When was the last time that you watched a story so simple that it actually touched your heart with its innocence? Kabir Khan has done what many others mostly refrain from doing, in his latest directorial venture 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. He has taken an extremely volatile subject of Indo-Pak relations and woven it so beautifully around 'Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi' and 'Munni' that it actually touches your heart with its innocence.
Kabir Khan entered the industry with a serious drama 'Kabul Express', then he made 'New York' another complex-issue related film. His last film 'Ek Tha Tiger' was also set in the backdrop of relation between India and Pakistan and was a blockbuster, but 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' has something that 'Ek Tha Tiger' lacked. It has a child-like perspective, a common man's understanding to a never-ending cold war between the supposedly 'rival' countries. 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' is story of a true human love between a man and an innocent girl, not related to him or even to his 'nation'. Breaking the notions of 'boundaries' and the wall of 'superficial nationalism' that we surround ourselves with, 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' moves above such planes towards a greater religion called humanity. The narrative and shots of Kashmir and Chandani Chowk just adds on to the storyline.
Another factor that makes this film different from the rest of the Indo-Pak Bollywood masala films is the portrayal of Pakistanis, bureaucrats and media in a very real way. Though the movie has a few fictional, nonsensical moments but the nature has been kept very human. Pakistani army, for a change, is not the monster here. The film's real villain is the notion that the bureaucracies of both the nations have about each other. The situations that arises due to such notions, create hindrance and pain in the way of Pavan Chaturvedi a.k.a Bajrangi.
The media has been shown in its popularly known form 'as TRP mongers', although the positive side comes with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Nawazuddin plays a Pakistani journalist who helps Bajrangi on his mission. The character is real, heart-warming and shows the welcoming side of Pakistani, which is a refreshing change from the 'J.P Dutta' cinema.
Kabir Khan has very subtly said so much through a mute girl, about the notions both the nations have. The 'Us' vs 'Them' rivalry, the similarities and differences between the cultures and how love wins over everything, every time. Salman is back in his innocent best, with 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', a big change there too. Pavan Kumar Chaturvedi aka Bajrangi is as innocent as 'Munni', who believes in humanity. Throughout the film you can feel the change that Pavan goes through while he gets to know Pakistan, you laugh with him, you cry with him.
Pavan represents those millions of people who are above all the complexities of Jinnah's vision and Gandhi's sacrifice. People who like to live in peace without any barbed wires with 440 V current through them. People who believe in the religion of humanity instead of fighting upon 'Ram' and 'Allah', people who do not want to understand the conspiracies of 'RAW' and 'ISIS' but admire the valleys of Kashmir, kebabs of Karanchi, Pakistani fashion and bands, farms of Punjab and sewai in a pure veg 'vaishno' dhabha. Kabir Khan has woven the simple thoughts of normal, non-political people, sprinkled some Bollywood masala on it and presented it with the 90's charm and innocence of Salman Khan, creating a brilliant, heart-touching tale of human emotions.
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