Director Ali Abbas Zafar had a tough task to take the helm of a Salman Khan Eid offering. The audience is expecting a big feast… And the film delivers a tasty one! It has broken the fast of empty cinemas with an onslaught of advance bookings, and is full all weekend!

The story is simple yet powerful. Thankfully, there is no gender bias present. Salman re-invents himself, though age isn’t always on his side in many shots. But he is relentless. Producer Aditya Chopra has tapped his winning formula; Make him humble, kind and goofy. He is all that, with a Haryanvi accent which doesn’t get annoying. His journeys of transformations carries the film to its climax.

Anushka Sharma is the perfect match for Salman in the film. She matches his intensity, is independent and her own person. Her character is very well written, a strong woman with a mission.

Amit Sadh starts of as a corporate dude and ends up a man with a heart. Randeep Hooda propels the film forward, giving Salman a new lease of life in his second round against life. His third and final round, becomes a challenge for all of us, where the climax connects directly to each individual.

Fight scenes leave an impact, but would have been stronger with a shorter film length. Songs were varied, one or two not required, but the title song was memorable. The film maintained an individual route, never becoming melodramatic or patriotic, which was its biggest strength.

A perfect family film for Eid, an important message for boys/girls, men/women, parents/children in our country and a life lesson for all of us to fight our arrogance, pride, failings and fears.

3.5/5