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Ganapath Movie Review: Whenever Bollywood announces a film promising a franchise, a warning bell rings in my mind. History has shown that such overconfidence in the potential for sequels has seldom worked well for Bollywood. Films like Drive, Bhoot Part 1 - The Haunted Ship, and even, to some extent, Brahmastra serve as glaring examples of this (with Gangs of Wasseypur being a brilliant exception). In the case of Ganapath - A Hero is Born, a larger warning bell rang when it dropped the 'Part 1' from its title during pre-release promotions. The amusing part is that the final movie retains 'Part 1' when the name Ganapath is displayed in the title cards. Much like Pushpa, it also ends with the promise of a sequel, sporting the tagline 'Part 2 - Rise of the Hero.' However, Ganapath - A Hero is Born is so disappointing that I believe the sequel will only materialise in a dystopian future, much like the one depicted in the film. Ganapath: Vikas Bahl Reveals How Tiger Shroff – Kriti Sanon Shot Action Sequences in Ladakh’s Challenging Weather Conditions and Constant Dips in Oxygen Levels.
As the trailers promised, Ganapath - A Hero is Born unfolds in a dystopian future, a world scarred by nuclear devastation (though there is no mention of any nuclear fallout even in the outskirts). In this post-apocalyptic setting, the rich have grown even wealthier, residing in a futuristic utopia that looks like a digital wallpaper, while the poor struggle, left penniless and hungry, exploited by the privileged. If you're wondering what sets this world apart from our own, well, we're essentially in the same boat.
However, the poor in the film hold onto hope - their revered leader, Thalapathi (played by Amitabh Bachchan), has foretold the rise of a leader among them who will lead a revolt against their oppressors, led by a mysterious figure, Dalini. Thalapathi used to hold fighting competitions to discover this leader, but even these contests were brought to a halt by the wealthy, who then initiated their own competitions.
Enter Guddu (Tiger Shroff), our 'bad boy' hero, living a carefree life in the rich part of the city, evident in his intro scene when he wakes up surrounded by a bevy of beauties in his bedroom. Guddu works for John (Ziad Bakri), a mute fight organiser who is also his foster father. Guddu assists John in identifying the right fighter among the poor for John's matches. A misunderstanding between Guddu and John nearly costs Guddu his life, but he survives and finds himself in the outskirts of the city, where he encounters Jassi (Kriti Sanon) and her blind mentor, Shiva (Malayalam actor Rahman). Both Jassi and Shiva await the arrival of the prophesied savior, believing Guddu to be the one. But for Guddu to recognise his legacy, he must unlock his fighting potential and uncover his past, thereby becoming the savior everyone seeks - Ganapath.
Watch the Trailer of Ganapath:
In terms of the story, Ganapath - A Hero is Born doesn't bring anything new to the table. We've seen the saga of the Chosen Hero countless times, from The Matrix to Harry Potter to The Lord of the Rings, and more. Dystopian films are also nothing novel, with The Maze Runner, the Divergent series, and The Hunger Games being prime examples. Therefore, when the film lacks innovation in its plot, it should compensate for it in its direction, technical prowess, performances, and writing.
Unfortunately, Ganapath - A Hero is Born falls short in nearly every aspect. It brings to mind the saying 'don't bite off more than you can chew.' This phrase came to me repeatedly as I was bombarded with poor VFX, clearly visible green screens, lackluster action sequences, uninspiring performances, and lifeless filmmaking right from the beginning. I've witnessed better special effects in music videos and Thums Up commercials than in this film. The film is so lazy that they used the same shot of a robotic panther walking at different junctures. In an era where India is striving to compete with the West in delivering a grand visual experience, the technical aspects of Ganapath - A Hero is Born are shockingly subpar.
It's evident that director Vikas Bahl, known for films like Queen and Goodbye, is out of his depth when handling a movie of this magnitude and scale. In fact, considering the plot of Ganapath - A Hero is Born, it could be set anywhere in the world and at any time without the need for lavish visual effects. Back in 1996, Rajkumar Santoshi crafted a 'Chosen One' plot set in a slum colony with Ghatak, and it had a significant impact.
With Ganapath - A Hero is Born, technical issues aside, it's challenging to find any redeeming qualities elsewhere. The writing is simply subpar - major twists are predictable, from the motive behind the kidnapping of a spirited fighter like Jassi to the identity of Ganapath's father (hint: it's in the name). Guddu's true agenda can be spotted from miles away.
Not a single character is adequately developed. The villains feel underdeveloped, and relationships are rushed, as seen in the romance between Guddu and Jassi. The only mildly intriguing moment arrives at the end when Dalini's identity is revealed, but by then, I was too fatigued to care.
Even though Tiger Shroff seems suitable for this kind of action-oriented role, I believe he is miscast. It's not due to his whiny character or annoying inner monologues but more about the star himself. Tiger, along with Vidyut Jammwal and Akshay Kumar, is one of the few leading actors with martial arts expertise, making it difficult to see them as underdogs in a film. This issue is evident in a film like Brothers where it's nearly impossible to perceive Akshay Kumar as an underdog, especially when pitted against someone like Sidharth Malhotra. Either the writing should be good enough deceive you into thinking this or they should be pitted against a more formidable opponent, neither of which is the case with Tiger and Ganapath. Ganapath: Tiger Shroff Thanks Rajinikanth for Wishing Him and Team a 'Grand Success'.
Moreover, the action sequences assigned to Tiger are becoming repetitive in most of his film including Ganapath. While we all know that Tiger can execute mid-air flips and double kicks with ease, it's time for action choreographers to challenge the artiste in him to go beyond his comfort zone. A prime example is the unbroken one-take opening fight scene in Siddharth Anand's War. However, when an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, at the age of 57, attempts something similar in Pathaan, it's time for Tiger to expand his action repertoire and bring more dynamism to his moves. And let's not even delve into his acting. We are not here for that, are we?
Kriti Sanon does a decent job, but apart from her introductory fight scene, she has limited room to impress. She is also at the center of one of the worst-staged, poorly CGI-ed chase scenes I've witnessed like ever. Amitabh Bachchan's role amounts to a cameo, with the trailer revealing almost everything about him. Rahman delivers a decent performance.
Final Thoughts
Is it cruel of me if I say that this film is Vikas Bahl's Drive? Ganapath - A Hero is Born falls short of its potential in nearly every aspect. The film struggles to breathe new life into a well-worn narrative, and its technical shortcomings hinder any redemption. Even for hardcore Tiger Shroff fans, Ganapath - A Hero is Born doesn't bring anything new for them to cheer. I mean, whoever thought that an action film set in a post-apocalyptic future could turn out to be this dull!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2023 03:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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