Ghulaam Review

Aamir Khan's role in Rangeela was one that was liked by all for its apparently innocent brashness. That image is something that Vikram Bhatt chose to play on when he cast Aamir in this film. But that tapori has now grown up a little. A trace of innocence still remains (of course, he is still the hero), but he is thrown in a larger setting too.

Siddharth/Siddhu Marathe (Aamir) is a punk of sorts. You see, his brother is the legal advisor cum accountant for the local ganglord, Raunak Singh (Mukesh Singh). By way of his brother's contact, Siddhu gets to do an odd job of roughing up people who stand up to Raunak. But that doesn't mean that he isn't shocked on watching Raunak kill a friend of his. The incident has the two brothers trying to convince each other that the other is wrong.

So, when Siddhu agrees to testify against Raunak, the stage is set for a decisive confrontation. But there is always time for love to bloom. And it does, between Siddhu and Alisha (Rani). The two start out in a race against each other and end up racing together. A few good songs have been included with these two. There is no doubt as to which one has the crowd shouting for an encore. Aamir's decision to exercise to his vocal chords has paid off suitably.

However, Rani Mukherjee's histrionic abilities put you off. She shrieks, sobs and yells her way through the teeny-weeny role of hers. Taking out the songs, her role is so short that a scene where she runs behind Aamir forms half of it. She looks good in the songs, though.

Aamir is his usual 'professional' self. But the climax that has him knocking out Mukesh Rishi, in less than half the punches that Mukesh has already given him, is less than convincing. Rajat Kapoor is wasted in his role, but the actor in him comes out unscathed from it.

The movie is one for the masses and it does well to entertain those who aren't looking out for much. In fact the script does has some substance to begin with, given that two brothers exist in a potentially insidious setting, but it fails to build on it.