Cast: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Akshaye Khanna, Arya Babbar, Raghu Ram, Rajiv Lakshman
Director: Farah Khan
Director: Farah Khan
The most eagerly awaited year-end movie of Bollywood finally hit the screens on Christmas-eve, December 24, 29010. This is another matter that it doesn't come up to great expectations of the multiplex audience from an otherwise hit team of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif besides the well known filmmaker Farah Khan of the 'Om Shanti Om and ' Main Hoon Naa' fame. Farah has succeeded in providing one more good movie though for entertainment only. You may remember that she preferred Akshay Kumar to her buddy Shah Rukh Khan for the lead role, presumably to exploit the great chemistry between Akshay and Katrina who proved it in their 'Namastey London', 'Welcome' and 'Singh Is Kinng' . It is said that Farah's initial choice was Priyanka Chopra opposite Akshay but Akshay's wife Twinkle Khanna put her foot down, and Farah had to rope in Katrina. After all, Twinkle is involved in producing the movie along with Shirish Kunder (Farah's husband) and Ronnie Screwvala, and she doesn't like her hubby getting too close to Piggy Chips for obvious reasons. After all, she had cast top stars and spent a huge sum of Rs 500 million on the movie.
One wonders why she didn't pay adequate attention towards the content as in her earlier movies. The story is completely unrealistic! The same is the case with its screenplay. Does the hero fulfill the requirements of a Tees Maar Khan? He plays no big stunt. Yes, he travels to jail and escapes from there and is involved in cheating and loot. Isn't it surprising that a veggi cutter at home claims a treasure of Rs 500 crore. Every story has an anti-hero to make a hero. However, there is none in it. Let's see what Farah has to say about it. She reveals that the plot of the film is taken from the Italian film titled 'After the Fox' directed by Vittorio de Sica. Ironically, 'After the Fox' didn't fare well at the box office. But, she took it, and at the same time, claims that the story of 'Tees Maar Khan' is entirely different from that of 'After The Fox' except the plot. The plot or story may be weak but yet the movie doesn't fail.
In the movie, Tabrez Khan played by Akshay Kumar heralds himself as 'Tees Maar Khan' (TMK), the greatest con artist. Journeying in an out of jails, he falls a prey to by the Johari brothers - Rajiv and Raghu, who want him to rob a train carrying a carriage-full of treasures. Akki calls it easy, and plans a bizarre robbery which involves an entire village, plus Akshaye Khanna, an Oscar-aspiring actor and a girl friend in Katrina Kaif who spends her time acting in silly movies. Incidentally, Akshay who kicks in his Bollywood-crazy mother's womb, grows up a bragging kind and gets into the company of Anya played by Katrina Kaif who does the "Sheela Ki Jawani" number with ease, as well as an Oscar- aspiring superstar played by Akshaye Khanna. They enjoy together as portrayed in the first half of the movie. This is usual with Farah Khan to provide enough masti in the first hour of her movies. Though the movie hypes the protagonist and he walks all the way, he fails in convincing the class audience similarly, Anya entertains a lot but has nothing appealing about her. However, Akshaye Khanna's acting does impress everyone, particularly his jokes. In fact, Akshaye shares the movie with Akki and Kat in the second half.
Performance-wise, everyone fares very well. Akshay and Kat make the audience crazy. Kat looks pretty and dances on a much hyped song "Sheila Ki Jawani…" which she claims to be the most memorable event of her life! Akshaye Khanna too plays a vital role, and proves his mettle. Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor have played guest roles. Raghu and Rajiv plays superb. So also Akshay's three cronies. Aarya Babbar, Murli Sharma and Aman Verma play their roles very well. Apara Mehta and Sudhir Pandey are noteworthy. . Sachin Khedekar and Vijay Patkar are good too.
The movie succeeds in proving huge rapport and chemistry between hero and heroine (Akshay and Katrina) leading the audience to speculate that they are more than just co-stars! It's true as both promoted the movie together, and admired each other during their chats with the media. Two, Katrina's item number "Shiela Ki Jawani" is one of the highlights of the film. Not only Katrina and Akshay but Farah is all praise for the number that is has already been a rage among the audience. Ashmith and Shirish Kunder deserve credit for their script and dialogues. Music by Vishal-Shekhar is good.
"Sheela Ki Jawani" is indeed a chartbuster and provides credit to an otherwise sober Katrina. "Wallah Re Wallah" is another good track, especially because of the presence of Salman Khan in this number. The title track is outstanding. Background score by Shirish Kunder is excellent. So is the cinematography by P S Vinod. The credits during the end are exemplary. Overall, 'Tees Maar Khan' is a good entertainer on the eve of Christmas and worth watching along with the family.