Pathaan Review: Led by charismatic performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, Pathaan is an unrestrained, slick, and thoroughly entertaining action thriller

Pathaan Movie Review Rating: 4.5/5

Yash Raj Films’ Pathaan has been grabbing headlines even before the makers officially announced the project in 2020. What kept the film in news all this while was the fact that it marks superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s silver screen comeback in a full-fledged role after more than four years. The superstar was last seen in Zero (2018), which he co-produced along with filmmaker Aanand L Rai. Also featuring Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif in prominent roles, the film failed to do any magic at the box office. The epic failure of Zero disheartened Khan so much that he did not sign any new project until Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan came his way. The high-profile film also reunites him with Deepika Padukone after their 2014 blockbuster outing Happy New Year. John Abraham also plays a pivotal role in the film. BollywoodMDB reviewer has seen the film and here is what he has to say about its highlights and drawbacks. Read the detailed review before booking your tickets for this mass entertainer.

STORY: After India, in a historic move, revokes the controversial article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the rogue Pakistani agent, Jim (John Abraham), sets out to seek vengeance against India. The ex-army man turned undercover agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan) is on a mission to stop Jim, but his challenges multiply when an unavoidable distraction presents itself in the form of ISI agent Rubina Khan (Deepika Padukone). Is she his foe or friend? Will Pathaan manage to save his country from the vicious plans of Jim? To know this and much more, watch the film in cinemas.

HIGHS & LOWS: Pathaan is an extremely ambitious film coming from the stable of Yash Raj Films, which is set to create its own Spy Universe. It marks superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback after four years and is worth every single penny. The biggest highlight of the film is, of course, SRK who lights up the screen with his charismatic performance. He carries the film on his shoulder and delivers an absolutely fantastic performance. The 57-year-old star also proves his mettle in well-choreographed action sequences.

Deepika Padukone is brilliantly cast and suits the character to the tee. She looks breathtaking on the screen. Her chemistry with Khan is sizzling. John Abraham also delivers a great performance and leaves his mark. He gets some of the best scenes in the film and, at times, overshadows the hero.

Talking about director Siddharth Anand, he very aptly handles the material at hand and justifies the presence of three popular stars. There is no denying the fact that the film will remind you of his previous blockbuster War (2019), but he powers Pathaan with more action, emotions, and patriotism.

Fans will find plenty to love in this well-executed action thriller as it promises to deliver witty dialogue, brutal violence, and a revenge story built for a truly explosive conclusion. The music of the film is good and so is the background score. In a nutshell, Pathaan is one of the most gorgeous films in recent memory, an engrossing and mesmerizing watch that can only be enjoyed on the big screen.

FINAL VERDICT: With Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan returns to dazzle the big screen with a bang. He delivers one of the massiest films of his career, powered by slick action sequences, beautifully shot songs, and an engaging plotline. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham's characters add more weightage to this star-studded vehicle. Khan's pairing with Padukone sets the silver screen on fire every single time they appear together. Salman Khan’s electric cameo is another major highlight of the film. In a nutshell, Pathaan is an absolute entertainer and a must-watch for all SRKians and film enthusiasts. I am going with 4.5 stars.

Watch Pathaan trailer:

MOVIE CREDITS:

Banner: Yash Raj Films

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham

Runtime: 146 Minutes