When Even Bhai Can’t Save the Day
As a devoted Salman Khan fan, writing this review feels rather like criticising one’s own family: necessary, but bloody painful.
Verdict: 5.5/10
A. R. Murugadoss returning to Hindi cinema after five years should have been cause for celebration, especially paired with our beloved Bhai. Instead, “Sikandar” feels like a missed opportunity wrapped in 150 minutes of well-intentioned mediocrity.
Salman Khan does what he can with the material, and there are glimpses of the charisma that made us fall for him in the first place. The man still commands the screen when he’s allowed to, but the impact is diluted by a weak script and erratic direction. His portrayal of the titular character feels constrained by a screenplay that can’t decide whether it wants to be a revenge thriller or a social message film about organ donation, a tonal mess that would challenge even the finest actors.
Murugadoss, who gave us gems like “Ghajini,” seems to have forgotten his storytelling instincts. The direction feels oddly dated, lacking the kinetic energy his earlier work possessed. The plot about a tragic accident motivating Sikandar’s redemption arc has potential, but it’s buried under layers of confused narrative choices and exaggerated fight scenes that even by Bollywood standards feel perfunctory.
The supporting cast – Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sathyaraj- are criminally underutilized. Rashmika and Kajal have little to do, which is particularly galling when you consider the talent being wasted. These characters feel like plot devices rather than fully realized individuals, robbing the film of emotional depth.
What stings most is knowing Salman Khan deserves better material. After “Tiger 3,” we hoped for something that would remind us why we’ve been loyal fans for decades. Instead, we get a film that feels like it was made by committee rather than conviction.
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