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International KhiladiA typical filmi oxymoron: He's a don, and a dreaded killer although there's little proof to substantiate such lofty...

International Khiladi

A typical filmi oxymoron: He8217;s a don, and a dreaded killer although there8217;s little proof to substantiate such lofty designations barring a couple of ridiculous-bordering-on-obscene fights with female wrestlers. He8217;s the elected chairman of a global conglomerate of underworld wig-bigs8217;. But he8217;s also a snow-white, starched-and-gelled-to-perfection Mr Good with a heart of 24k gold. As always, there8217;s a suitably painful past to justify his choice of profession. And there8217;s also a loyal girlfriend who latches on to him despite his abominable credentials.

Actually, expecting anything remotely reasonable in a film like International Khiladi is just too far-fetched an ask. It begins on a ludicrous foot and gets progressively worse.

Devraj Akshay Kumar, recently crowned the boss of all bosses8217; is arrested in connection with a police informer8217;s murder. The victim8217;s sister and Devraj8217;s now ex-flame Payal Twinkle Khanna testifies against him and narrates her never-ending taleof love and longing. Don-man is convicted and sentenced to death. He escapes from prison to round up the real culprits rival gangster Thakral Gulshan Grover and Payal8217;s obsessed admirer Amit Rajat Bedi. Now since this is supposed to be an action-driven flick, you can excuse its story or the lack of it. But there aren8217;t any spectacular thrills, chills or spills either. And the few stunts there are too seem Hollywood-inspired Payal getting locked to a pole on a burning boat Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic and the climax shot aboard an airborne plane Air Force One. What8217;s more, the special effects are so patchy, they look like bad cut-and-paste jobs.

Aadesh Shrivastav8217;s music is anything but melodious. Gulshan Grover8217;s unending tirade of Hinglish8217; dialogues and his gaudy costumes are equally depressing. Rajat Bedi, on the other hand, inspires a hearty laugh although that8217;s not how it8217;s meant to be. Perhaps he thinks screeching himself hoarse is tantamount to acting. Twinkle Khanna does her jobreasonably well. Akshay Kumar, however, is a big disappointment. He tries to bring a rough and menacing quality to his voice, but it still doesn8217;t elevate his performance from the ordinary. Yes, he looks good, and pulls off a couple of dare-devil stunts, but that8217;s just not enough for a film that8217;s supposed to rest squarely on his shoulders. And that8217;s exactly why International Khiladi fails to impress.

Director: Umesh Mehra

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Rajat Bedi, Johny Lever and Gulshan Grover

Showing at: Minerva

8212; DEEPA DEOSTHALEE