When the Abhinav Kashyap-directed Dabangg came out in 2010, Salman Khan's flippant, brash, disposition proved to be a delightful fit for the comic chops and audacious antics of cop Chulbul Pandey. With a punch and a line, 'Robin hood' Pandey swaggered his way into pop culture.

The only reason to watch the third edition of Dabangg is to see if Chulbul Pandey urf Salman Khan still has any 'chulbulahat' left in him, that thing that made the first two fairly enjoyable despite their utterly predictable arcs. But this one, which has a long back-story of how Chulbul came to be called Chulbul, is not just a dreary mish-mash of the previous ones; it's also a cringe-fest.

When the story of a film gets described in thus: 'Third instalment of Dabangg series', or is not even mentioned, in website after website, you are well prepared for how crucial a role the script and writing would play in the film. Dabangg 3 has a wisp of a story told in a tawdry, slipshod way. It depends entirely on the goodwill and popularity of the original and the star power of Salman Khan to sail through. The ride, however, remains choppy for the viewer.

Marvel and DC have made a fortune with backstories of their most loved (and sometimes hated) characters. So, circa 2019, are we ready for one about Chulbul Pandey? Salman Khan ne bola toh of course we are. Chulbul Pandey and his story moves from Laalgunj to Kanpur to Tundla, all in Uttar Pradesh, in the third instalment of the Dabangg franchise.

DABANGG 3 is the story of a badass cop. Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan) is now the SP of a town named Tundla. As soon as he arrives, he nabs a bandman-turned-goon Guddu (Nawab Shah) and reforms him. He then busts a human trafficking racket under Chinti Valia (Dolly Bindra). The kingpin of this business is Bali Singh (Kichcha Sudeepa). As soon as Chulbul finds out about this aspect, he goes into a shock.

If you're a fan of Salman Khan, this one should be on top of your list this festival season. Leave your thinking caps behind if you want your money's worth because Dabangg 3 is an outright masala entertainer with many moments that'll make you laugh, peppered with social messages and scenes that celebrate the glory of Bollywood's favourite Bhaijaan, Salman Khan.

The surprising parts first. There are a lot of revelations in Dabangg 3. Ever since the film has been announced, there has been a considerable amount of excitement among Salman Khan and the franchise's fans to see how one of Bhai's most celebrated and charming characters became what he is. The journey of Chulbul Pandey to Inspector Chulbul Pandey was set to take the cinematic nation by amazement.

Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan) saves the day while a local goon loots a wedding. The local goon works for someone, who works for a powerful mafia-head Bali (Sudeep). As Chulbul gets to know about this, we are taken on a trip down the memory lane. We get to know the vulnerable side of this quirky cop. We're taken to the journey of how a good for nothing Dhaakad Pandey turns to everyone's favourite Chulbul Pandey.

Can you imagine the irony of it all? As the focus is on protests and the police's reaction to it across the country, we get a movie eulogising a fictional cop who beats, maims and slaps criminals, his subordinates and general public at whim? But that's the charm of Salman Khan and the police. You are advised by well-meaning people to 'cut them some slack' despite their infractions.

Early in Dabangg 3, Salman Khan's character is chatting with his subordinates when he makes what may seem like a throwaway remark, "...hum class aur mass, dono ke liye kaam karte hai" (I work for the classes and the masses). Since "class" and "mass" are words used by the Hindi film industry to informally categorise sections of the audience, this is obviously more than just a casual comment - it is an allusion to Khan's success across social strata since he turned out the blockbuster Wanted in 2009.

DABANGG 3 - The third installment is an escapist delight a moment of joy for the diehard Salmaniacs. A complete OTT massy escapist fun. Chulbul is here to please his fandom and 'bhai' does it with aplomb. Prabhu Deva designs it to please Salman Khan fans and the lovers of larger than life action dhamaka. Solid action, clap worthy dances and seeti maar climax.

#ChulbulPandey is back with a bang... #Dabangg3 is an out-and-out #Salman show... #PrabhuDheva focusses on mass and masala... Interval block and climax fight terrific... #KichchaSudeepa excellent.

This is the third instalment of the 'Dabangg' franchise, and the audience is well-acquainted with the larger-than-life, lovable cop and his world. Chulbul (Salman) spends his average day romancing his wife Rajjo (Sonakshi), troubling his brother Makkhi (Arbaaz) and fighting and reforming goons.

Nine years ago, director Abhinav Kashyap persuaded Salman Khan to play a parodic version of himself. The action comedy Dabangg created one of Khan's most endearing characters - the suave and charming rogue cop Chulbul Pandey, who was deft with both punches and punchlines.

Director Prabhu Deva, enthused no doubt by the stellar presence of the film's trump card Salman Khan, crams Dabangg 3 with components that were put to the test in the previous two instalments of the franchise. Stale as these ingredients are, familiarity cannot but be reassuring for the fans of a Bollywood superstar who defies age and romances a debutante barely out of her teens.