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It seems like we already know what the big Bollywood hit of this year is going to be. The first trailer of Amir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan’s Thugs of Hindostan has been released and it has got fans over the moon about the film. Well… most of them. The trailer follows a famous thug Azaad played by Amitabh Bachchan who becomes a thorn in the British’s plans to invade and rule India properly.
To counter Azaad’s growing reach, John Clive (Lloyd Owen) a British officer asks another thug Firangi Millah (Aamir Khan) to destroy the thugs from within. The movie also stars Khan’s Dhoom 3 collaborator Katrina Kaif as Suraiyya, who in trailer video does not get to say a single word. The film looks quite insane, full of incredible visuals and big set pieces but the verdict is still out on whether or not the film looks as great as it could be.
The film’s budget was a whopping $29 million which is huge by Bollywood standards and with that in light, the scenes in the trailer that looked like CGI don’t appear so good. There are several scenes that make the film look like a video game. At times the movie’s imagery seemed reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed: Pirates but mostly the film seems to remind every one of the Pirates of the Caribbean films.
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This cinematic extravaganza is being called the most expensive Yash Raj Film ever made; so it is safe to say that expectations are pretty high with this one. Amitabh Bachchan’s performance is already drawing positive reactions from fans and critics’ alike and it is a testament to the actor’s versatility, how at home he appears as the thug Khudbaksh Azaad. His attire seems to be inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean films but at least the actor is bringing his own twist to his character.
Aamir Khan’s Firangi Millah seems more like Jack Sparrow but his appearance also invokes another classic character: The Mad Hatter. From his hair to his wardrobe and peculiar way of talking and movement, Khan seems to have gone all out in his attempt to copy Johnny Depp. The movie is set in the 1790 and 1805 period and the shooting for the film happened in Thailand and in Rajasthan, India.
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The movie has been in the limelight because many fans are eager to see Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan battle it out on the screen for the first time. Previously, names like Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Jackie Shroff were all at some point either attached to the film or received offers for the role but weren’t able to join the film due to scheduling conflicts.
The action film looks like quite a blast but the film could be a costly failure if it ceases to connect with audiences. Right now Bachchan seems to be the saving grace of the outlandish feature film with everything else paling in comparison. The reception from the fans though has been mixed. Hopefully, the film will have a chance to show itself in a better light.