Veer has been loosely based on the 1962 Russian film, Taras Bulba. With an ambition to convert it into a love story cum period costume drama cum patriotic film cum revenge story cum musical, the writer and director forgot to pull the film out of the 60s. Hence, what emerges is a kabeela story of 1960s dressed up as all of above and none of it convincingly or satisfyingly. There is this nationally integrated Pindari community which is known for looting and plundering and has Hindu, Muslim and Sikh members!! If you think this is ridiculous, this is only the beginning.
To build up an interest, the film starts with a crowd filled sword fight sequence between King Gyanendra and his enemy kingdom. In a losing battle he seeks the help of Pindaris who duly oblige. Why Pindaris when he has a British army in waiting all the time? Which era is this? Why all British army has been shown in East India Company uniform?
Having used them, Gyanendra refuses to keep his promise of returning their land to the Pindaris and, instead, gets them slaughtered by the British army. Incensed, Prithvi Singh (Mithun Chakraborty) cuts off Gyanendra’s hand. Thus begins the revenge saga. Veer (Salman Khan) is born and dad Mithun Chakrabory readies him from childhood for the revenge against Gyanendra. With a body of steel, Veer’s bravery is established with an action packed train robbery. In the process of robbing the train carrying treasures, Veer also falls in love with princess Yashodhara (Zarine Khan).
Veer and his brother, Punya (Sohail Khan) are packed off to London to study, study the vile ways of the British as to how they rule the world so that one learns how to defeat them! Veer is reluctant to go instead, wanting to stay back and search for his love. But, he need not worry, because Yashodhara is omnipresent, she is in UK too. And in UK she is wherever he seeks her!
Romance prospers. But, as are other twists in the film, so is this one: predictable; Yashodhara is arch enemy Gyanendra’s sister and a royal at that. The dice are loaded for the fight for love and fight for revenge.
The story, attributed to Salman Khan, which has been his passion since ages, is dated, predictable and full of clichés. Anil Sharma’s direction has done nothing to alleviate the mundane. He has strived for gloss while not caring for detail and the outcome is glitches galore. Musical score by Sajid-Wajid is good with a couple of good romantic numbers. Photography is good. Costumes are colourful.
Performances generally don’t exceed average level. Salman Khan is loud and also does not look nice when with long hair. Mithun Chakraborty is the only one making it to the passable level.
Jackie Shroff, Neena Gupta and Shahbaaz Khan are so so. Puru Rajkumar makes his presence felt. Sohail Khan is out of place trying to do comedy; he ends up being a buffoon. Zarine Khan has to look coy and smile in most parts, getting to show some expressions only towards the end. Rest of the cast are caricatures.
Having promised much, Veer has delivered nothing. Its box office fate looks disastrous.
