Singham Again

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Jackie Shroff

Director: Rohit Shetty

Singham Again: A Missed Opportunity in Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe

When the trailer for Singham Again dropped, fans were eager yet apprehensive. The overwhelming star power in Rohit Shetty’s latest film hinted at either a grand spectacle or a chaotic mess. Unfortunately, the latter became a reality, especially in the film’s second half. Imagine making a dish with the finest ingredients but failing to blend them properly—what you get is a confusing and bland outcome, which sums up this Ajay Devgn-led film.

The story picks up with DCP Bajirao Singham (Ajay Devgn) confronting his old enemy, Omar Hafiz (Jackie Shroff), whom he captures. However, the real threat comes from Omar’s grandson, Zubair Hafiz, also known as Danger Lanka (Arjun Kapoor), who seeks revenge on the cop trio—Singham, Simmba (Ranveer Singh), and Sooryavanshi (Akshay Kumar)—for his family’s downfall. Zubair’s thirst for vengeance escalates when he kidnaps Singham’s wife, Avni (Kareena Kapoor Khan), forcing Singham to embark on a high-stakes mission to rescue her, alongside his trusted comrades and the newly introduced Lady Singham, Shakti Shetty (Deepika Padukone), and ACP Satya Bali (Tiger Shroff).

Script Analysis:

While the film takes inspiration from the Ramayana, the execution leaves much to be desired. The parallels between characters and the epic story feel forced and lack subtlety, with heavy-handed, preachy dialogues diluting any sense of depth. Arjun Kapoor’s villainous Zubair may claim Ravan as his idol, but the character fails to evoke the menace that Ravan symbolizes. Similarly, Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Avni draws on Sita’s captivity but delivers dialogues that feel more like lectures than emotional revelations.

The screenplay often feels cluttered, with the various characters and subplots not receiving enough time to develop meaningfully. Tiger Shroff and Deepika Padukone, who are supposed to represent Lakshman and Sugreev, barely make an impression, with their roles feeling underwritten and underwhelming.

Among the few redeeming factors is Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Simmba, whose mischievous energy lights up the screen. His antics in Sri Lanka, in a nod to Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, are some of the movie’s most entertaining moments. Yet, even these bright spots can’t save the film’s lackluster climax, where logic takes a backseat to flying cars and over-the-top action sequences.

Star Performances:

Ajay Devgn, as Singham, starts strong but soon loses steam. His portrayal lacks the intensity that made the character iconic in the earlier films. Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi also falls flat, with comedic bits that fail to land. His recurring gag of forgetting people’s names quickly becomes tiresome.

Tiger Shroff and Deepika Padukone are, unfortunately, wasted. Their characters seem like afterthoughts, with little screen time or importance in the overall narrative. Padukone’s role as Shakti Shetty feels particularly miscast, as her performance fails to hit the mark. In contrast, Arjun Kapoor delivers a surprisingly effective performance as the vengeful antagonist, proving that he can play dark, intense roles when given the chance.

Ranveer Singh is the undeniable highlight of Singham Again. His infectious energy and comedic timing are a breath of fresh air in an otherwise tedious narrative. Whether interrupting romantic moments or finding humor in dire situations, Simmba’s character injects much-needed life into the film.

Direction and Music:

Rohit Shetty’s signature style of high-octane action and grand set pieces is on full display here, but without substance to back it up. The movie leans too heavily on Ravi Basrur and Thaman S’s pulsating background score to create drama, while the screenplay and direction falter. The result is a film that feels more like a collection of disconnected action sequences than a cohesive narrative.

The over-the-top action scenes and bombastic score only serve to emphasize the lack of depth in the film’s execution. The Ramayana references, while ambitious, come across as clumsy and superficial, with preachy dialogues and exaggerated performances detracting from what could have been an intriguing take on good versus evil.

The Last Word:

Singham Again is a disappointing entry in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe. Despite the hype and the star-studded cast, the film struggles to find its footing. With lackluster performances from some of its leads and a chaotic, undercooked script, it fails to live up to the expectations set by its predecessors. While Ranveer Singh’s Simmba provides a few moments of levity and entertainment, it’s not enough to salvage the film. Competing against Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 at the box office, Singham Again may find it difficult to leave a lasting impression.