently, and despite an interesting plot, it falls way short of expectations.

Acting

Akshay Kumar leads the cast as Bachchhan Paandey, a cold-blooded criminal, with a performance that doesn't quite hit the mark. Kriti Sanon, Arshad Warsi, and Jacqueline Fernandez also feature in the film, but none of them really stands out due to the movie's muddled screenplay.

Cinematography

The cinematographer, Gavemic U. Ary, captures open, dusty expanses as well as smoke-filled, cramped interiors with equal felicity but it is all in the service of a film that dabbles only in broad strokes on a rough-hewn canvas.

Sound

The sound in the film is almost overwhelming, with constant swishing of knives, stomach-churning violence, and a background score that fails to deliver the intended effect.

Overall

Bachchhan Paandey fails to impress, and while it does have its moments, the film ultimately comes across as a waste of time. The movie's attempts at action comedy mostly fall flat, and the violence on screen is brutal and jarring. Fans of Akshay Kumar might enjoy his performance, but in the end, this messy film will not linger with audiences for long.

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