DON, A REVIEW

I saw the new Don today, sat through it for all the three hours and all i have to say is this:Mediocre. This current version exceeds Abhishek bachhan in spoiling our memories of the original Don and thats the worst sin a remake can commit. Especially the enormous slips.

Narcotic trade gets you death sentence in malaysia says one of the smaller villains in one scene. Then Sharukh drinks bhang in a public place in malaysia. The problem? Bhang my dear sirs come from the same plant as Marihuana.

Like someone said, clear writing comes from clear ideas and the script shows us very clearly, that nobody seems to have any idea as to what this film is about. The first half is a replica of the actual DON, and then the second half shows us that no it isnt.

So whats done in a remake? you see the older version and wonder how it could be made more better and then

Either you take the script and make the film your way with your treatment without changing the script. Like in a remake.

OR you make a parody like Ramgarh ke Sholay.

OR you make a full fledged new version, with a brand new story, without changing the core concept, ie the Titanic or the more recent Shiva.

OR you do what you want but don't call it a remake like Devdas.

YOU CANNOT DO ALL THE ABOVE.

In the first half this film is a replica of the original don, the dialogues and incidents are similar, Kareena Kapur does a Helen number etc. To make the viewer expect the second half to be the same. It then uses this expectation to spring all the surprises. Thats where it goes wrong. because right from the beginning it makes the audience compare shahrukh with amitabh, kareena with helen etc. By the the second half the audience has already rejected the film. Who wouldnt? when the story includes a plan to steal 50 crore worth of diamonds, assembling all the gadgets and technology, persuading a (wife kidnapped) computer engineer to execute it and then while climbing up the sides of the building he gets spotted by a housewife standing in a balcony?. what was the original version like? it was a Mumbai ishtyle Masala entertainer. Thats what the people search for in this film, but what they are given is something else. it is an exhibition of unreal gadgets. Discovery channel would be proud of this one.


Shahrukh khan redoes the double role of Duplicate with some Helping of Badshah. Kareena is good until she tries to imitate Helen. Boman Irani seems to know where he is going. Priyanka chopra cannot be the furious wildcat but connects with the audience as she too wears a bewildered look through most of the film. The cinematography and editing is in the tradition of the other Farhaan akhtar films. Especially the aerial shot of southern mumbai. The choreography is satisfactory. Costumes are great, especially the paunch revealing dress kareena wears in the Helen number (refer picture), Shahrukh khan wears a special jacket in the title track, the one he usually keeps for his Dandruff ads. Sets and Locations excellent. Overall i think the film should be a good lesson for other remake makers.