Apne

Sometimes actors who8217;ve worked together re-unite to deliver a fresh, unexpected movie. And sometimes a totally new combination turns predictable. Apne pulls off a casting coup, with Dharmendra and Sunny-Bobby playing screen papaji and puttars for the first time, but there are no surprises in the film.

Failed heavyweight champ Dharmendra tries to regain lost crown and glory through his sons. One can8217;t Bobby, because of a bachpan ki chot which has left one hand useless, and the other won8217;t Sunny, because he wants to keep very far away from the sport which hurt his father so deeply.

You know how it will end, just the way we knew how Anil Sharma8217;s monster hit Gadar would end. Daddyji, a mix of Punjabi pride and softness will hold the fort, Bobby will provide able support, and Sunny will pulverize the opposition, in the shape of a hefty black boxer trying very hard to be Tyson.

Meanwhile we get all the Anil Sharma specials. Characters who love each other and Bharat mata with equal passion. Locations in Punjab and its outposts, Canada and the US, sobbing sisters Divya Dutta, steely mothers Kirron, who now probably sleeps with a parandi in her guth, having become the doyenne of Punjabi matrons, and standing-staunchly-by-their-men wives and girl-friends Shilpa in patiala salwaars, and Katrina in rimmed glasses.

As is the way of the world, according to the director, it8217;s the men who do all the moving and shaking. And a lot of that8217;s done, surprisingly professionally for a Bollywood movie, in the ring. Bobby does a fairly good job of donning the gloves, winning the fights, and keeping things warm for bade bhaiya. Sunny is Sunny, who can8217;t be beaten in the swinging fists and snarling department, but who8217;s stopped doing anything new long back. It8217;s left to the ageing Dharmendra to carry the movie as much as he can, emotions at full tilt but with his endearing charm intact. He is older, he8217;s seen life, and he8217;s still a star.