Apne’s main feature is the three Deols, veteran Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby coming together for the first time in a film. The film is high on emotions and is about family bonding. Apne has a simple script, the screenplay unfolds with ample amount of emotions and family drama thrown and the execution too is average. Apne comes across as an above average film. But what goes against the film is that often the screenplay seems to belong to another time and era, more like a film meant for the 90’s. The film also tries to incorporate the sport of boxing and there are many well-structured boxing matches thrown in, but at times these too seem a bit too violent especially with familial bonding as its main theme. The performances are average and Dharmendra manages to stand out amongst the Deols. Overall it has a mundane script with an archaic screenplay but the execution and performances are above average.
Apne is a family drama that has been directed by Anil Sharma and the story and screenplay has been done by Neeraj Pathak. The film stars Dharmendra as Baldev Choudhary, Sunny as Angad and Bobby as Karan, Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Kirron Kher etc.
Apne revolves around the life of a retired boxing champion, Baldev Choudhary. Unfortunately Baldev’s dream of winning the World Heavyweight Boxing championship remains unfulfilled as he ends up leaving the sport in disgrace due to false doping charges leveled against him. Baldev has never ever gotten over this false disgrace that has been leveled against him and vows that he will fulfill his dreams one day. Baldev decides to live his dream through his son, Angad. He has great plans for Angad making it in the sport of boxing. Angad however has his own dreams and due to timely circumstances of his family is forced to drop out from the sport of boxing. Baldev is disappointed in his elder son and dejected that once more his dream has been left unfulfilled.
However seeing his father dejected, Karan the younger son decides to overcome his physical disability and fulfill his father’s dream. Karan trains under his father and soon goes on to become a good boxer. He takes part in the final boxing championship, but unfortunately he gets seriously injured and is unable to fulfill his father’s dream. Baldev is completely dejected now as he feels that he is also responsible for his son’s mishap. However elder son, Angad decides that he too needs to prove himself to his father and stand up for his family when they need him the most. So it is now up to Angad to fulfill his father’s dream, get his father’s honour back, avenge his brother’s unfair defeat and come out victorious. Will he manage to fulfill so many expectations?
Director Anil Sharma depicts the relationship between father and sons quite well in the film. Baldev’s strained relationship with his elder son, Angad is portrayed well. Director Anil Sharma throws in plenty of emotional moments as this is a family drama. However he also manages to balance the emotional aspect with a fare dose of action in the form of boxing matches. However the script comes across as mundane and the screenplay seems soppy and mushy, it does not have any twists and turns or surprises that will grip the viewers’ attention. The happenings in the film are pretty predictable, including the climax. Although Anil Sharma’s execution is average; often the screenplay looks very outdated as it goes a bit over board with the family saga for today’s times.
The pace too of the film seems to drag at times and the editing could have been fine tuned. The screenplay unfolds at a lethargic pace and the happenings often seem placid with no fast paced drama to grip you. The boxing matches though shot well often are extremely detailed and violent. The cinematography shows a lot Punjab locales which are full of greenery. The music though is just about fare but nothing which leaves a mark. Dialogues are again high on emotional content and at times seem preachy and obsolete.
Performances are within the average mark. Dharmendra gives a decent performance, at times light-hearted and at times emotional. Sunny and Bobby both take a back seat and seem extremely restrained, perhaps in a deliberate effort to let that father shine throughout the film. The women barely have much to do in the film. Shilpa is okay in her limited role, Katrina is barely there, Kirron Kher is average. The rest of the cast too is restrained.
Apne may have a very basic script and a slightly old-fashioned screenplay but it has been executed in an adequate manner and the performances are decent. Hence the film is average. The Deols following in the North may give it a strong hold out there, and at the box-office it may do above average as a family flick. Apne is an above average family drama high on emotions.
|
| Reviewed By: Rachel Fernandes |
 |
 |
Related Pictures |
|
|
|
