Wanted

Already a hit in two South Indian languages, this Hindi remake is a violent masala movie aimed directly towards the masses. Indeed, the predominantly teenage male audience at the Mumbai multiplex screening I attended certainly loved it. Angry middle-aged Mumbai man Radhe (Khan) decides enough is enough when a paan-spitting bent cop ‘eve-teases’ not only his ‘Anarkali’ (Takia) but also her dishy mom. It’s a blend of blood-letting action set-pieces, unabashed hamming and cartoonish characterisation. Bad boy Salman Khan’s ever-changing hairstyle dominates; the top heavy Takia provides ample support. Catchy songs, including one featuring the director, his hunky hero, an ageing funnyman and Slumdog Millionaire’s quizmaster, link the patchy proceedings together. The result is unpretentious, mindless Bollywood entertainment.