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By Taran Adarsh, November 24, 2006 - 17:29 IST
 Cut the crap… Cut the gyan… Let's come to the point
straightway: Is DHOOM 2 as big as its hype? Does it
meet the monumental expectations? Or is it a gas
balloon with a leak?
Yes, DHOOM 2 works big time and here's why…
Very rarely do you come across Hindi films that marry
form and content so beautifully. DHOOM 2 is cool, but
beneath the sheen there's substance too.
Mounted on an extravagant scale, the film is a visual
delight. The film travels from one breath-taking
locale to another in those 16 reels, often making your
jaw drop to your knees thanks to the sweeping impact
it makes.
For any sequel to score high marks, it ought to be
embellished with pulse-pounding moments. DHOOM 2 is a
hi-octane thriller and the thrills, stunts and pace --
vital for any thriller to strike a chord -- are sure
to keep you on the edge from Scene A to Z.
Most importantly, DHOOM 2 delivers what it promises:
Escapist cinema at its best!
Any hiccups? Not really, but the music could've been
better. That's about it!
So, what's the verdict then? A film like DHOOM 2
raises the bar for Hindi films. If you've tasted the
best, you would never settle for anything komsi-komsa
stuff later, right? That's the DHOOM 2 effect. For
film-makers that tread a similar path, it's going to
be an added responsibility to go beyond DHOOM 2.
In terms of business, DHOOM 2 is bound to create dhoom
at the ticket window. It's a box-office triumph all
the way. Time for Yash Raj to pop champagne yet again!
Ali's [Uday Chopra] dream of becoming a police officer
has come true. He is now ACP Jai Dixit's [Abhishek
Bachchan] right hand man. Together, they are trying to
keep a tight leash on the crime in India. Little do
they know what they are going to be up against.
 Enter Aryan -- Mr. A [Hrithik Roshan]. A hi-tech
international thief. After pulling off a series of
impossible heists all over the world, his next target
is Mumbai, India. The case is given to ACP Jai and
Ali. Helping them put the pieces of the puzzle
together is ACP Shonali Bose [Bipasha Basu], Jai's
college mate, now a police officer in her own right.
For the last two years, Shonali has been tracking
these amazing thefts and is now an expert on this
thief, who no one has seen.
Once in Mumbai, Mr. A finds his match in Sunehri [Aishwarya
Rai], a petty yet clever thief. She makes him an offer
he finds very hard to refuse. A partnership! Aryan
accepts. And so the game begins, a game of cat and
mouse, a game of good v/s bad.
The cops -- Jai, Shonali and Ali -- are after the
robbers -- Aryan and Sunehri. From the deserts of
Namibia to the backwaters of Goa, the mean streets of
Mumbai and the ancient forts of Rajasthan and finally
to Rio, Brazil.
DHOOM 2 is modeled on the lines of the chor-police
sagas that Hindi films specialized in the 1970s and
1980s. In essence, it's not a path-breaking/inventive
story, but what takes the film to dizzy heights is the
sequence of events that unravel at a feverish pace.
Right from the start of the film [Hrithik's first
heist in Namibia; the robbing of a crown from a moving
train] to his next target [robbing a precious diamond
from a museum in Mumbai] to the theft in Jamnagar [Hrithik
and Ash come face to face for the first time], the
film whets your appetite from the word 'Go'.
If the first hour focuses on the cat-n-mouse game, the
second hour changes tracks as it transforms into a
love story. While the scenes between Uday and Bipasha
[in a dual role] are cute, the ones between Hrithik
and Ash build up slowly. The pace drops intermittently
in this hour since the thrills are reserved for the
penultimate reel, but a number of worthy sequences in
this half conceal this tiny blemish.
 Note the turning point in the tale -- the revolver
sequence between Hrithik and Ash and the lip-to-lip
kiss that ensues; it's an outstanding sequence from
the writing, execution and performance point of view.
The pre-climax -- the robbery of man-made gold coins
-- as also the climax chase are breath-taking as well.
The end is distinctive and will have its share of
advocates and adversaries. Yet, in all fairness, it's
one of the highpoints of the sequel. Any scope for the
third installment? Oh yes, there is. Don't be
surprised if Abhishek and Uday embark on their third
mission. As for the climax shot vis-à-vis John
Abraham's surprise appearance, it's an unfounded
rumor!
DHOOM 2 is director Sanjay Gadhvi's finest effort so
far. The execution of the subject is such, you just
can't help get transported to a world of make-believe.
Gadhvi has handled a number of sequences with aplomb.
The Hrithik-Ash sequence mentioned above is one of
them. The dialogue between Hrithik and Abhishek --
after they've known each other's true identities -- is
another. The final scene of the enterprise [it would
be unfair to reveal it here!] is yet another sequence
that indicates that the director has done his homework
well.
Pritam's music is fair. Barring the 'Krazy Kiya Re'
track and the title track [filmed on Hrithik], the
score is outright mediocre. However, the saving grace
is the vibrant and energetic picturization, which
takes the songs to another level. The choreography of
the title track by Shiamak Davar is outstanding.
Vaibhavi Merchant's choreography of 'Krazy Kiya Re' is
admirable as well. Salim-Sulaiman's background score
is highly effective.
DHOOM 2 is peppered with good looking visual effects [Tata
Elxsi], besides a stylish décor/look. The action
sequences as also the stunts [Allan Amin] do complete
justice to the genre and the Indian audiences are
bound to gasp with disbelief. Cinematography [Nirav
Shah, Vikas Shivraman] is impeccable. The camerawork
can easily match international standards. Dialogues
[Vijay Krishna Acharya] are wonderful. Costumes [Anaita
Shroff Adajania] are upmarket. In fact, the styling of
Hrithik and Ash [the tanned look et al] deserves
distinction marks.
Hrithik's casting as the antagonist can be accurately
called a masterstroke. He's the actual star of DHOOM
2, the real scene stealer. In fact, you can't imagine
any other actor enacting the cool robber with such
precision. If there's anyone who's bound to benefit
the maximum from DHOOM 2, it's Hrithik. No two
opinions on that!
 Abhishek in DHOOM 2 is what Shashi Kapoor was in
Amitabh Bachchan starrers. Important yes, but
relegated to the backseat. Abhishek does a fine job
nonetheless. Only thing, he needs to take care of his
appearance and posture when he's pitted against
someone with a personality like Hrithik.
Aishwarya evolves into a different person in DHOOM 2.
Her tanned makeup, her styling, her performance, it's
a different Ash here. It's a complete departure from
what Ash has done in the past. Does it work? Of
course, she is in form!
Bipasha is just about okay as the cop, but is lively
as the twin sister. Uday irritates at times, but
handles a few scenes well. His portions with Bipasha's
twin sister in Rio are sure to bring a smile on your
face. Rimi Sen is hardly there.
On the whole, DHOOM 2 is a winner all the way. At the
box-office, the film has already embarked on an
earth-shattering initial and with multiple shows being
conducted at multiplexes [16/18] with inflated ticket
rates, the film will set new records in days to come.
For Yash Raj, who've not only produced but also
distributed the film, DHOOM 2 should emerge as one of
the biggest hits of their career. Blockbuster!
Rating:- * *
* * 1/2
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