Kathmandu

A good story, a bunch of talented actors, good action and okay music — a good movie is expected out of this combination. But if not treated in the right way, an accident like Brothers can happen. An official remake of 2011 Hollywood movie Warrior, the Bollywood version Brothers directed by Karan Malhotra, is quite an exhausting watch.

Based on the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Brothers is basically the story of two estranged half-brothers David Fernandes (Akshay Kumar) and Monty Fernandes (Siddhartha Malhotra). The film begins with the release of their father Gary Fernandes (Jackie Shroff), a former street fighter and an alcoholic from jail. Because of Gary’s “one mistake” their family’s happiness is destroyed. And one day the two brothers — David (a family man who left fighting and became a schoolteacher after marrying Jenny and has a sick daughter) and Monty (envious of David and also a street fighter) — face one another in the ring of MMA finals — Right 2 Fight. The reason for David’s hatred for Gary and abandoning his loved brother Monty has been showcased in flashback.

Maria (Shifaali Shah) as Gary’s wife does have an important role in the family’s bleak past. Her relationship with her sons and husband has been well executed. The fight scenes too are portrayed justifiably. The muscled leading men — Kumar and Malhotra — justify their action-packed performances in the ring. With their punches and kicks, they strike the right chord.

While Kumar is impressive also as the Physics teacher and a loving husband and father, Malhotra (who does not speak much in the movie) does his part efficiently. Though he is not given much screen space as compared to Kumar, he makes his presence felt.

Shroff delivers well his part, a drunk man and later a guilty father. Whatever part is give to Fernandez, she does it well though she does not have much to do. The other cast — Raj Zutshi (as the sports commentator) and Ashutosh Rana (as Pasha) — are interesting to watch.

However, despite all these good aspects, the movie can’t hold your attention — the first half is too slow and you lose your patience. The real fight begins only in the second half, but certain moments here too are long and you get exhausted watching it. The first half is spent in building the characters, yet it fails to clarify — was Gary really a fighter? Why has Monty developed so much hatred towards David? How did David become a good fighter?

You don’t feel for the characters too — neither for David, nor for Monty or even for David’s sick daughter. The director fails to create an emotional connect even with all the right ingredients.

The background score during the fight scenes is okay but the rest of the music is so-so. Kareena Kapoor’s item number is another disappointment in the movie.

Brothers

Genre: Action

Director: Karan Malhotra

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra, Jackie Shroff, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ashutosh Rana, Shifaali Shah

Being screened at QFX Cinemas