Game Over: The Debacle of Ra-One

Does only SFX a fine film make?

I asked this myself when I was enduring the much-hyped, Rajni-starrer, Robot. And I have asked this again while watching Ra-One, the latest, special-effects laden, game-come-alive film from Shahrukh Khan.

No! remains my answer. Not even if the box-office figures shout a never-before collection.

A good restaurant is primarily about good food. Ambience and service can only serve to complement the food quality, not substitute it.

So it is with a film, what if it is Bollywood.  A story well-told is what a film is mainly about, not the special effects, certainly not a conceited superstar who thinks he can carry off anything. This is no 70s and he is no AB.     

Everybody and his aunt can, by this time, guess what this movie’s story line is – a video game gone real, with the game characters fighting it out in the real. Ok, worse stories than this have grossed crores at the B.O.  But a game-robot mouthing inanities about Karva-Chauth and pelvic-thrusting all over?? And probably the shallowest characterization of a computer geek in movies? And inane mushiness all over?  

All this I was ready to forgive in the name of kids entertainment. But the kinds of dialogues some parts of this movie has, it warrants an A certificate, leave apart a PG classification. Sorry, if I sound uncool about it but that’s how it is. I certainly expected a more responsible producer in SRK.

The only safe thing the kids would get courtesy this movie is a slick video game (my son has already got one for himself) and visuals of admittedly very advanced special effects Bollywood has seen.

But then, as I said, does only SFX a fine film make? No!!!