Dabangg is a good guy vs. bad guys movie with a twist. The “good” guy, mucho policeman Chulbul Pandey, is a self-styled Robinhood. He foils the bad guys but keeps the money for himself or gives it to the less fortunate. Pandey (Hindi superstar Salman Khan), lives with his asthmatic mother, step-father, and step-brother in a village in Uttar Pradesh. He resents the way his step-father favors brother Makkhi (Arbaaz Khan). Makkhi is lazy and dishonest. When he decides to steal Pandey’s money to get married, there are heart-breaking consequences.
Although I am not a fan of violence in movies, the action in this movie is cleverly choreographed and over the top. I am fascinated by the way the action is slowed down and chopped up, sometimes downright silly but always entertaining. Pandey is a one-man army and the focus of his attention is Chedi Singh (Sonu Sood) a corrupt, up-and-coming politician, and his gang. When Pandey refuses to fall in line, Singh enlists Makkhi to do his dirty work.
In a parallel storyline, Pandey falls in love with a local girl, Rajo, played by strikingly beautiful Sonakshi Sinha in her first role. Rajo is a simple village girl who refuses his marriage proposal feeling it is her duty to look after her drunken father until he dies. Pandley amusingly pursues the romance like a caveman: words are few, lots of meaningful looks and determination.
Chulbul Pandey at first glance is just a tough guy who blusters his way through life. But as the movie progressed I realized that he had a heart of gold; such as his sweetness when he was around Rajo, his grief at the death of his mother, and his attempt to reconcile with his stepfather.
Watch for Salman Khan‘s signature move. A life-long bodybuilder, he shows off his physique by losing his shirt in some unbelievable way during every movie. In the musical numbers, he’s a slightly stiff dancer but since he gives it 100% and seems to be enjoying himself. I find that endearing. My favorite song is “Tere Mast Mast Do Nain“, which captures the budding romance of Chulbul and Rajo.
Dabangg was named Best Film at the 56th Filmfare Award (2011). Abhinav Kashyap was nominated Best Director and Best Female Debut went to Sonakshi Sinha.
Watch this YouTube clip featuring Dabangg:
