CINEMA: A Happy-Go-Lucky Movie

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in Singh is Kinng.

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SINGH IS KINNG (Hindi)

Directed by Anees Bazmee

Starring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, Kirron Kher, Om Puri, Sonu Sood, Neha Dhupia, Javeed Jaffrey, Kamal Chopra, Yashpal Sharma

THIS movie has somehow rattled the sensitivities of some Punjabis in India.

India must be among the few countries where frequent demonstrations are held over what is shown or not shown in movies.

It suppose this shows how influential cinema is on the populace.

As for the protests, some Sikhs are upset over the “improper” use of the turban in the movie. But more of that later.
Singh is Kinng is a fun movie with no sensitive elements. At times, it reminds you of Munnabai MBBS in which a hood (Sanjay Dutt) starts doing good things.

The “king” of the movie is, of course, Akshay Kumar.

He plays the role of a honest-to-goodness but bungling villager Happy Singh. Wherever he goes, disaster follows. Soon the villagers hatch a plot to get rid of him so he would not cause any more mischief.

They collect enough money to send him to Australia to bring back a villager-turned-gangster called Lucky Singh (Sonu Sood). They hope Happy will stay away for good.

However, when Happy arrives in Australia (after an eventful detour to Egypt), he begins to change the attitude of the criminals surrounding Lucky. This leads to hilarious situations.

Katrina Kaif plays Sonia, the girl of his dreams who turns up with a boyfriend (Ranvir Shorey) in tow.

There are some illogical twists and turns in the story but essentially this movie is aimed at tickling your funny bone.

In that, the director Anees Bazmee, with the help of Akshay and Javeed Jaffrey (who plays a dumb and blind hoodlum), succeeds.

Incidentally, Bazmee’s two previous movies, No Entry and Welcome, were also big hits.

The producers roped in American rapper Snoop Dogg for a repeat of the title song at the end of the movie when the titles are rolling.

Snoop Dogg and Britain’s popular bhangra band RDB reworked the song.

Some Sikhs were upset as Snoop is shown wearing a turban but others feel this will make Sikhs famous internationally because the song is popular over YouTube.

The other songs, composed by Pritam Chakraborty, are also very listenable.

Katrina (a former model of British-Kashmiri stock) has never looked this good on the screen.

Her infectious smile, especially in the scenes taken in Egypt, will make you fall in love with her.

Katrina (whose affair with Salman Khan is rumoured to be on the rocks) starred with Akshay in two of last year’s biggest hits - Namastey London and Welcome.

Singh is Kinng was extensively shot in India, Eygpt and Australia. It boasts brilliant camerawork.

New Straits Times