Singham Again Movie Review
Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, the latest entry in his much-anticipated cop universe, attempts to elevate its storyline by drawing inspiration from the Ramayana, with characters loosely modeled on the epic’s heroes and villains. Despite an ambitious setup, the movie’s screenplay and execution fall short, resulting in a chaotic narrative that doesn’t live up to its promise.
Script Analysis
In Singham Again, the Ramayana references are pervasive but not fully realized. Arjun Kapoor’s portrayal of a villainous character inspired by Ravan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s interpretation of Sita are handled with melodramatic flair but often veer into preachiness. Unfortunately, Tiger Shroff and Deepika Padukone’s roles as Lakshman and Sugreev-inspired characters lack depth, with their connections to the epic feeling underdeveloped and largely irrelevant to the plot.
Ranveer Singh as Simmba, loosely based on Hanuman, is the standout, delivering some of the film’s best moments. His antics in Sri Lanka bring to mind Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, adding a dose of energy to an otherwise lackluster narrative. The action-heavy climax, however, fails to excite, relying on repetitive set-pieces with Shetty’s signature flying cars and a lack of logical cohesion. Moments of camaraderie between the characters fall flat, with little chemistry evident beyond the occasional banter between Ranveer Singh and Akshay Kumar. Even the eagerly awaited cameo is blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, leaving no lasting impact.
Star Performances
Ajay Devgn, reprising his role as the fierce Singham, brings intensity initially, but his character’s spark fades, missing the commanding presence that characterized his earlier performances. Akshay Kumar’s entry as Sooryavanshi is flamboyant, yet his performance lacks depth, and his comedic forgetfulness of names does little to amuse. Tiger Shroff and Deepika Padukone’s roles are both brief and underwhelming, with neither actor leaving a memorable mark. Deepika, in particular, feels miscast, and her dialogue delivery misses the mark.
Arjun Kapoor surprises as the main antagonist, delivering a commendable performance as the menacing villain, defying critics’ expectations. However, the real scene-stealer is Ranveer Singh’s Simmba. From light-hearted mischief to high-energy outbursts, Singh injects much-needed vitality into the film. His scenes—from grinning while held captive to interrupting a romantic moment between Singham and Avni—bring comic relief and make him the undeniable highlight of Singham Again.
Direction and Music
The film leans heavily on its background score by Ravi Basrur and Thaman S., which is pulse-pounding but sometimes overshadowed by over-the-top direction. Instead of supporting a strong narrative, the music often attempts to fill gaps in the lackluster screenplay. Shetty’s reliance on grandiose action sequences, booming sound effects, and heavily exaggerated dialogues aiming to reflect the Ramayana’s epic nature ends up coming off as overbearing and slapstick.
The Last Word
Despite its ambitious intentions and star-studded cast, Singham Again falls short of delivering a satisfying experience. Lacking the punch and cohesion of previous installments, the film feels more like an extravagant spectacle than a well-rounded narrative. With stiff competition from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, it remains to be seen if the film’s box office performance will match its lofty ambitions. Even the brief addition of Chulbul Pandey’s character fails to bring the spark that might have saved this installment in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe.