Actor Mukesh Khanna, known for playing Shaktimaan, the homegrown superhero, and Bheeshma in the 90s Mahabharata series, has another facet to him. The actor also reviews movies for his YouTube channel, Bheeshm International. This week, when everyone in the country is discussing Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule, wouldn’t Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri do it too? In a video titled Pushpa 2 Mera Review, Mukesh starts off by praising the premise of Pushpa 2, and how South cinema backs a filmmaker’s vision with the required money. “A film isn’t made with just the money. You need planning, and every single rupee invested in Pushpa is seen on the screen,” said the veteran actor.
Mukesh then talks about the opening sequence of Pushpa 2, where Allu Arjun’s titular character finds himself being left to hang in mid air, and then spouts a long monologue and fights off scores of henchmen with machetes and machine guns. “The thing is, if you present larger-than-life content with conviction, people will accept it. Didn’t Manmohan Desai make us believe that three people donated blood at the same time to their mother in an incredulous sequence in Amar Akbar Antony? Conviction makes us forget logic,” said Mukesh, who reserved special praise for the stunt sequences in the sequel.
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Rating Allu Arjun’s performance a solid 8-9 out of 10, Mukesh Khanna revealed that he hadn’t seen the first instalment before, and in fact, this was the first time he was seeing the ‘Icon Star’ on the screen. “I think I have to watch more Allu Arjun films. Also, let me go out on a limb and say that he has it in him to be Shaktimaan. I am not saying he is doing it or anything. I’m just suggesting that it would look good on him. He has the personality to pull it off.”
In his review, Mukesh also took a few digs at Bollywood, and asked Hindi filmmakers to learn a thing or two from South cinema. Even when pointing out that the songs of Pushpa 2 erred on the side of vulgarity, especially the choreography, Mukesh said, “If Bollywood was showing something similar between a husband and a wife, as it is in Pushpa 2, they would have gone overboard with the titillating content. Honestly, titillation might earn you money, but it isn’t right.”
Moving on to share what he thought was the biggest negative of Pushpa 2, Mukesh Khanna shared a disclaimer that there is no ground for asking him to change his opinion just because the film has made so much money. “Be it the TRP of a serial or the box-office numbers of a film, none of that matters if the means to this earning isn’t right. How you earned the recognition and money is what matters,” said Mukesh, who also pointed out that South cinema venerates religion as opposed to Bollywood filmmakers who want to make it a mockery of sorts.
“Look at the scene where the characters model a shivling in a foreign island to do their prayers. They respect religion. Today’s Bollywood wants to make money from controversy and not content,” said Mukesh, who finally expressed his biggest concern about Pushpa 2: The Rule. “Why glorify smuggling, and antagonise the cops? Would you glamourise the late smuggler Veerappan? Here, Pushpa challenges the cops, insults them, and wins at the end. What are you trying to prove to the masses,” asked a visibly disappointed Mukesh.
The Shaktimaan actor added that he is against any form of negativity being showcased in our films. “Pushpa is not a film about an anti-hero. Even Amitabh Bachchan has done films like Trishul and Deewar, but there was a positive lesson in the end. When I asked people who were whistling for Pushpa in my theatre if they were from the South, they replied in the negative. People have thronged from all over to watch Pushpa. But what is the message? Is it saying that we can smuggle sandalwood and challenge the cops?” asked Mukesh, who urges filmmakers to stop glorifying negative stereotypes and branding. “There are people who are following Allu Arjun and Pushpa. It is keeping in mind the goodwill of youth that filmmakers should make their films.”
As a parting note, Mukesh Khanna said that it was important money is invested in the right areas instead of a bulk portion of the budget being allocated for the lead hero. “Will these actors reduce their salary if films bomb? You want to pay someone? Pay the writers who deserve a lot more,” pointed out the veteran actor.
Pushpa 2, directed by Sukumar, has breached the Rs 1000 crore club on Day 7 of its release becoming the fastest Indian film to achieve this number, and joins this elite list that has films like Baahubali 2, KGF 2, Kalki 2898 AD, and Dangal.
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