PATCHY IN PLACES BUT SALMAN KHAN STAYS TRUE TO FRANCHISE
‘Race 3’ remains true to the spirit of the first two films in the series, but Jacqueline Fernandez’s talents were wasted, says Kumar Shyam
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza Starring: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Saleem, Sharat Saxena Rating
Paradoxically we start discussing the genesis of this movie from its ending. With any film franchise, the question at the climax is: are we going to have another one? And Race 3 producer-actor Salman Khan tells the viewers straight up: there definitely will be.
With that in mind, Race 3’s scripting had to overcome a few jerks to culminate in Anil Kapoor as Shamsher Singh declaring he will be back. Khan spoils it by stating the obvious with a cunning smile: “Will I be part of it?”
For Khan fans, this is news they would like to hear. As tradition goes, the actor will be back with
Race 4 next Eid after taking over production rights of the sequel. Should we look forward to it?
Based on how Race 3 was done, there are a few pointers that could be handy for the suspense-thriller genre film. For starters, the good news is that this instalment built on the plot twists and turns that were a big reason for the success of the first two.
As the popular trailer indicated, Khan played to his strengths – witty one-liners in an action-packed story in his familiar backyard – the UAE. The bad news is that it appears Khan put too much on his plate.
It was only late last year that the movie was confirmed by Abbas-Mastan, the pair behind the birth of the Race franchise. Khan, reeling under the setback of his last Eid offering Tubelight, came on board and immediately did away with the production pair. He insisted on choreographer and rookie director Remo D’Souza as his man at the steering wheel.
Saif Ali Khan dropped out. That left Anil Kapoor as the only common connection with all three films in the franchise. The charitable Salman Khan also threw a lifeline to some old friends such as Bobby Deol and Daisy Shah and even scripted a few songs. The movie only got on the floors in November with a six-month race against time. Khan was then sentenced to a five-year jail term in an old blackbuck poaching case and is out on bail. But travel restrictions meant some scenes had to be done in Jaisalmer – “patchwork”, as co-producer Ramesh Taurani put it.
That patchwork is evident, jarring and takes away from the real star of the film – the scenes showing Abu Dhabi in its resplendent glory. Ayananka Bose, the director of photography, had it easy showcasing the beauty of Emirates Palace as the mansion of Shamsher Singh and other locations offered by Abu Dhabi media centre Twofour54. Adding some charm is the vivacious Jacqueline Fernandez, who plays Jessica.
A big disappointment was D’Souza, who did not play to his strengths, while Khan overplayed his. A choreographer turned director, he absolutely wasted Fernandez in the dance songs, especially the Allah Duhai Hai track on a hotel rooftop. The actress was committed, learnt martial arts and even hurt her eye, causing permanent damage in the process.
The film cuts to a song in the snow-clad mountains of Kashmir, when everything else is filmed in the desert. The action sequences, under the supervision of Hollywood stunt director Tom Struthers, rely on the appeal of supercars worth millions going up in smoke. Khan appears in a Superman-like suit.
Watch the movie if you can ignore blemishes like that – and Khan fans definitely will. For the rest, he seems to be thumbing his nose at everyone. As he says in the film: “Our business is our business, none of your business”.
A big disappointment was D’Souza, who did not play to his strengths where he could, while Khan overplayed his