Phantom Review

Manipulating the 26/11 horror into an oversimplified ‘Jalebi ‘revenge, Kabir Khan's ‘Phantom’ starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif is a clear example on how easy and over simplified is this on screen response. Insaaf Ki Jalebi.. wanna some..

A testimony on how far bollywood can go in water downing an unforgettable horror for mass consumption. Phantom ends as a classic case of a discombobulated effort.

The movie lacks the required ‘thrills’ for a thriller, Akshay’s ‘Baby’ on similar lines was much better and gripping. The killings of the 26/11 monsters are so easy making us wonder whether it’s a spoof and  abstains from attaining any individuality as a film making it a fictionalize - patriotic pop corn heroic.

Based on Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mumbai Avengers’ Kabir Khan’s paradigm shift from Bajrangi Bhaijaan’s Indo-Pak bhaichara (brotherhood) to Bharat pyaara (patriotisim) ‘Phantom’ has an explosive idea of RAW (Research and Wings Analysis) agreeing to send a court-martialed army officer, Daniyal Khan (Saif) to wipe out the 26/11 masterminds assisted by a gorgeous civilian under RAW supervision Nawaj (Kaif - what’s in name) but problems are much bigger over here..

The crackling idea is smashed by overnight sudden impulse of an easy, over simplified execution of the devils of 26/11 - Mir, Lakhvi, Headley and Hafeez are ‘simply’ killed by Daniyal by letting the gas stove open, changing the injection, infusing fatal chemicals in a shower. Power power more power..

In between Saif and Katrina travel to the striking locales of London, Beirut, Chicago and even the war struck Syria before they land in Pakistan as the final ‘jalebi’ of justice is delivered.

All this happens with amazing stubbornness. Saif refuses to change his expressions and Katrina Kaif make up is untouched and smooth like a baby’s bum even after all the crash bang boom. Aa hum.. how pounding is that.

Though the lass is upfront in her act as the Parsi undercover RAW agent who remembers her ‘Hi Tea’ at Taj with her papa, the Zeeshan Ayyub jingoism in the submarine where he reminds the navy officers about the helpless situation during the night of 26/11 and the action which is not bad saves this Phantom from drowning to death.

But overall Phantom is nothing more than a simplified patriotic lollipop. Jalebi (watch) it if you really cannot resist.