For his fans, watching Pathaan in theatres in India has become akin to a festival these past few days. People have been seen jostling with excitement, going gaga, relishing the film with friends and kin, even dancing to the tunes of the film’s chartbuster songs inside theatres. For Bollywood watchers and well-wishers who spent a distressed 2022, as film after film was coming a cropper, Pathaan’s glorious run seems so good it feels surreal.
While the film is doing roaring business at multiplexes across India, it seems to have resurrected single theatres – most of them had downed shutters following the outbreak of COVID-19 – as well. After all, the superstar has returned to the cine screen in a lead role after four years.
Shah Rukh Khan, very much like the late showman Raj Kapoor, and to some extent Mithun Chakraborty, enjoys a large international fan base, including in the Gulf countries, Europe, the US and more. Indian expatriates in Qatar, like Shah Rukh Khan’s fans elsewhere, seem to be loving every bit of the cinematic experience that Pathaan has unfolded.
Sharing his review, Jawed Ahmad, chairman of AMU Alumni Association Qatar and founder president of AMU Alumni Toastmaster Club, is willing to give 10/10 to Pathaan! “An action-packed thriller, suspense and patriotic movie, and overall, a complete package of entertainment, this is. SRK, Deepika, John, Salman [Khan] all rock with their superb acting. We didn’t notice any point of controversy in the film. After a long time, a must-watch movie and a strong message of unity in diversity,” he told Qatar Tribune.
Mohammad Musaraf Khan, another Indian expat based in Doha, aired a similar view. “My recent experience at the cinema watching Pathaan was really enjoyable. It is an action thriller and as far as action films go, this one definitely met my expectations.”
When asked to elaborate his views a tad further, Musaraf Khan noted: “The pacing was great and the action sequences were spectacular. Shah Rukh Khan has really brought his A-game in his usual charismatic acting style. He was able to quickly captivate the audience with his presence.
“Deepika Padukone too has brought her incredible acting chops to the table; her performance was simply magnificent. Furthermore, the cinematography, editing, and music were all top-notch and really added to the overall experience. To sum it up, Pathaan was an entertaining and intense movie-viewing experience that I highly recommend.”
The high-octane spy thriller with its patriotic theme is finding its chord with audiences across the world. Said Abdul Rehman, a Qatar resident from India: “I think Pathaan is one of the few top movies of Bollywood to date. Full of action, thrill, suspense, and most importantly, patriotism.
“This is a never-seen-before avatar of SRK – as a complete action hunk. I think this movie will break all the records. It’s probably going to end up as Bollywood’s biggest blockbuster. This film is spreading the message of brotherhood, secularism and communal harmony, bringing everyone together.”
