Singh Is Kinng: Stupid But Funny review

Share

Devang Ghia reviews Singh is Kinng

Over the past few years, Akshay Kumar has been banking on his goofiness, delivering hit after hit, sometimes single-handedly, sometimes with a little bit of help from Paresh Rawal. But never has been supported so well by almost the entire cast. Om Puri, Neha Dhupia, Javed Jaffrey, Ranvir Sheorey, Yashpal Sharma, Sonu Sood, Manoj Pahwa, are all actors of calibers ranging from medium to high. So it's possible to argue that they have been wasted in supporting roles. But even in their brief roles, they make a strong impact, making this not just an Akshay Kumar film.

Though of course, the main draw is Akshay Kumar. We are not yet tired seeing his brand of comedy even though we have seen it ten times before. Once again after Namaste London, we see him playing a rustic Punjabi villager. Tired of him being a bull-in-a-china-shop at every occasion, his fellow villagers trick him into leaving for Australia where a bunch of migrants from their village are running an underworld kingdom. By a twist of fate, he ends up becoming their kingpin, called "King".

There's more to the rather unoriginal plot but revealing any more is a waste of your time and my efforts. At one point the script meaninglessly meanders to Egypt where our heroine is studying criminal law. Now the last time I checked Egypt was known for its Sphinx and pyramids, not varsities. But as a relatively untapped location for a song (or two) the makers seem to have forced it in. There are many more of such inanities but if you sit to nitpick, you might miss a gag or two. Some of them are so subtle it's easy to miss them in the first viewing. Every time the tempo begins to sag, a funny scene comes along keeping you involved.

After Akshay Kumar, its Javed Jaffrey who stands out for his performance. As a half-blind, half-deaf Don and a constant spoof of Dara Singh, he is a riot. He even gets to shake a leg or too. Filmmakers have for long ignored this skill of his. If this was Boogie Woogie, I would first make a wisecrack and then give him a ten. I guess no more proof is required to prove that Katrina Kaif can't act and in all likelihood will never be able too. Neha Dhupia does a better job in a supporting role. Maybe its time to once again let her play the lead and relegate lesser actress to second fiddle.

On the music front, only Labh Janua's "Jee Karda" is the only song that will stay in your short term memory. The rest will be forgotten the moment the end credits start rolling. Speaking of end credits, it has that much-hyped song where Akshay Kumar croons with Snoop Doggy Dog. Sadly they are crooning to an exiting audience who has already had enough of the other songs.

The movie is entirely in a fast developing tongue which we shall call ‘˜listener-friendly Punjabi'. Its not Punjabi the way its spoken in Punjab but a much dumbed down version which, after so many years of songs with "kudis" and "mundas", the average Hindi movie watching audience will understand, lending an authentic touch to a film populated by Sardars.
Singh is Kinng is actually quite a bad movie with a lot of redeeming qualities. It's a film that begs the viewer to leave their brains at home. In fact I recommend that along with bags outside the theatre, even the skulls of patrons should be been checked to ensure that they are empty. Singh provides you the value you pay for your popcorn. Try buying an additional burger and you'll repent it.

[rating:3]