WANTED

Genre: Action

Director: Prabhu Deva

Producer: Sahara One Motion Pictures, S. K. Films Enterprises

Presenter: Surinder Kapoor, Boney Kapoor, Sahara One Motion Pictures

Music Director: Sajid-Wajid

Lyricist: Arun Bhairav

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Ayesha Takia, Om Puri, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sayaji Shinde, Prakash Raj, Aseem Merchant, Vinod Khanna

Release Date: September 18, 2009

Now, we had an idea that ‘Wanted’ was a ‘Salman Khan’ flick, but we didn’t expect it to have nothing else - no script, no editing, and even no logic. No second thoughts about the fact that the roguish charm of Salman is still there, which makes the movie a bit passable. However, beyond that, there is nothing in the film that would encourage you to spend your hard-earned money on a multiplex ticket. There is hardly any scene in the film that makes sense.

There is no logic in ‘Wanted’, be it the script or its execution. For instance, you have the heroine popping into every scene in which bullets are being fired. There is another thing in the film that is gross - the women only seem to be meant for being molested, giving the hero a chance to prove his goodness (by saving them, of course). The songs are plain pathetic, while the editing is shoddy. The one area where ‘Wanted’ scores is the action sequences, which are truly inventive and entertaining, without turning gory for even a second.

The first half of ‘Wanted’ stretches on for much more time than is necessary, with the romantic track overshadowing the narrative. As to the second half, the action sequences dominated everything else. Talking about the performances, Sallu Bhai is fresh, in form, dances like a dream and kills like a pro. Ayesha Takia has been given a raw deal and did not get any scope to show her prowess. The National Award winning actor Prakash Raj was at his very best, while Govind Namdeo was good as always. All in all, this one is a DVD watch!

Wanted’ is an action flick, which marks the directorial debut of Prabhu Deva, the dancing wizard from South, who has also dabbled in acting. The star ensemble of the movie includes Salman Khan, Ayesha Takia, Om Puri, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sayaji Shinde, Prakash Raj, Aseem Merchant, Vinod Khanna. Sajid-wajid duo has composed the musical score, while Arun Bhaivar has penned down its lyrics. The producers of the Hindi film ‘Wanted’ are Sahara One Motion Pictures and S. K. Films Enterprises.

Radhe (Salman Khan) is a sharpshooter, who works for Gani Bhai, the hardcore Mumbai Mafioso. A bit of a maverick, he likes to work on his own terms. The fearless Radhe eliminates all the enemies of Gani Bhai, quashing all the opposition single-handedly. In the process of this cleansing, Radhe makes more enemies than Gani Bhai himself. Meanwhile, the young and pretty Jhanvi (Ayesha Takia) falls for Radhe, much to his astonishment. Soon, bloody gang wars ensue inMumbai, with each gang bent on outrunning the other, be it the Golden Gang or Data Pawle's Gang, with the aim of wresting control of the city.

The Police Commissioner of the crime-torn city vows to undertake a crusade to clean it of this colossal network of criminals and arrests 200 criminals in a day, as a starter. A gory mayhem follows, as the criminal gangs are after each other and the police after the gangs. The twist in the tale arrives when Radhe is, as expected, dragged into this and becomes the 'most wanted' man in Mumbai. Everyone, right from the gangsters to the police, is vying for his life, as he is the man who knows too much.

Radhe is a source of valuable information for the police; criminals are alarmed that he may reveal their dark secrets. Who will find Radhe first? Slated for a September 18 release, 'Wanted' is riding solely on Salman's shoulders and an exploding plot. The man in question has charmed the audience to the theaters for years now, but as the plot is rightly said to be the soul of a film, the Salman Magic could be tested. With the release date not being far away now, we will soon see whether the magic works or not!